Which Countries Issue Multiple-Entry Visas Most Often, and Who is More Likely to Get It?

In 2023, 4.6 million multiple-entry Schengen visas (MEV) were issued, which is 54.2% of the total number of visas issued to the Schengen area. Which countries are the most generous with multiple-entry visas? Which countries' citizens have the best chance of getting them? Read our article.

How Multiple-Entry Schengen Visas were Issued in 2023

A multiple-entry Schengen visa allows you to enter the Schengen area several times during the visa’s validity. You can stay in their territory for up to 90 days every six months. Such a visa can be valid for up to five years.

According to data published on the SchengenVisaInfo statistics portal, about 10.3 million applications for Schengen visas were submitted in 2023. Of this number, approximately 4.6 million multiple-entry visas were approved and issued. This means that more than half of all Schengen visas issued last year — about 54.2% — were multiple-entry types.

Interestingly, this figure has decreased slightly compared to 2022, when the share of MEVs issued was 58.1%.

Leaders in MEV Issuance

Here are the top five countries that issued the largest number of multiple-entry Schengen visas in 2023:

1. Germany: 1.1 million MEV.
2. France: 791,417 MEV.
3. Italy: 680,794 MEV.
4. Switzerland: 349,862 MEV.
5. Greece: 344,668 MEV.

These figures seem logical, considering that the countries listed have large economies and are popular tourist destinations in Europe. Germany, which ranks first, is known for its strong economy and business ties with many countries outside the Schengen area. France and Italy have traditionally attracted many tourists and also have close economic and cultural ties with countries in North Africa and the Middle East.

Countries Most Likely to Issue Multiple-Entry Visas

However, absolute figures do not give a complete picture. It is also interesting to look at the share of MEV in the total number of issued visas. This indicator allows us to assess how much a country is inclined to issue multiple-entry visas. In this regard, the leaders are:

1. Germany: 90.4% of all issued visas are multiple-entry.
2. Austria: 75.7%.
3. Italy: 70.2%.
4. Switzerland: 69.1%.
5. Greece: 66.1%.

Nationalities with the Biggest Number of MEV Received

It is equally interesting to consider which countries' citizens most often received multiple-entry Schengen visas in 2023:

1. Turkey: 612,841 MEV
2. India: 505,053 MEV
3. China: 435,623 MEV
4. Saudi Arabia: 357,508 MEV
5. Morocco: 233,018 MEV

Turkey, which ranks first on the list, received 7.2% of all MEVs issued, with Germany issuing the majority of these visas (21.5%).

It is interesting to note the differences in visa issuance policies among Schengen countries for different nationalities. For example, Germany issued 35.2% of all MEVs to Chinese applicants, with multiple-entry visas accounting for 97.2% of all visas issued by Germany to Chinese nationals.

Switzerland was the most favorable to Indian applicants, issuing 32.55% of all multiple-entry visas issued to them, with MEVs accounting for 88% of all visas issued by Switzerland to Indian nationals.

France led the way in issuing MEVs to Moroccans, with multiple-entry visas accounting for 81.3% of all visas issued to this nationality. Furthermore, France issued 57.7% of all MEVs issued to Moroccans in 2023.

For Saudi Arabia citizens, France was also the leader in issuing visas. A third (33%) of all MEVs issued to Saudis last year were issued by France. The share of multiple-entry visas among all visas issued by France to Saudi Arabia citizens was 92%.

Nationalities Most Likely to Receive Multiple-Entry Schengen Visas

Of particular interest is the analysis of which countries' citizens were most likely to receive multiple-entry visas. Here are the top five:

1. Kosovo: 95% of all visas received were multiple-entry.
2. Bahrain: 91.3%.
3. Saudi Arabia: 89.8%.
4. Belarus: 87.3%.
5. Oman: 86.8%.