Greece is visited by many travelers worldwide each year due to its amazing heritage sites and rich history.
Are you from South Africa and need to visit Greece? If so, there are certain visa rules and policies that you must know. To visit Greece, South African passport holders must need a visa. The visa acts as a travel document permitting you to enter Greece.
Depending on the reason for your visit, you can get a different type of visa.
As you dive deeper into this article, you will know more about the visa types and the requirements to apply for each visa. Moreover, the article also shares information about how you can apply for a Greece visa!
What is the Schengen Visa?
An established Schengen area consists of 27 European countries, and Greece is among the Schengen countries. The Schengen countries have gotten rid of all passport and border control rules.
With the Schengen visa, you can stay in any Schengen country for a short time of 90 days. With this visa, you can visit the countries for tourism or business purposes.
What are the Different Types of Greece Visa?
Tourist Visa
A tourist visa is required when you want to visit Greece to tour it. Moreover, if you want to visit your family or friends, you can also get a Greece tourist visa as a South African citizen. You can get either a single entry visa or a multiple entry visa. Both types of visas are valid for 90 days. Moreover, you can stay for 90 days.
Required Documents
The documents required for the Greece visa include the visa application form and the original passport, valid for six months after departure. Your valid passport must have at least two blank pages.
You must also provide a passport copy and a passport photo. The photo should be with a white background. You must provide proof of status in the form of your resident card, study permit, work permit, etc.
You must provide proof of bank statements as well. This shows that you have sufficient funds for your trip. It would be best if you also had health insurance that covers your stay in Greece.
Other documents include a travel itinerary, employment letter, and personal invitation if friends or family members have invited you.
For a minor, a birth certificate and parental approval will be required. Lastly, you will be required to pay the visa fee.
Business Visa
The business visa applies to those who want to visit Greece for business purposes, such as attending meetings, conferences, seminars, etc. You can get this visa for single or multiple entries; the validity is for 90 days.
Required Documents
To fulfill the Greece visa requirements for the business visa, you need all documents such as the visa application form, original passport, copy, original bank statements, proof of status, passport pictures, travel medical insurance, accommodation proof, employment letter, etc.
Considering this is a business visa, you must provide the business invitation if a hosting company has invited you. The letter should be addressed to the Consulate General and must have the company letterhead. You must pay the visa fees too!
Processing Time
The processing time for a valid Schengen visa is about 15 days. In case of any issues with your Greece Schengen visa applications, the visa application center may extend the processing time.
You should apply for the Schengen visa at least a month before.
What is the Application Procedure to acquire the Greece Visa?
Suppose you are a South African passport holder wondering how to acquire a Greece visa. You can go to the Greece Embassy or Greece Consulate in South Africa after booking an appointment. It is advised to book your appointment and not reach the visa office directly.
Moreover, a third-party agency named VisaHQ also provides visa services. Therefore, to obtain a visa for Greece, you can also use this site. When you open the VisaHQ website, you will be asked to enter the destination country and your citizenship. You will select Greece and South Africa, respectively. Once you do so, the site will show you all the details about the different types of visas offered. The details of the visa requirements will be mentioned as well.
The service that VisaHQ provides is a consultancy for the Greece visa for South Africans. You can get on a call with a specialist from the VisaHQ team to clear your doubts and queries. Once you are done with the question and answer session, you can submit the online application form and upload the supporting documents needed.
You do not need to submit the original documents. The specialist will review your application, and once they give the go-ahead, you can take your application and documents to the Consulate. This consultation saves you from the extra struggle of not knowing what a perfect application is like. Therefore, when you go to the Consulate, you will be fully ready with everything.
VisaHQ provides guidance and assistance whenever needed.