Greece Significantly Increases Schengen Visa Denials for Russian Travelers Amid EU Policy Shift

Greece has recently escalated the refusal rate of Schengen visa applications submitted by Russian citizens, with some Russian tour operators reporting denial rates up to 50% during peak season. Independent travelers face even higher rejection rates, reaching nearly 70%, according to data shared by the Russian Association of Tour Operators (ATOR).

Implications for Travel and Business Ecosystem

These refusals occur despite applicants providing full proof of prepaid trips and confirmed accommodations by Greek host companies. Some rejected applicants have demonstrated strong ties to Russia, including ownership of real estate and impeccable financial documentation. One tour operator emphasized that such a volume of direct refusals had not been observed previously and expressed uncertainty about the reasons behind this sharp increase.

"Direct visa refusals in such numbers have not been seen before," said a representative from a Russian travel company.

Official statistics indicate that in 2025, Greece issued nearly 59,000 visas to Russian citizens, with 41.6% being multiple-entry visas. However, 11.2% of applications were denied, which is notably higher than the 6.4% average refusal rate across the Schengen zone. The overall number of Schengen visas granted to Russians rose by 10% compared to the previous year, totaling over 620,000, while visa applications increased by 8.42% to 674,000. Yet, the share of multiple-entry visas granted to Russians plunged from 57% to just 12% in the first two months following the European Commission’s tightened visa rules.

Almost 75% of all Russian Schengen visa applications in 2025 were submitted to France, Italy, and Spain, which collectively issued 68% of the visas. Italy slightly reduced visa issuance by 5.8%, Spain remained stable, whereas France increased visa issuance to Russians by approximately 30%, issuing around 173,000 visas.

European Commission’s Policy and Security Concerns

In November 2025, the European Commission imposed a ban on issuing multiple-entry visas to Russian nationals, citing security risks amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This shift compels Russian travelers to apply for visas more frequently, contributing to the spike in application numbers and rejection rates.

ATOR commented that the increase in visa issuance in 2025 is partially due to travelers’ need to secure new visas annually, rather than relying on multi-year multiple-entry visas as before.

Venture Capital and Startup Ecosystem Impact

While primarily a travel and geopolitical development, these visa policy changes indirectly affect the tech startup and venture capital ecosystem as well. Greece has been positioning itself as a growing tech hub within Europe, attracting international startups and investors. The heightened visa rejections complicate business travel for Russian entrepreneurs, investors, and tech talent aiming to engage with the Greek and broader European markets.

Frequent visa denials may limit cross-border collaborations, delay startup expansions, and reduce Russian participation in European tech innovation forums, potentially slowing down the integration of Russian tech ventures into the EU ecosystem. Additionally, the need for repeated visa applications creates administrative burdens and uncertainty for venture capitalists and founders who require mobility for deal-making, partnership cultivation, and scaling operations.

Overall, the increases in visa refusals reflect broader EU security and foreign policy priorities but pose challenges for the interconnected tech and startup communities seeking to maintain cross-border cooperation and growth.