Important Travel Document Information – Please Read
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:
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:
- 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.
- Flexibility: If your visa application is processed well in advance, you’ll have more flexibility to deal with any changes in your travel plans.
- 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.
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.
How long will it take to get my Visa?
It takes up to 15 working days from the day of your appointment at the Greek Visa Application Center (VAC) to process your application to Greece. As appointments can be booked up for months, it is advised to apply well in advance.
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 €30 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
- Find out whether you need to apply for a Greece Visa.
- Check when is the right time to apply.
- Submit your details
- Await review of your application details
- Receive processed documentation and appointment options
- Book your appointment as per the guidance
- Collect the required documents. You can find a list of all these documents provided to you with your application form.
- Attend the visa interview.
- Give your biometrics.
- Pay the visa fee.
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.
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.
Greek Schengen Application Process
After you complete the online form and submit your information, we’ll review and process your Greek Schengen visa application. We’ll clarify any errors or unclear details right away to make sure your application goes smoothly.
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.
If you’ve already booked your travel and can’t find an available appointment, the Embassy or Consulate might offer you an expedited appointment if you show proof of bookings. While we’ll make sure your visa application goes smoothly, an approved visa doesn’t guarantee entry into the Schengen Zone.
People Also Asked...
This depends on a number of things such as whether or not you have had a Schengen visa in the past or how many countries you intend to visit. Generally you first Schengen visa will be issued for the duration of your stay. Future applications may be granted for multiple entry for a number of years.
There are 26 Schengen members states in Europe. You can see the full list of countries in the Schengen zone in the table on this page.
You can expect an update on your application within 3 days of submission. You can choose express processing at checkout for a response within 24 hours.
Once you attend your appointment, your visa can take up to 15 working days to be processed by the Embassy.
The processing of visa applications may take up to 15 calendar days. For some nationalities (see list here), the visa application requires consultation with other Schengen nations, resulting in a three-week minimum processing period. Some applications may necessitate further processing, which may take up to 45 days.
Yes. According to Schengen regulations, the Schengen visa is normally valid in all Schengen nations. Please note, however, that you must always apply at the consulate of your primary destination country.
Yes. According to Schengen regulations, the Schengen visa is normally valid in all Schengen nations.
With a visa issued by any Schengen country, it is possible to cross any Schengen border.
An extended stay type C Schengen Visa is required for anyone who intends to visit Greece and stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within 180 days (6 months) (Information on how to calculate your visa travel days can be found on this page under the Calculator for Category Travel Days.)
Lithuania is the simplest country to obtain a Schengen visa from, with 98.7% of applications being approved. Additionally, the nation receives less applications than Germany or France, which are more popular with tourists and business travellers.
Greece continues to be a reasonably simple country to obtain a Schengen visa, with 91.6% of applications being approved.