Many travelers from non visa exempt countries who would like to visit Greece are keen to know if it is easy to get a visa. Is Greece easy to get Schengen visa? Where does Greece rank on the list of visa rejections compared to other issuing countries?
What You Should Know About Greek Schengen Visa Application Rejections
Regarding Schengen visa issuance, 27 countries in the region issue this visa to foreigners from non visa exempt countries. However, the number of applications received is never the same for all countries because some countries receive more applications than others. For instance, France and Spain have the highest number of visitors to Europe and have the highest application rates compared to countries like Estonia or Slovakia.
While the number of applications received doesn't always translate to rejection rates, there is a relationship between both. Also, the local immigration policy of member states also plays a significant role in determining how many visa requests are approved per annum. For instance, the Kingdom of Belgium may not have the highest application rate, but it has the highest rejection rates for several reasons, which we don't want to get into in this post.
Having cleared this point, let's dive into the main subject.
Is Greece Easy To Get Schengen Visa?
It will depend on the current situation when you submit your application. Going by the trend in recent years, the visa approval rate has fluctuated wildly due to local laws, economic upheavals, and security measures. For instance, the rejection rate for visas by Greek embassies was 4.5% in 2019 but almost doubled to 8.4% in 2020, perhaps due to the pandemic. In subsequent years the rejection rate has hovered between 3-5%, which is quite low by general standards.
So based on the trend over the last decade, one can conclude that the Greek visa is easy to get for eligible applicants who meet the criteria. Over 91% of applications for Greek Schengen visas are approved every year, which translates to 1 in 10 application rejections.
Does The Country Where You Apply For The Visa Matter?
This has been a subject of debate for several years now and remains the case. The answer to this question is yes and no.
It matters where you apply for the visa because applications submitted to certain countries have a higher possibility of rejection. Based on general statistics, rejection rates have risen to nearly 25% in recent years, and only a handful of countries are responsible for the majority of the rejections. Malta and Portugal have exceedingly high rejection rates, and so is Belgium.
On the other hand, the country you apply for will not matter if you don't have the required documents and meet the eligibility conditions. So even if you apply to a low rejection country like Slovenia with the wrong or incomplete Information, your application will not be accepted.
Where Does Greece Occupy On The Highest Application Acceptance List?
Greece has the 11th highest application acceptance rate out of the 27 countries, with a very low rejection rate. Most visitors come as tourists to enjoy the weather in Mainland Greece and any of the over 2000 islands in the Mediterranean. Greece is also quite sunny with a much warmer climate compared to other countries on the continent. Add that to its closeness to the sea, and you have a thriving tourist paradise in the underbelly of Europe.
Which other countries rank above Greece on the visa acceptance list?
Estonia
Lithuania
Latvia
Finland
Iceland
Slovakia
Poland
Luxembourg
Czech Republic
Austria
Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is Europe's sixth most visited capital, but the Czech Republic still has one of the highest acceptance rates. Austria also ranks above Greece, while the countries on the list are Baltic countries in Eastern Europe. Coming behind Greece is Hungary in twelfth place.
How To Increase Your Chances Of Getting The Schengen Visa To Greece?
Provide The Right Information: When filling out the application form, make sure you avoid mistakes and leave no section empty. Wrong Information will lead to rejection.
Use Valid Documents: Make sure all your documents are valid. Fake or false Information is sufficient grounds for rejection.
Apply On Time: The average waiting time for Schengen visa processing is 15 days, but it may stretch much longer. To avoid delays, consider applying at least 4-6 weeks before the due date for the trip.
Answer Questions Honestly: If you are asked to present yourself at the embassy, endeavor to answer the visa officer honestly and clearly. Make sure your answer matches the Information in your application.
Is Greece easy to get Schengen visa? Yes, it is: as long as you follow the tips we recommend, you will have no problem.