Marta Foresti

Founder of LAGO. Previously MD, ED, now Visiting Senior Fellow @ODI_global. Also @LSEnews @Moleskine. Migration, cities, culture. IG @lago_collective

[Marta Foresti @martaforesti]

The staggering costs of visa inequality🚨

In 2023 rejected EU visas cost the world’s poorest €100M +, 💰 flowing from poor to rich countries, like a 'reverse remittance'.

Yet we never hear about this🤨

I talked to @euobs based on latest LAGO analysis https://t.co/7bQb6iiwW9

[Marta Foresti @martaforesti]

That €100M+ in 2023 has gone up to €157M in 2025 😱

Paid for nothing. For being rejected. Again

A reverse remittance, a waste of money and opportunities.

A tax on poverty, trade and aspirations

🙏 @euobs @benfox83

#visas #europe #inequality

https://t.co/ggJhGb4SXv

[Marta Foresti @martaforesti]

The staggering costs of visa inequality🚨

In 2023 rejected EU visas cost the world’s poorest €100M +, 💰 flowing from poor to rich countries, like a 'reverse remittance'.

Yet we never hear about this🤨

I talked to @euobs based on latest LAGO analysis https://t.co/7bQb6iiwW9

[Marta Foresti @martaforesti]

All data and analysis available on the LAGO Collective website

https://t.co/JdI1L02NJD

[Marta Foresti @martaforesti]

Visiting the Uk 🇬🇧? Not everyone 🛂

Post Brexit and aid cuts the UK wants equal partnerships with emerging markets/fast growing economies.

Yet how is an equal partnership possible with a country whose citizens you turn away 4 times out of 10 for a holiday or a business meeting?

[Carlos Lopes @LopesInsights]

Africa's culture will become irresistible as the continent concentrates the youthness of the world. https://t.co/iyMk44m5Ic

[Marta Foresti @martaforesti]

How is it possible that an expense claim for a massage causes more outrage than that photo with the 17years old Virginia Giuffré?

#andrew #epstein

[Africa-Europe CoRE Creative Economies @CE_Africa]

Who gets to move in the global creative economy?

Explore this question through a fully-funded PhD @KingsCollegeLon on how visa regimes and mobility policies shape creative work between Africa and Europe, with @martaforesti.

Apply by 13 Feb 2026: https://t.co/Ayl7pJMNTa

[Marta Foresti @martaforesti]

As Trump ‘pauses’ visa processing for 26 African countries here is your reminder from me and @LopesInsights that we all stand to lose.

#visas #trump #africa

[Carlos Lopes @LopesInsights]

@martaforesti and Carlos Lopes explore for @TheAfricaReport how the West might be losing the ‘visa war’, with a stark reminder of what’s at stake
https://t.co/JDY1u9HxA8

[CNN Africa @CNNAfrica]

In total, African countries lost 60 million euros in rejected visa fees in 2024, analysis from the LAGO Collective shows. https://t.co/33ZoIjzH45

[British Council Germany @deBritish]

Can the Creative Industries help address complex problems?
📽️Hannah John, Consultant at #WYNServices, and @MartaForesti, Founder and CEO of LAGO, share with us their vision for how the creative economy contributes to society.

#Pontignano co-organised with @UKinItaly.

[Marta Foresti @martaforesti]

I am very grateful 🙏 to @LarryMadowo @CNNAfrica @CNNTravel for covering our work so extensively in this great piece:

https://t.co/qIXwz1tnWJ

“The financial cost of rejected visas is just staggering; like ‘reverse remittances,’ money flowing from poor to rich countries"

[Marta Foresti @martaforesti]

Visa Inequality - 2024 edition 🧵

The data is out and it is not pretty:

🔸 total cost of rejected short term visas to 🇪🇺 was €145M, + 11% vs 2023. €60M is Africa alone 🤯

🔸 total cost of rejected short term visas to 🇬🇧 was £50M + 13.5% vs 2023

https://t.co/JdI1L02NJD

[Marta Foresti @martaforesti]

I am very grateful 🙏 to @LarryMadowo @CNNAfrica @CNNTravel for covering our work so extensively in this great piece:

https://t.co/qIXwz1tnWJ

“The financial cost of rejected visas is just staggering; like ‘reverse remittances,’ money flowing from poor to rich countries"

[Marta Foresti @martaforesti]

Visa Inequality - 2024 edition 🧵

The data is out and it is not pretty:

🔸 total cost of rejected short term visas to 🇪🇺 was €145M, + 11% vs 2023. €60M is Africa alone 🤯

🔸 total cost of rejected short term visas to 🇬🇧 was £50M + 13.5% vs 2023

https://t.co/JdI1L02NJD

[Marta Foresti @martaforesti]

Rejections are still disproportionately high for low and middle income countries: as in 2023, the poorer the country of application, the higher the rejection rates.

African countries most affected, with rejection as high as 40/50% for Ghana 🇬🇭, Senegal 🇸🇳 and Nigeria 🇳🇬.

[Gichunge Jackson @Gichungejm]

@LarryMadowo @martaforesti @martaforesti and LAGO are doing such a great job on this analysis every year. The results on the Visa Denials and Rejections are shocking. Reciprocity in Visa issuance is an amorphous concept for the Schengen Visa Issuing Authorities.

[Marta Foresti @martaforesti]

Thank you @LarryMadowo for highlighting this important issue 🚨

All data and analysis on 2024 data on short term visas to Schengen/Europe 🇪🇺 now available on LAGO Collective ⤵️

https://t.co/JdI1L02NJD

#visas #visainequality #africa #europe

[Larry Madowo @LarryMadowo]

How much do poor countries lose in rejected visa applications? @martaforesti and LAGO Collective have done a lot of analysis previously, including on this latest data

[Larry Madowo @LarryMadowo]

How much do poor countries lose in rejected visa applications? @martaforesti and LAGO Collective have done a lot of analysis previously, including on this latest data

[AIGA @AIGAdesign]

AIGA Design Podcast: How can design go beyond aesthetics to shape narratives and challenge misinformation?

In this episode, we chat with @martaforesti & @fedfragapane of LAGO-COLLECTIVE to explore how intentional design can drive change.

🎙️ Tune in: https://t.co/DD62jLvNTK

[Marta Foresti @martaforesti]

Hatching plans, indeed ✨

Visa related plans. Obviously.

@LarryMadowo @David_McNair @LopesInsights @lemnsissay @davidpilling @karenmcveigh1 @alexisak

#visas #visainequality

[lemn sissay OBE FRSL @lemnsissay]

Marta Foresti and me hatching plans on Hackney Downs #allotherpassports

[Marta Foresti @martaforesti]

A lifetime chasing indicators, targets and impact, I think I found something that counts 🙌

Now 🙏 go follow LAGO Collective on Instagram ⤵️

https://t.co/td8dT0GMv8