Greece has emerged as one of the most challenging Schengen countries for visa approvals in 2023, especially for applicants from Pakistan. Recent data from SchengenVisaInfo reveals that Greece, the sixth most popular Schengen destination, recorded a surge in visa requests, but also showed a high rejection rate for certain nationalities, with Pakistani applicants topping the list.
In 2023, more than 627,000 people applied for a Greek visa, with over 6% of all Schengen visa applications directed to Greece. Turkish citizens made up the largest group of applicants, followed by Russians and Chinese nationals. However, applicants from Pakistan faced particularly high rejection rates, standing at 65.54% for the year. This means that out of 560 applications submitted by Pakistani nationals, more than half were declined by Greek authorities.
Other nationalities with high visa rejection rates include applicants from Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, and Iraq. Algerian applicants saw a 59.54% rejection rate, while Tunisia and Senegal faced rejection rates above 56%. Iraqi nationals also encountered difficulties, with nearly half of their applications being denied.
The high rejection rates for applicants from certain African and Asian countries have raised questions about Greece’s stringent visa requirements. While the country remains a popular tourist and travel destination, these numbers highlight the hurdles that applicants from particular regions face when seeking entry into Greece and the Schengen Area.
For Pakistanis, the results are a stark reminder of the complexities involved in Schengen visa applications and the need to ensure compliance with visa requirements to improve their chances of approval in the future.
