- nTourist visanot required
- nBusiness visanot required
Most foreigners planning to visit Greece on business need a Greece business visa before they can enter the country to pursue their economic interests. The Greek government has opened its borders after dropping travel restrictions due to the pandemic. Also, the economy is already running at full gear, so visitors are now welcome to visit Greece as long as they comply with health and safety guidelines.
What Is The Greece Business Visa?
The Greece business visa is a special visa issued to foreigners with business interests in the country. You can obtain this visa to attend business meetings and events, sign contracts, and engage in any other commercial-related activity. Greece is one of the most visited countries in the world, and many of the people who come here do so on a tourist visa. However, a small percentage of them visit on a business visa.
The Greek economy produces an annual GDP of $216 billion per annum, and the Tourism and Maritime industries are two of the biggest employers of labor. Greece also has an extractive industry as well as a growing services industry. Agriculture is also not far behind; the country is a source of cash and food crops.
Business visas are of two types: the single entry visa and the double entry visa. Single-entry visas can only be sued once, while double-entry visas can be sued several times. The average Validity of a business visa is 90 days, but there are other options like 180 days, 1 Year, and 2 years options.
Who Needs A Business Visa
A business visa is only demanded from visitors who are
Not from European Union member states
Not from Schengen states
Not from the US or the UK
If you are not from any of these countries, you definitely need a business visa to enter Greece. However, citizens from any of the above countries need visas if they plan to stay in Greece longer than the 90 days allowed.
Kindly note that a business visa is not the same as a work visa. Business visas are for activities that will not earn the holder direct financial remuneration. Work visas, on the other hand, allow the holder to work and are valid for much longer.
How To Apply For a Business Visa
If you are from a country where online visa applications are not allowed, you need to visit the Greek embassy in your country to submit a visa application form in person. This process takes a long time, but you don’t have a choice. After paying the visa application fee and submitting the form and all required documents, an interview will be scheduled for you. If you are successful, the visa will be issued to you.
For those from countries where online applications are allowed, they can fill out the form and submit it from the comfort of their homes. The application process on VisaHQ is relatively easy, and you can complete it in 30 minutes or less. Here are the simple steps to take.
Log onto VisaHQ
Select Greece as your destination
Choose your country of citizenship
Select “Business Visa” as your visa of choice
Fill out the application form
Scan and upload the required documents
Pay the visa application fee
Submit for approval
The online application method is relatively easy, and you don’t have to submit physical documents. Furthermore, the visa will be forwarded to your registered email. All you need do is print out the Greece Schengen visa and travel with it to Greece. At the arrival point, the immigration officers on duty will examine the visa alongside other documents and your passport. They will stamp your passport and let you through.
Eligibility Criteria for Greece Business Visa
Only applicants that can prove beyond reasonable doubt why they need a business Greek Schengen visa will be issued one. They must also prove that they have strong ties with their home country. Here are the documentary Greece business visa requirements.
Passport: A passport with at least 6 months validity. The passport must not be more than 10 years old and must have at least 2 blank pages.
Invitation letter: The company or organization inviting you over must issue an invitation letter attached to your application.
Photograph: 2 recent passport sized photographs. The photographs must not be more than 6 months old, in colored form, and printed on a white background.
Medical Insurance: Medical insurance certificate with a minimum cover of €30,000 to cover any medical expenses you might incur during your visit.
Proof of funds: You must prove with documents that you can cater to your needs. A statement of account for 6 months and a minimum balance will suffice.
Cover Letter: A cover letter stating your purpose for coming to Greece
For in-person applications, the Greece business visa may take up to 15 days before your application is approved.