Depending on the duration and purpose of your journey to Greece, you may apply for a short-term “Schengen visa” or a long-term “national visa” for a stay of longer than 90 days.
* If you hold a US passport and wish to visit or travel within the EU, you will need a passport:
valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU country you are visiting,
Visa is an authorization issued by one of the member states of the Schengen area with a view to transit through or an intended stay in the territory of the member states for a duration of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
A uniform Schengen visa allows the holder a stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, and it is valid within the territory of the following countries: Greece, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland (Schengen Area ).
To calculate the length of your stay in the Schengen Area, click here .
Who needs a Schengen visa?
Whether you need a Schengen visa depends on your nationality. See the list of countries the nationals of which need or do not require a Schengen visa for a stay of up to 90-days in the Schengen area.
Airport Transit Visa (ATV)
The nationals of certain third countries may also need an airport transit visa (ATV) when they are to change planes at an airport of a Schengen member state. See the common list and the national list of countries whose nationals require an ATV. See also the exemptions from the ATV requirement.
Prior Consultation
A Schengen member state may require the central authorities of other member states to consult its central authorities during the examination of applications lodged by nationals of specific third countries. This consultation process can take up to seven days. Thus, visa applicants must bear this in mind when they lodge their visa applications. See the list of countries for which consultation is required.
Family members of EU/EEA & Swiss citizens
If you are a family member of a citizen of a member state of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, you may be eligible • for priority service when you lodge a visa application, • to apply directly at the Consulate, • to submit fewer documents and • for waiving of the visa fee, provided you can respond in the affirmative to all the following questions: A) Is there a citizen of the EU who exercises the right of free movement and from whom the visa applicant derives any rights? B) Does the visa applicant come under the definition of family member? C) Is the visa applicant accompanying or going to meet the EU citizen?
Rights deriving from the issued visa
Mere possession of an entry visa does not automatically confer the holder the right to enter the Schengen area. The border control authorities or other competent authorities can check the purpose of the journey and whether entry conditions are met. During their entry into Greece, citizens of third countries must be able to show that they have the necessary financial resources for their stay. For information, click here. These checks may result in the visa holder not being allowed to enter the country.
Refusal of visa application
If the visa application is refused, the consular authority will notify you in writing of the reasons for refusal. The refusal of a visa application is an individual administrative act that you can appeal. The form notifying you of the refusal of your application contains the necessary information on how you can appeal the decision.
Important Notice:
As of February 28, 2022, by an E.U. Council decision (6622/22/25-02-2022), the E.U. – Russia Visa Facilitation Agreement (VFA) was partially suspended for certain categories of Russian Federation citizens when they apply for a Schengen visa. In particular:
A. Visa exemption has been waived from all diplomatic passport holders, thus all of them should apply for a visa.
B. Applicants, enumerated below, are required to (i) pay a full visa fee (80 Euro) and (ii) submit in full all necessary documents in accordance with the Visa Code (the relevant provision, as for required attachments to their applications, of the VFA was waived too):
Members of the Russian Federation's official delegations who, following an official invitation addressed to the Russian Federation, are to participate in official meetings, consultations, negotiations or exchange programmes, as well as in events held in the territory of one of the Member States by intergovernmental organizations {Article 4 (1), point (a) & Article 5 (2), point (a)};
Members of national and regional Governments and Parliaments, as well as members Russian Federation’s Constitutional and Supreme Courts {Article 5 (1), point (a)};
Business applicants and representatives of business organizations {Article 4 (1), point (b)};
Citizens of the Russian Federation or the Member States holding valid diplomatic passports;
Lodging of Visa Application
The visa application shall, as a rule, be lodged to the consular authority at least 15 days before the intended visit and no earlier than three months before the start of the intended visit.
The decision on the visa application is made, as a rule, within 15 calendar days of the date of the lodging the application which is admissible by the consular authority. This period may be extended to up to 30 days or, in exceptional, specific cases to 60 calendar days. The consular authority will inform you of the decision date when it receives the application.
2. Passport, with at least two blank pages. The passport shall have been issued within the previous ten years. The passport shall be valid for at least three months after the intended date of your departure from the Schengen area or, in the case of multiple trips, until the date on which you plan to depart after your final stay.
4. Fingerprints. The applicant’s fingerprints shall be collected if they have not been registered in the VIS within the previous 59 months, during a previous lodging of a Schengen visa application. Certain categories of applicants are exempt from this obligation.
6. A valid Alien Resident Card or a visa to the U.S. (except for B1/B2).
7. Bank and credit card statements for the last 3 months.
8. W-2 forms for the last 2 years.
9. a) For employees: Reference letter from the employer stating position and monthly or annual salary b) For self-employed persons: A letter from the bank that you do business with, stating that the company is in good standing. c) For foreign students on F1 visas: -valid I-20 -reference letter from educational institution (school/college/university) stating that you are in good standing, your major and the expected date of graduation.
10. Roundtrip tickets and itinerary of your trip.
11. Hotel reservations or proof of participation in group travel. -If you are invited by a friend or family member: A letter of invitation (affidavit) signed by the inviting person and duly notarized in Greece. -If you are travelling for business and your accommodation costs are covered by an inviting company in Greece: A letter from the inviting company
Travel Medical Insurance
Applicants shall have travel medical insurance that covers emergency medical care, hospitalization and repatriation (in case of death included). The minimum coverage should be for €30.000. This insurance shall be valid for the entire Schengen area, in the case of a uniform visa, or for the territory of member state(s) concerned in case of a visa of limited territorial validity, and throughout the duration of the stay.
Please note that, during the processing time, the consulate may, in individual cases, ask you to submit additional information or documents, or, if deemed necessary, call the applicant for an interview.
Information on the processing of your personal data - General Data Protection Regulation – information to be provided to visa applicants
Attention! When your passport is returned to you, we ask that you check the affixed visa for any errors. If you find any errors, notify the consular authority immediately. If you do not do so, the consular authority bears no responsibility for any problems you may have carrying out your trip.
See useful information here on the visa you have been issued and on your trip to Greece and the Schengen area.
Entry and residence of third-country nationals in Greece - National Legislation
A long - term visa1 (National visa - D Type Visa) is an authorization issued by the competent Greek authorities for the entry and stay of third - country nationals in Greek territory for a period exceeding 90 and up to 365 days, according to the respective national legislation or European Union law on the residence status of third - country nationals.
Competent authority for issuing a national visa is the Greek diplomatic mission or consular post in whose jurisdiction the applicant is legally located.
