In 2023, Greece has gained a reputation as one of the most challenging Schengen countries for visa approvals, particularly impacting applicants from Pakistan. According to recent data from SchengenVisaInfo, Greece—ranked as the sixth most popular Schengen destination—saw a notable rise in visa applications alongside an increase in rejection rates for specific nationalities, with Pakistani applicants leading this trend.
More than 627,000 people applied for Greek visas this year, accounting for over 6% of all Schengen visa applications. The highest number of applications came from Turkish citizens, followed by applicants from Russia and China. However, for Pakistanis, the situation proved especially challenging, with a rejection rate reaching 65.54%. Out of 560 applications submitted by Pakistani nationals, the majority were denied by Greek authorities.
Other nationalities facing high rejection rates included applicants from Algeria (59.54%), Tunisia, Senegal, and Iraq, with rejection rates for Tunisia and Senegal also surpassing 56%. For Iraq, nearly half of all applications encountered denial.
This elevated rate of rejections for certain African and Asian countries has sparked discussions about Greece’s stringent visa policies. Although Greece continues to attract tourists from around the globe, these figures underscore the obstacles that applicants from specific regions, like Pakistan, face when attempting to enter Greece and the Schengen Area.
For Pakistani nationals, these findings emphasize the challenges involved in Schengen visa applications and the importance of thoroughly meeting visa requirements to improve approval prospects.
