Greece Processes Over 710,000 Visa Applications in 2024 — Türkiye Tops the List of Applicants

In 2024, Greece processed 710,024 Schengen visa applications, making it the fifth most popular destination among third-country nationals seeking entry into the Schengen Area. The country approved 609,612 visas, resulting in an overall approval rate of approximately 86%, slightly above the Schengen average of 84%.

Türkiye, Russia, and China Among Top Sources of Visa Applicants to Greece

Visa statistics show that Türkiye was the leading source of visa applications to Greece, with Turkish nationals submitting 296,377 applications — accounting for 41.7% of all Greek Schengen visa requests in 2024. Notably, the Greek consulate in Türkiye was among the top three busiest consulates in the Schengen zone for visa processing.

Other top nationalities applying for Greek visas included:

• Russia: 69,690 applications (9.8%)
• China: 43,702 applications (6.1%)
• India: 41,418 applications (5.8%)
• United Kingdom (foreign nationals residing in the UK): 34,126 applications (4.8%)

Highest Visa Approval Rates by Country of Residence

Greece showed exceptionally high visa approval rates for applicants from several countries, particularly those in North America, Oceania, and Central Asia:

• Australia: 962 applications, 955 approved — 99.27% approval rate
• Canada: 1,316 applications, 1,306 approved — 99.24%
• Singapore: 1,238 applications, 1,228 approved — 99.19%
• Ireland: 750 applications, 739 approved — 98.53%
• Kazakhstan: 10,320 applications, 10,146 approved — 98.31%

These figures suggest a high level of trust in documentation and travel intent among applicants from these regions.

Countries with the Lowest Greek Visa Approval Rates

Conversely, the lowest approval rates were observed among applicants from a number of African and South Asian countries. These nationalities were more likely to have their visa applications denied:

• Pakistan: 794 applications, 242 approved — 30.5% approval rate
• Congo (DRC): 6,248 applications, 2,178 approved — 33.88%
• Nigeria: 435 applications, 161 approved — 37%
• Algeria: 2,058 applications, 902 approved — 43.83%
• Tunisia: 2,105 applications, 1,132 approved — 53.78%

The data reflects stricter scrutiny applied to applicants from countries with historically higher rates of visa misuse or incomplete documentation.