Greece Tourist Visa Requirements

If you want to visit Greece for holidays, depending on the country you come from you may require a tourist visa. Below you can find all the information to get started with your visa application.

#1 Who Needs a Visa to Visit Greece on Holidays? Which are  the Greece Visa-Free countries?

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, here is the table that shows if you need a Visa or not to visit Greece, depending on the country of your origin.

Notes:

(1) the visa requirement exemption should only apply to holders of biometric passports
(2) the visa requirement exemption is not applied to holders of Serbian passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (in Serbian: koordinaciona uprava)
(4) the visa exemption applies to holders of service and special passports issued by Turkey
(5) the visa exemption applies to holders of diplomatic and special passports issued by the UAE

#2 If I don’t need a Visa, how long can I stay in Greece?

If you come from a Visa-Free country, you can stay in Greece for 90 days in a period of 180 days.

#3 How much does the Tourist Visa to Greece cost?

It depends on the country you originate from. You have to consult your local embassy to get to know the cost. Usually, the Schengen fee is 60 euros and the cost for citizens from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and children between 6 and 12 years old is 35 euros.

#4 Do I need to show cash with me to get the visa?

In some countries, there is a requirement that you show that you have at least 50 euros for every day that you want to stay in Greece for your holidays.

#4 Where can I find the application form?

You can find the application form to apply for your tourist visa to Greece at http://www.mfa.gr/en/visas/schengen-visas/application-form.html 

#5 Can I apply for a visa if I am under 18?

No, if you are under 18 years old, your parents should apply for the visa.

#6 When should my passport expire at the latest to apply for a visa?

Your passport should expire at least after three months from the day that you apply for a visa to Greece.

#7 Is there any other requirement for my passport?

Yes, your passport should have at least two blank pages, so that the visa sign can be posted.

#8 Should I book my flight before I get my visa?

No! Don’t do that! If you don’t get the approval for your touristic visa to Greece, you will not be compensated for the cost of your flight tickets. Get the visa first and book the flights at a later stage.

#9 What is the step-by-step process to apply for a tourist visa to Greece?

It varies a little bit depending on your country of origin but in general you have to follow these steps:

Step 1: Get an application form, which is provided to you for free by your embassy. Always call your embassy first.

Step 2: Get 2 recent, colored photos 3x4cms. They should be “passport photos”.

Step 3: If you are employed, you will need to get a letter from your employer which states your salary.

Step 4: You will need to prove that you have the necessary funds (cash) to stay in Greece. E.g., a confirmation letter from your bank for the existence of an account of yours in euros, dollars etc. If there is no bank account in your name you should have a travel cheque.

Step 5: You need to provide a confirmation of your accommodation arrangements to a Greek Hotel, from a travel agency. If you are not planning to stay in a hotel, and you are planning to visit a friend at his house, then your host should prove his financial ability to host you and go to the police to get a validated declaration which will state all the necessary information of the guest.

Step 6: You need to have a travel insurance which will cover all the expenses to be transferred back to your country in case of a serious accident.

Step 7: Pay the visa fee (e.g. 60 or 35 euros or other)

#10 How Long will it take to get my Visa approved and issued?

Usually it takes between 2 and 15 days depending on the quality of your application and the information you provide and the period of the year. The high season is May to July, so expect some delays.

#11 Should I apply on my own for the Visa or could I get it done through a third party?

Both ways are ok. You could ask your travel agent to do all the paperwork for your visa, although this might take a little bit longer.

#12 What if I want to stay for more than 90 days in Greece?

You cannot do that unfortunately. You will need to get a permanent stay visa to do that, which is a whole different process.

#13 Where can I get a sample of the Invitation Letter for the Greek Visa?

There is not any official sample for the invitation letter. You can see an example e.g. if you are attending a conference, at http://www.icsv23.org/documents/VisaLetterTemplate.png .

#14 Where can I get the Official Information on Tourist Visas to Greece?

The best source is the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant website is http://www.mfa.gr/usa/en/services/services-for-non-greeks/visa-section.html

Disclaimer: All this information is meant to help you and is NOT official in any way. Please always consult your local embassies on the process.