Head to head · applications lodged in India, 2009 to 2025

Germany vs Greece: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)

In 2025, Germany refused 10.5% of the 153,179 applications lodged with it in India; Greece refused 33.0% of 41,009. Germany was the more lenient of the two by 22.5 percentage points. Multi-entry share: Germany 99.6%, Greece 40.7%.

Verdict from the data: Germany said no less often than Greece in 2025 (10.5% vs 33.0%). A large gap; if your itinerary genuinely splits between the two, the difference in odds is worth knowing before you fix your main destination. Remember: you must apply to your main destination (Article 5, Visa Code), so this page informs planning, not consulate shopping.

Germany

10.5%

refused of 153,179 applications (2025). Issued 136,674, 99.6% multi-entry. Consulates in India: Bengaluru (1.5%), Chennai (10.5%), Kolkata (14.0%), Mumbai (10.8%), New Delhi (10.0%).

Greece

33.0%

refused of 41,009 applications (2025). Issued 27,232, 40.7% multi-entry. Consulates in India: New Delhi (33.0%).

17 years side by side

YearGermany appliedGermany refusalGreece appliedGreece refusalGap (pp)India avg
2025153,17910.5%41,00933.0%-22.5 pp15.7%
2024142,95511.1%41,41831.3%-20.3 pp14.9%
2023132,82510.4%33,73528.2%-17.8 pp15.7%
202276,35211.3%27,45733.2%-21.9 pp18.0%
202120,44914.0%2,61530.6%-16.5 pp22.8%
202030,79315.9%6,29817.5%-1.6 pp16.9%
2019169,2059.9%44,36616.3%-6.4 pp10.8%
2018167,0018.3%45,34111.5%-3.2 pp9.3%
2017153,9616.8%32,13413.2%-6.4 pp8.5%
2016142,8606.2%26,1978.6%-2.4 pp8.2%
2015121,0025.9%22,4549.0%-3.1 pp6.5%
2014109,7308.1%18,8169.5%-1.4 pp0.0%
2013102,8626.5%11,4734.5%+2.0 pp6.2%
201297,1385.5%5,6413.6%+1.9 pp6.1%
201199,9244.5%4,9615.9%-1.4 pp6.9%
201099,0654.5%3,73322.2%-17.7 pp6.5%
200980,2525.6%3,94016.4%-10.8 pp7.8%

Gap = Germany minus Greece refusal rate; positive means Germany was stricter that year.

What separates them

Over the whole period, Germany's refusal rate for applications lodged in India moved from 5.6% (2009) to 10.5% (2025); Greece's from 16.4% to 33.0%. Volume tells the other half: Germany decided 153,179 files in 2025 against Greece's 41,009, so Germany carries the heavier queue. On multi-entry visas, Germany was the more generous (99.6% vs 40.7%), which matters if you plan to return within the visa's validity.

Questions this page answers

Is it easier to get a Germany or a Greece Schengen visa from India?

On 2025 refusal rates, Germany (10.5%) refused a smaller share of Indian applicants than Greece (33.0%). Under the Visa Code you must apply to the state that is your main destination, so this comparison guides itinerary planning, not consulate shopping.

Which gives more multiple-entry visas to Indians, Germany or Greece?

In 2025, Germany: 99.6% multi-entry share; Greece: 40.7%.

Source: European Commission, "Visa statistics for consulates", 2009 to 2025 annual releases; figures cover uniform (short-stay, type C) visas applied for at consulates located in India, regardless of applicant nationality; airport-transit visas excluded from headline figures. Refusal rate = visas not issued / visas applied for, computed by us from the counts. Rankings use a floor of 1,000 applications. Last verified 2026-08-18. Full methodology. Download the CSV.