How to apply for a Schengen visa to Greece: requirements and an application process

A Schengen Visa is a document that allows you to enter Greece and 28 other Schengen countries for traveling purposes. Once you get it, you can spend up to 90 days within any 180 days traveling around Greece and the Schengen area. The Schengen visa is also called a short-stay visa.

This article reviews the application process for getting a short-stay visa: the requirements, how to book an appointment, and where to get an application form.

Entry requirements for foreigners

When you enter Greece, the border officer asks for a travel document. Depending on your citizenship, it can be a passport, an ID or a visa.

Only a passport or an ID is required for nationals of Schengen states. These countries are highlighted in the picture below.

A passport, a visa or a passport and a visa are required for nationals of non-Schengen countries.

Apart from them, border officers may ask about the purpose of your stay, the duration of your visit and where you will live for this period. It would be best to prepare to answer these questions and provide supporting documents.

For example, if you are going to stay in a hotel, you will need to show a hotel reservation for the time of your stay — either printed or digital.

Who needs a visa to enter Greece

Whether you need a visa or not depends on your citizenship and the duration of your stay.

In case of short stays up to 90 days: 

• visa is not required for nationals of the Schengen countries. It is also not required for 62 countries that have visa-free agreements with the Schengen Area, for example, the US, the UK, Israel;
• visa is required for nationals of non-Schengen countries and countries without visa-free agreements with the Schengen Area.

In case of extended stays above 90 days:

• visa is not required for nationals of the EU and the Schengen countries. Instead, they have to undergo a simplified procedure and get the EU registration certificate;
• visa is required for nationals of all non-EU and non-Schengen countries.

Pay attention that visas for 90+ days are not issued for traveling, medical treatment or business and family visits. Instead, they are granted to people who go to the Schengen countries for studying, working, or reunification.

What type of Schengen Visa apply for

There are two types of Schengen Visas you can apply for, depending on the purpose of the trip.

Airport transit type A visa is required for travelers who transfer to another flight in the Greek airport but do not enter Greece. A non-Schengen country must be their final destination.

Short-stay type C visa is a travel visa. It allows owners to travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within 180 days. It is issued for various purposes, including tourism, business meetings, visiting family or friends, attending conferences, or medical treatment.

Documents required to apply for a short-stay Greece Schengen Visa

• Visa application form. Download the form online, complete and print it. You will need to submit it at the consulate with the other documents. Find the form on the Greece MFA website in a chosen language.
• Three passport-size photos. They should be taken in the last 6 months and follow the Schengen Visa requirements.
• A valid passport and a copy of a passport. There are a few criteria a passport needs to follow: it must not be older than 10 years, should have at least 2 free pages and be valid for at least 3 months after the planned date of leaving Greece and the Schengen Area.
• Return ticket or evidence that the applicant has transport to leave the Schengen Area before the visa expires. You may provide the vehicle’s registration number and vehicle insurance as evidence.

• Proof of financial means to support yourself during the trip. The minimal sum in Greece is €50 daily per adult and €25 per child under 18. For stays up to 5 days, at least €300 is required.As proof, you can use bank statements for the last 3 months or more, salary slips, traveler’s cheques or a sponsorship letter in case someone in Greece is sponsoring your trip.

• Travel health insurance with minimal coverage of €30,000. Check that the insurance is valid in Greece and the Schengen Area — otherwise, it won’t be accepted.
• Proof of accommodation: a hotel reservation or, if you have a host in Greece, a signed copy of the sponsorship form from your host.
• Documents to prove the purpose of your trip. For example, a travel ticket and a hotel reservation for tourism purposes or an invitation from a Greece clinic for getting medical treatment.

Additional documents required for minors

Children’s applications are processed similarly to adults’ but require additional documents:

• a certificate from the school where the child is studying — it should include the address of the school and its phone number;
• a birth certificate and a valid passport;
• a visa application form — each child should have a separate visa application form, filled and signed by one or both parents.

If a child travels with both parents, they sign a visa application form. If only one parent is traveling with the child, for example, a mother, then only she signs the application form. In this case, a father must provide a written declaration of consent.

Both parents give written consent if a child travels alone or with other adults, but not the parents.

At the consulate, it is essential to verify the accuracy of the information in your passport and on a visa sticker, such as name, surname, validity dates and the purpose of your visit. If you identify any errors, notify the consulate to resolve this issue.

If everything is fine, you are all set for your journey to Greece.

How long does it take to get a Schengen Visa for Greece

The usual processing time for visa applications is 15 days, although it may be extended up to 45 days in some instances. For example, if the consulate needs to verify your documents or get additional ones. To avoid delays, make sure you provide all the documents when applying for a visa.

You should apply for a visa at least 15 days before departure to Greece. Besides, applications cannot be submitted more than 6 months in advance.

Why can a visa be refused

The main reasons for visa rejections are:

• lack of required documents, for example, an invalid passport or a not fully completed application form;
• false documents.

Note that the visa application payment is not refunded in case of refusal. However, you can appeal this decision if you are sure that your application was refused mistakenly.

What to do when the visa expires

You need to leave Greece and the Schengen area before your visa expires. If you overstay, you may face penalties, such as fines, deportation, or restrictions on future travel within the Schengen area.

If you are in Greece on a short-stay Schengen visa, which permits you to stay there for up to 90 days, extending it in the country is impossible. Instead, you must leave the Schengen area and apply for a new visa.

How to enter Greece without a visa

To get free access to Greece and other 28 Schengen countries, citizens of non‑Schengen countries may obtain an EU residence permit by investing in real estate or securities in the Schengen country. In this case, a visa is not required.

A residence permit allows investors and their families to enter the country of residence even if the borders are closed. Applicants also get access to healthcare services, education and global income tax optimization. Such programs operate in Greece, Italy, and Malta. 

Summary

• A Schengen Visa is a document that allows its owner to enter Greece and 28 other Schengen countries for the duration of the visa.
• Visas are not required for nationals of the Schengen countries and citizens of countries with visa-free agreements with the Schengen Area. They may spend up to 90 days within any 180 days traveling to Greece and other states.
• To apply for a visa, you need to collect the required documents, book an appointment in your local Greece consulate or embassy, submit the documents and make a payment.
• The application process for getting a visa takes at least 15 days, but in specific cases may take up to 45 days. It’s better to be ready for such delays.
• To enter Greece without a visa, investors may consider getting a residence permit by investing in one of the EU countries or one with a visa-free agreement with the Schengen area.

Frequently asked questions