Greece vs Sweden: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)
In 2025, Greece refused 33.0% of the 41,009 applications lodged with it in India; Sweden refused 11.4% of 32,536. Sweden was the more lenient of the two by 21.5 percentage points. Multi-entry share: Greece 40.7%, Sweden 28.1%.
Greece
33.0%refused of 41,009 applications (2025). Issued 27,232, 40.7% multi-entry. Consulates in India: New Delhi (33.0%).
Sweden
11.4%refused of 32,536 applications (2025). Issued 28,564, 28.1% multi-entry. Consulates in India: New Delhi (11.4%).
17 years side by side
| Year | Greece applied | Greece refusal | Sweden applied | Sweden refusal | Gap (pp) | India avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 41,009 | 33.0% | 32,536 | 11.4% | +21.5 pp | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 41,418 | 31.3% | 32,939 | 14.4% | +16.9 pp | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 33,735 | 28.2% | 34,621 | 17.8% | +10.4 pp | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 27,457 | 33.2% | 27,775 | 18.4% | +14.8 pp | 18.0% |
| 2021 | 2,615 | 30.6% | 1,974 | 42.2% | -11.6 pp | 22.8% |
| 2020 | 6,298 | 17.5% | 3,935 | 10.9% | +6.7 pp | 16.9% |
| 2019 | 44,366 | 16.3% | 26,589 | 7.0% | +9.3 pp | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 45,341 | 11.5% | 24,707 | 7.9% | +3.6 pp | 9.3% |
| 2017 | 32,134 | 13.2% | 20,754 | 7.1% | +6.1 pp | 8.5% |
| 2016 | 26,197 | 8.6% | 17,918 | 6.7% | +1.9 pp | 8.2% |
| 2015 | 22,454 | 9.0% | 15,597 | 6.6% | +2.4 pp | 6.5% |
| 2014 | 18,816 | 9.5% | 12,770 | 5.1% | +4.4 pp | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 11,473 | 4.5% | 12,232 | 4.6% | -0.1 pp | 6.2% |
| 2012 | 5,641 | 3.6% | 14,055 | 4.7% | -1.1 pp | 6.1% |
| 2011 | 4,961 | 5.9% | 12,871 | 2.5% | +3.4 pp | 6.9% |
| 2010 | 3,733 | 22.2% | 10,613 | 2.5% | +19.7 pp | 6.5% |
| 2009 | 3,940 | 16.4% | 6,482 | 6.1% | +10.3 pp | 7.8% |
Gap = Greece minus Sweden 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); Sweden's from 6.1% to 11.4%. Volume tells the other half: Greece decided 41,009 files in 2025 against Sweden's 32,536, so Greece carries the heavier queue. On multi-entry visas, Greece was the more generous (40.7% vs 28.1%), 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 Sweden Schengen visa from India?
On 2025 refusal rates, Sweden (11.4%) 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 Sweden?
In 2025, Greece: 40.7% multi-entry share; Sweden: 28.1%.
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.