Greek Citizens Among the Least Affected by Visa Restrictions in 2023

Photo source: IATA

Greece was listed among the countries which facilitate visa-free travel, according to UN Tourism’s “Tourism Visa Openness Report 2023”.

More specifically, Greece ranked 18^th among 30 countries whose citizens were affected the least by visa restrictions in 2023. Greece received a mobility score of 167.1.

In terms of tourism visa openness, Greece received a score of 23.56 percent on the Tourism Visa Openness Index, which assesses how countries facilitate tourism through visa policies.

Source: UN Tourism

According to the United Nations report, travel is returning to pre-pandemic openness, destinations are returning to pre-Covid levels following the lifting of Covid-19-related travel restrictions.

At the same time, new forms of travel facilitation such as nomad visas have been introduced while traditional visa requirements are on the decline.

In Greece, 76 percent travel with a traditional visa and 24 percent visa-free.

Europe

With regard to Europe, the report says that European destinations have maintained relatively restrictive visa policies, albeit with some progression in recent years.

As of 2023, 26% of the world’s population can enter Europe without a visa, an increase from 22% in 2015. Nonetheless, Europe has the highest demand for traditional visas, with 63% of the global population requiring one for entry, though this is down from 76% in 2015.

The availability of eVisas has also seen a significant rise, serving 2% of the global population in 2015 and expanding to 11% in 2023. On the other hand, Europe offers the least possibility for visas on arrival, extending this convenience to only 1% of the global population.

Source: UN Tourism

Examining subregional visa policies, Northern, Western and Southern/Mediterranean Europeexhibit relatively consistent regulations, with each requiring a traditional visa from comparable portions of the global population and simultaneously offering visa waivers to a substantial number of travellers.

The Central/Eastern European subregion has made commendable strides in enhancing accessibility, eliminating visa requirements for 26% of the world’s population in 2023, up from 20% in 2018.

In the wider European framework, the EU-27 nations show significant openness, especially as they permit 23% of the global population to enter visa-free.

Photo source: European Commission

Other key takeaways of the report include:

– fewer people worldwide require a traditional visa to travel, falling from 77 percent in 2008 to 59 percent in 2018, and then to 47 percent in 2023

– 21 percent of the world’s travelers do not need any form of visa: up from 17 percent in 2008 and from 20 percent in 2018

– 14 percent of the world population can apply for visa on arrival: up from 6 percent in 2008 and from 15 percent in 2018

– 18 percent of the world population can apply for eVisas: up from 3 percent in 2013 and from 7 percent in 2018.