Greece visas

Greek Visa

When travelling to Greece with a Schengen visa, you will not be permitted to work. Nor do any favor in return for money. You will also not be able to overstay the duration of your visa. Any breach of these rules will impact your traveling or obtaining a Schengen visa in the future and could result in a ban or legal trouble from Greece and other countries in the Schengen area.

Greek Schengen

A Greek Schengen visa will let you enter Greece and stay for 90 days within a 6 month period. You will be able to travel to other countries in the Schengen area. The most common Greece Schengen Visa types are for tourism, visiting family or friends, business related activity, medical reasons, short term study, or Greek events.

Greek Schengen Options

Please select one of the following options when applying for your Greek Schengen Visa:

• Single Entry Visa
• Double Entry Visa
• Multiple Entry Visa

When to apply for my Greece Schengen Visa?

The best time to apply for your Greece Schengen Visa is as early as possible to avoid any delays or complications. Specifically, you can apply up to six months before your planned travel date and no later than 15 days before your trip. Applying early is especially important if you're planning to visit during busy tourist seasons or if your situation requires additional documentation or scrutiny.

Here's why applying early is advantageous:

So, for a smoother application process and peace of mind, apply as early as you can within the six-month to 15-day window before your planned travel date.

• Wait Times: Interview and processing times can vary based on the consulate's location, the season, and the type of visa. Sometimes waits can even stretch into months.
• Document Preparation: Gathering all the necessary documentation, such as financial statements, proof of accommodation, and travel itineraries, can take time.
• Appointment Availability: Consulates can get booked up quickly, especially during high-travel seasons like summer and the end-of-year holidays.
• Unforeseen Delays: There might be delays in the visa approval process due to various reasons like errors in the application, need for additional documentation, or other unexpected issues.
• Peace of Mind: Knowing that your visa is taken care of well in advance will give you peace of mind, allowing you to focus on planning other aspects of your trip.

What will I need for my Schengen Visa application to Greece?

The following is the standard set of requirements for a Greek Schengen visa:

• Passport/Travel Document. You must carry a valid passport that was issued within the last ten years. Your passport needs to be valid for 3 months after you return.
• Identity Picture. You need to take a recent identity picture.
• Greece Application form. When you apply for your Schengen visa you need to download, print, and fill in this form, and then attach it to your documents.
• Travel Itinerary. You may be asked to show a detailed travel plan which includes departure date, flight number, return date, the duration of your stay.
• Evidence of a Place to Stay. Proof of accommodation sometimes may be required depending on the embassy. It’s important to provide hotel bookings, rental agreements,.
• Sufficient Financial Means. You need to provide evidence that you have enough sufficient funds to finance your trip. Greece requires €50 minimum per day.
• Schengen travel insurance is mandatory for any visitor within the Schengen area. The insurance needs to cover expenses up to €30,000 for medical purposes.

Greek Schengen For Short Stays

You can use a Schengen Visa to enter Greece and 26 other European countries for up to 90 days, either for tourism or business. These countries make up the Schengen Zone, a region with a unified visa policy that acts as a single authority for international travel.

To visit Greece for short stays, you'll need a Type C Schengen Visa. This visa lets you stay in the Schengen region for up to 90 days within a 6-month period. You can check how to count your visa travel days in our Travel Days Calculator section. Reasons for travel can range from tourism and business to visiting family, cultural trips, medical needs, and more.

You can apply for a visa as early as six months or as late as 15 days before your planned visit. Everyone, including children and infants, must apply in person. You'll need to schedule your appointment online in advance.

National Visa / Residence Permit

If you plan to stay in Greece for more than 90 days, you'll need to apply for either a residence permit or a national D-Visa instead of a Greece Schengen visa.

Your long-stay visa should be valid for anywhere from three months to a year, depending on your needs. If you want to extend your stay further, you'll have to apply for a residence permit at a local prefecture.

During its validity, your long-stay visa acts just like a Schengen visa. This means you can travel and live in other Schengen countries outside Greece for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

If you come from a country that doesn't require a visa for the Schengen Zone, you can enter Greece without a visa. You can then apply for your national visa or residence permit while you're in the country.

Greek Schengen Application Process

A Greek Visa can be applied for up to 180 days before your trip.

For detailed information on specific parts of the Greek visa process, you can refer to the links in the table on the right to find the answer to your query. If you are unable to find any particular information, please contact us via email.

• Find out whether you need to apply for a Greece Visa.
• Check when is the right time to apply.
• Submit your details
• Receive processed documentation and appointment options
• Book your appointment as per the guidance
• Attend the visa interview.
• Give your biometrics.
• Pay the visa fee.

Schengen other visas

A Visa is required for any third national wishing to enter Greece or any other Schengen country. It could be a short-stay Schengen C-visa for stays of up to 90 days or a national D-visa / residence permit for longer stays in the country.

• Austria Visa — Belgium Visa — Czech Republic Visa
• Denmark Visa — Estonia Visa — Finland Visa
• Switzerland Visa — France Visa — Germany Visa
• Greece Visa — Hungary Visa — Iceland Visa
• Italy Visa — Latvia Visa — Liechtenstein Visa
• Lithuania Visa — Luxembourg Visa — Malta Visa
• Netherlands Visa — Norway Visa — Poland Visa
• Portugal Visa — Slovakia Visa — Slovenia Visa
• Spain Visa — Sweden Visa — Transit Visa

Greek Schengen Application Process

Before you file your Greek Schengen Visa application, you'll need to schedule an appointment. We'll first check our availability and then give you appropriate advice. You'll also need to gather several important documents to show that you have enough money for your stay, as well as proof of your accommodation and round-trip flights.

Greek Schengen Appointments

Apply for your visa as soon as you can, because interview wait times can differ based on location, season, and visa type. Check the appointment wait time for the location where you plan to apply, especially during busy seasons when waits can stretch into months.

Schengen Member Countries

Greece is in the Schengen area. Which is a zone in which 27 European countries. All countries have abolished their internal borders. This allows for the free and unrestricted movement of people. While also adhering to common rules for controlling external borders. It also aids in combating criminality by bolstering the common judicial system and police cooperation.

Except for Ireland and the nations that will soon be part of Romania, Bulgaria, and Cyprus, the Schengen Area encompasses the majority of EU countries. Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein are all members of the Schengen zone despite not being EU members.

Greece Visa Purposes

People who want to visit family or friends who are legitimately residing in the Schengen area fall under this category. It is also a fact that many people frequently travel to and from the Schengen countries for business. As a general rule, if your activities are restricted to basic internal or external meetings, fact-finding, conference participation, and some types of short-term training, you may enter as a Business Visitor (and not need to seek a visa, work permit, or work permit exemption). Business operations outside of these categories can need more paperwork.

People also travel to Greece for the purpose of receiving medical care. It is a fact that the standard of healthcare in Greece is generally high, hence the number of visitors that make the trip each year. Studying is also a major key factor. Students and learners that plan to enroll in any educational setting for a time period shorter than three months, including university courses, language programs, and other programs also visit the country.

How To Apply For A Greece Schengen Visa

Follow the steps outlined below to proceed with the visa process:

• Wait for your submission to be reviewed
• Receive your processed documentation
• Print & sign your Schengen visa application documents
• Gather the supporting documents as advised
• Attend your appointment at the visa application centre & pay the visa fees
• Wait for the result and collect your passport

Greece Visa Process

You will be advised and guided through the entire process to ensure a smooth application for your Greece Visa. If you have any questions prior to your submission, please contact us via email.

Entry To Greece

Apply for your visa as soon as possible, because wait times vary by location, season, and visa type. Check the appointment wait time at the place where you'll be applying. Appointments during the busy season can be booked months in advance.

Review your visa sticker carefully to understand the validity dates and entry permissions.

Requirements For A Visa To Greece

For detailed information on specific parts of the Schengen visa process for Greece, you can refer to the links in the table to the right to find the answer to your query. If you are unable to find any particular information, please get in touch.

• Completed Application Form (printed & signed)
• Appointment Confirmation Letter
• Proof of Employment (Contracts, letter of employment)
• Proof of financial means (3 months recent bank statements)
• Proof of travel (Confirmed round-trip flight tickets & itinerary)
• Proof of accomodation (Hotel bookings, private residence documents)
• Travel Medical Insurance (Valid for all Schengen countries, covering the full duration of your trip)

Greece National Visa / Residence Permits

You must apply for a residency permit or national D-Visa, rather than a short-stay Schengen C-visa if you plan to stay in Greece for more than 90 days every 180 days.

Your long-stay visa must be for 3 months to 1 year. This is regardless of the length of your anticipated stay. You must apply for a residence permit at a prefecture to prolong your stay beyond the duration of your visa.

The long-stay visa is comparable to a Schengen visa throughout its validity term, allowing you to travel and remain in the Schengen area outside of Greece for up to 90 days in any 180-day period under the same circumstances as if you had a Schengen visa.

If you are a country citizen that can visit the Schengen zone without a visa, you may travel visa-free and apply for your national visa/residence permit from within Greece.