Greece vs Italy: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)
In 2025, Greece refused 33.0% of the 41,009 applications lodged with it in India; Italy refused 12.7% of 53,423. Italy was the more lenient of the two by 20.2 percentage points. Multi-entry share: Greece 40.7%, Italy 89.2%.
Greece
33.0%refused of 41,009 applications (2025). Issued 27,232, 40.7% multi-entry. Consulates in India: New Delhi (33.0%).
Italy
12.7%refused of 53,423 applications (2025). Issued 46,613, 89.2% multi-entry. Consulates in India: Bengaluru (12.4%), Kolkata (13.4%), Mumbai (10.1%), New Delhi (16.7%).
17 years side by side
| Year | Greece applied | Greece refusal | Italy applied | Italy refusal | Gap (pp) | India avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 41,009 | 33.0% | 53,423 | 12.7% | +20.2 pp | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 41,418 | 31.3% | 60,365 | 11.3% | +20.0 pp | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 33,735 | 28.2% | 52,332 | 14.2% | +14.0 pp | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 27,457 | 33.2% | 35,982 | 17.8% | +15.4 pp | 18.0% |
| 2021 | 2,615 | 30.6% | 7,392 | 24.9% | +5.6 pp | 22.8% |
| 2020 | 6,298 | 17.5% | 15,196 | 20.7% | -3.2 pp | 16.9% |
| 2019 | 44,366 | 16.3% | 118,877 | 13.3% | +3.0 pp | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 45,341 | 11.5% | 105,630 | 12.1% | -0.6 pp | 9.3% |
| 2017 | 32,134 | 13.2% | 88,502 | 11.1% | +2.1 pp | 8.5% |
| 2016 | 26,197 | 8.6% | 103,362 | 12.9% | -4.3 pp | 8.2% |
| 2015 | 22,454 | 9.0% | 102,332 | 10.4% | -1.5 pp | 6.5% |
| 2014 | 18,816 | 9.5% | 79,969 | 7.2% | +2.3 pp | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 11,473 | 4.5% | 73,480 | 6.7% | -2.2 pp | 6.2% |
| 2012 | 5,641 | 3.6% | 71,365 | 8.6% | -5.0 pp | 6.1% |
| 2011 | 4,961 | 5.9% | 76,209 | 13.0% | -7.1 pp | 6.9% |
| 2010 | 3,733 | 22.2% | 69,919 | 8.2% | +14.0 pp | 6.5% |
| 2009 | 3,940 | 16.4% | 49,893 | 7.5% | +8.9 pp | 7.8% |
Gap = Greece minus Italy refusal rate; positive means Greece was stricter that year.
What separates them
Over the whole period, Greece's refusal rate for applications lodged in India moved from 16.4% (2009) to 33.0% (2025); Italy's from 7.5% to 12.7%. Volume tells the other half: Greece decided 41,009 files in 2025 against Italy's 53,423, so Italy carries the heavier queue. On multi-entry visas, Italy was the more generous (89.2% 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 Greece or a Italy Schengen visa from India?
On 2025 refusal rates, Italy (12.7%) 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, Greece or Italy?
In 2025, Greece: 40.7% multi-entry share; Italy: 89.2%.
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.