Visa Procedures

Applying for a Greek Schengen visa after previously using a Schengen visa from another country (e.g., a French visa) to visit a different set of countries (e.g., Spain and Portugal) can lead to visa refusal by Greek authorities. This is considered non-compliance with the 'first entry' or 'main destination' rule. Greek consulates have become stricter in recent years and are more prone to refusing such applications, regardless of attempts to strengthen the document package (e.g., fully paid bookings, cover letters). While historical precedents (e.g., during COVID-19) might show successful subsequent applications, this is not the current trend.

For a Swiss tourist visa application submitted in Moscow, one reported case of visa refusal took exactly two weeks to process. Applicants should account for potential delays in processing times.