Short answer: The lasting way to stop applying for Schengen visas is to hold a residence permit from a Schengen country. For example, the 5-year residence card issued with the Greece Golden Visa lets you travel across the whole Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your spouse and children receive the same right.
For many travellers, chasing appointments, preparing documents and waiting for a decision has become more tiring than the trip itself. This guide looks at the current figures and compares short-term and permanent solutions.
Schengen Visas in Numbers
According to European Commission data for 2025, Schengen consulates received nearly 12 million short-stay visa applications, and 14.8% were refused. The largest source countries were China, Türkiye and India:
| Country | Applications (2025) | Refusal rate |
|---|---|---|
| China | ≈ 1.8 million | not published |
| Türkiye | ≈ 1.25 million | 14.6% |
| India | 1,153,748 | 15.8% |
| All Schengen applications | ≈ 12 million | 14.8% |
Sources: European Commission, short-stay visa statistics; Travel Trade Journal, 1 June 2026.
A refusal is not just a cancelled trip. The visa fee of €90 and any service charges are not refunded, and the refusal is taken into account in later applications. In busy periods, finding an appointment can take weeks.
The Real Problem: Starting Again Every Time
A Schengen visa is a short-term permit tied to a trip. When it expires, the process starts again:
- Appointments: slots are hard to find at peak times, and reports of appointments being resold are common.
- Documents: bank statements, employment letters, hotel and flight bookings must be prepared for each application.
- Uncertainty: decisions can arrive close to the travel date, putting flight and hotel costs at risk.
- Family: each family member applies separately.
A Short-Term Help: Cascade Rules for Multi-Entry Visas
The EU applies “cascade” rules for several countries, for example India since 2024 and Türkiye since July 2025. Travellers who have used previous Schengen visas lawfully can receive multi-entry visas valid for 1, 3 and then 5 years.
This helps regular travellers, but:
- a long-term visa is not a right; each application is still assessed;
- people with a refusal, a short travel history or a first application do not benefit;
- the visa covers short trips only and gives no right to live or study in Europe.
The Permanent Solution: A Residence Permit in a Schengen Country
A residence permit issued by a Schengen country lets you travel to the other Schengen countries without a visa, for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The fastest way to obtain one, without a job or a study place, is a Golden Visa: residence in exchange for a qualifying investment.
Greece Golden Visa
The most popular programme in Europe. With the Greece Golden Visa:
- property worth €800,000, €400,000 or, for conversion projects, €250,000 gives a renewable 5-year residence card;
- your spouse, children up to 21 and the parents of both spouses are included (family members);
- there is no minimum stay in Greece; the card stays valid even if you live elsewhere;
- while you hold the card, you do not need visa appointments for Schengen travel.
Other Schengen countries
- Bulgaria: a full Schengen member since 2025; a fund investment of about €512,000 gives permanent residence.
- Portugal: residence through options such as a €500,000 investment fund; the property route has closed.
- Hungary: a 10-year permit for a €250,000 real estate fund investment.
- Latvia: residence through company investment; the property route is closed to new applications.
Compare all programmes: European Golden Visa programmes.
Schengen Visa or Golden Visa?
| Topic | Schengen visa | Greece Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Validity | Per trip; up to 5 years under cascade rules | 5 years, renewable |
| Refusal risk | Every application (14.8% on average in 2025) | Low if requirements and documents are complete |
| Appointments | Needed for every application | Not needed while the card is valid |
| Family | Each person applies separately | Spouse, children and parents included |
| Living in Europe | No, short trips only | Right to live in Greece and enrol children in school |
| Cost | €90 fee plus service charges, every time | Property investment (options from €250,000) plus costs |
Who Is a Golden Visa Right For?
- People who have been refused a visa: a previous Schengen refusal is not in itself a barrier; criminal records and any Schengen entry ban are checked.
- Frequent business travellers: people who want to plan trade fairs, meetings and client visits without waiting for appointments.
- Families planning education in Europe: the right to live in Greece and enrol children in school is a long-term option.
- Investors who want euro assets: the property gives both residence and rental income.
See the full list of destinations: visa-free countries with a Greece Golden Visa.
Important: a Golden Visa gives residence, not the right to work. Read more: Greece Golden Visa and work permits.
Sources
- European Commission – Short-stay visas issued by Schengen countries (statistics)
- Travel Trade Journal – Schengen visa applications near 12 million in 2025
- EU Delegation to Türkiye – more favourable Schengen visa rules (July 2025)
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. It is updated when the rules change.
Let’s plan a permanent solution together
We will review the Golden Visa option that fits your budget and family in an initial consultation.
