How do I get a Schengen visa for Greece if I wish to visit for holidays, business, or any other reason? Do I even need a Greece Schengen visa to enter Greece in the first place? Keep reading to get all the information about the Schengen visa application you need for your upcoming trip to Greece.
Traveling To Greece
Travelers to Greece may or may not need a visa, depending on their nationality. For instance, travelers from Mexico, Canada, the US, and many other first world countries do not need
visas to enter Greece. In all, there are more than 60 countries whose nationals do not need visas to enter Greece for short visits. Instead, what they need is an ETIAS visa waiver approval. The travelers who need visas are those from African countries, some Latin American countries, and others like China, Russia, India, etc. Even residents of the US who have green cards but are not from countries on the visa free list will still need to apply for a visa before they are allowed to enter Greece.
Greece In The Schengen Region
Greece joined the Schengen region and officially adopted a similar visa policy to other member states. It issues this visa and recognizes and accepts Schengen visas issued by other countries. Holders of Greece Schengen visas can stay in Greece or any other country in the region for 90 days, and the visa expires after 180 days from the date of issue. You can use Schengen visas for tourism, short study or business trips, or any other endeavor that will not exceed three months.
How Do I Get A Schengen Visa For Greece?
There are steps you must take if you want to get a Schengen visa for Greece.
Know What You Want: Before applying, you need to know the type of visa you need and the requirements. The visa must match the purpose of your trip; otherwise, you will not get it. Once you are sure of the visa you want, move on to the next steps.
Download And Fill Out The Application Form: The next step is to download and fill out the visa application form. You can get it online or, better still, from the embassy or visa application center—endeavor to fill out the form correctly and sign it.
Gather Your Documents: Gather all the necessary documents required by the embassy. You want to make sure that the documents are valid.
Book An Appointment: The next step is to book an appointment with the Greek embassy in your country. Booking an appointment will have to go through the procedure laid down by the embassy, which may be through emails, over the phone, visits to the embassy, or through agents. Just make sure you book the appointment as soon as possible and get a confirmed date.
Appear For The Interview: On the interview day, appear before the visa officer, submit your application to them, and answer all questions asked. Interviews take only a few minutes, and you’ll be free to go.
You can track your application online, and if you are successful, you will be notified to return for your visa.
How long To Process Visa Applications?
Visa applications normally take 15 calendar days, but this can extend by a few more days or weeks if the embassy handles many applications or you submit your application through a visa application center. Another reason the application may take longer is if the embassy requests additional documents from you.
Documents For Schengen Visa
When applying for a Schengen visa, these are the documents you must attach to the completed visa application form.
Valid passport
Two Passport photographs
Fingerprint biometric
Round trip tickets
Travel Itinerary
Proof of accommodation
Proof of financial means
Travel medical insurance
Copies of previous visas, if any
Cover letter
Visa fee receipt
Invitation letter, if applicable
How Do I Pay The Visa Fee?
How you pay the visa fee will depend on the method approved by the embassy. The standard fee is €80, but it is €40 for children between 6 and 11 years, but those under 6 are exempted from paying the fee. Payment options may be through cheques, money orders, bank draft, tellers, or even cash.
This fee is non-refundable and does not guarantee that the visa will be given to you. Also, note that you will not be able to submit your application without paying the fee.
How I get a Schengen visa for Greece is a question we have answered in this post. We hope it makes your application plans a lot easier so you can focus on other important parts of your travel plans while preparing your visa application at the same time.