Greece Significantly Increases Schengen Visa Denials for Russian Tourists Amid Regulatory Changes
Greek authorities have sharply raised refusal rates for Russian Schengen visa applicants, impacting tour operators and independent travelers amid evolving EU policies.
In a notable shift affecting the Russian travel market, Greece has begun systematically denying Schengen visa applications from Russian citizens. This trend has alarmed Russian tour operators who report refusal rates reaching as high as 50% during peak season, while independent travelers face even steeper rejection rates approaching 70%.
The Association of Russian Tour Operators (ATOR) revealed on July 29 that some Russian agencies are struggling to secure Greek visas for clients despite fully paid trips and confirmed accommodations by Greek partners. In one documented case, a visa request was rejected twice despite the applicant providing evidence of property ownership in Moscow and strong financial credentials.
Business Implications for Russian Tour Operators
"Direct visa refusals in such volume have not been observed before," remarked representatives from a Russian tourism company, highlighting uncertainty about the underlying reasons.
In 2025, Greece issued approximately 59,000 Schengen visas to Russian nationals, with 41.6% being multiple-entry permits. However, refusal rates for Greek visas stood at 11.2%, nearly double the Schengen zone average of 6.4%, according to official statistics.
The broader Russian Schengen visa landscape in 2025 shows growth in demand and issuance. Over 620,000 Schengen visas were granted to Russians—an increase of 10% year-on-year—with application volumes rising 8.42% to 674,000. Yet, the issuance of multiple-entry visas plummeted dramatically from 57% to just 12% in the first two months after the European Commission implemented stricter rules.
This regulatory tightening, introduced in November 2025, prohibits granting multi-entry Schengen visas to Russian citizens, citing security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. ATOR interprets the surge in single-entry visa issuance as travelers now needing to apply more frequently for travel authorization, disrupting previous patterns where long-validity visas were common.
Competitive Dynamics in European Visa Issuance
Nearly 75% of all Russian Schengen visa applications in 2025 were submitted to France, Italy, and Spain, which collectively issued 68% of all visas to Russian nationals. While Italy reduced visa issuances by 5.8% and Spain's numbers remained stable compared to 2024, France increased its visa grants to Russians by nearly 30%, totaling approximately 173,000.
This shifting visa landscape creates operational challenges for Russian tour operators and independent travelers, complicating travel planning and increasing uncertainty. The Greek visa refusal surge particularly impacts tour operators relying on Greece as a key destination, forcing strategic reassessments of market offerings and client advisories.
Overall, the combination of heightened visa restrictions, geopolitical tensions, and evolving European Union policy frameworks is reshaping the competitive environment for Russian outbound tourism, compelling industry stakeholders to adapt to new regulatory realities and changing traveler behavior.
