Greece has sharply reduced the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens, with rejection rates reaching exceptionally high levels at the height of the summer tourist season. According to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia, some market participants report rejection rates of up to 50% for Greek Schengen visa applications, while around 70% of independent travelers are reportedly being refused.
Even tourists who have fully paid for their trips, confirmed their accommodation and submitted a complete set of documents — including proof of property ownership and high income — are being denied visas.
The situation has changed dramatically compared with last year, when Greece issued 59,000 visas to Russian citizens and the rejection rate stood at just 11.2%.
In 2025, Russian citizens received more than 620,000 Schengen visas, 10% more than a year earlier. The number of Schengen visa applications submitted by Russians also increased compared with 2024, rising by 8.42% to 674,000. However, the share of multiple-entry visas issued to Russian citizens fell from 57% to 12% in just two months following the European Commission’s decision to tighten the rules.
Almost three-quarters of all Schengen visa applications submitted by Russians in 2025 were filed with France, Italy and Spain. These three countries also issued 68% of all visas granted to Russian citizens. While Italy reduced the number of visas issued to Russians by 5.8% and Spain’s figure remained almost unchanged compared with 2024, France issued nearly 30% more visas to Russian citizens than a year earlier — approximately 173,000.
In November 2025, the European Commission banned the issuance of multiple-entry visas to Russian citizens, citing security risks to European Union countries arising from the war in Ukraine.
