Greece vs Spain: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)
In 2025, Greece refused 33.0% of the 41,009 applications lodged with it in India; Spain refused 15.2% of 90,720. Spain was the more lenient of the two by 17.7 percentage points. Multi-entry share: Greece 40.7%, Spain 16.1%.
Greece
33.0%refused of 41,009 applications (2025). Issued 27,232, 40.7% multi-entry. Consulates in India: New Delhi (33.0%).
Spain
15.2%refused of 90,720 applications (2025). Issued 75,906, 16.1% multi-entry. Consulates in India: Mumbai (11.6%), New Delhi (19.8%).
17 years side by side
| Year | Greece applied | Greece refusal | Spain applied | Spain refusal | Gap (pp) | India avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 41,009 | 33.0% | 90,720 | 15.2% | +17.7 pp | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 41,418 | 31.3% | 97,204 | 15.6% | +15.7 pp | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 33,735 | 28.2% | 91,863 | 14.6% | +13.6 pp | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 27,457 | 33.2% | 80,098 | 18.5% | +14.7 pp | 18.0% |
| 2021 | 2,615 | 30.6% | 12,688 | 21.5% | +9.0 pp | 22.8% |
| 2020 | 6,298 | 17.5% | 11,333 | 11.5% | +6.0 pp | 16.9% |
| 2019 | 44,366 | 16.3% | 74,028 | 7.7% | +8.6 pp | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 45,341 | 11.5% | 67,248 | 7.7% | +3.8 pp | 9.3% |
| 2017 | 32,134 | 13.2% | 54,431 | 9.2% | +4.0 pp | 8.5% |
| 2016 | 26,197 | 8.6% | 53,048 | 8.8% | -0.2 pp | 8.2% |
| 2015 | 22,454 | 9.0% | 42,544 | 7.4% | +1.6 pp | 6.5% |
| 2014 | 18,816 | 9.5% | 34,910 | 7.2% | +2.3 pp | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 11,473 | 4.5% | 31,146 | 7.1% | -2.6 pp | 6.2% |
| 2012 | 5,641 | 3.6% | 28,789 | 9.7% | -6.2 pp | 6.1% |
| 2011 | 4,961 | 5.9% | 27,860 | 10.2% | -4.3 pp | 6.9% |
| 2010 | 3,733 | 22.2% | 18,856 | 8.5% | +13.7 pp | 6.5% |
| 2009 | 3,940 | 16.4% | 16,740 | 8.6% | +7.7 pp | 7.8% |
Gap = Greece minus Spain 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); Spain's from 8.6% to 15.2%. Volume tells the other half: Greece decided 41,009 files in 2025 against Spain's 90,720, so Spain carries the heavier queue. On multi-entry visas, Greece was the more generous (40.7% vs 16.1%), 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 Spain Schengen visa from India?
On 2025 refusal rates, Spain (15.2%) 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 Spain?
In 2025, Greece: 40.7% multi-entry share; Spain: 16.1%.
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.