Guide for Greece Visa Requirements

Start with the requirements for your own nationality. Applications go through your country's Greek Embassy or Consulate, or through a dedicated visa processing provider.

Steps to apply for a Greece visa:

1. Preparation. Work out which visa type fits your trip and gather the supporting documents first. Traveling with children adds more documentation to the list.
2. Complete the online visa application form, tailored to your home country's requirements for a Greece visa application.
3. Registration. Book an appointment through the embassy or the consular services provider's website.
4. Submission. On the day of your appointment, head to the Visa Application Centre to submit your application and provide biometric data.
5. Completion. Once processed, you can collect your passport directly from the Centre, or choose an Express Courier Return option for delivery if available.

Requirements change, so check the official site or contact your local Greek Embassy or Consulate before you apply.

The documents required for a Greece tourist Schengen visa are:

• Completed and signed Schengen visa application form.
• Valid passport, issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area, with at least 2 blank pages.
• Two recent passport-style photos, meeting Schengen visa photo specifications.
• Travel and medical insurance covering at least €30,000, valid across the entire Schengen Area for your full trip.
• Cover letter or itinerary explaining the purpose and dates of your visit.
• Proof of accommodation, a confirmed hotel booking or equivalent, for your full stay.
• Round-trip or onward flight itinerary.
• Proof of financial means, typically bank statements from the last 3 months.
• Proof of civil status where relevant, such as a marriage certificate, if applicable.
• Photocopy of your passport ID page, separate from the passport itself.
• Copies of any Schengen visas issued in the last 5 years, if applicable.
• Employed applicants also submit recent pay slips, an employment contract, and a letter from their employer confirming leave. Self-employed applicants send business registration documents and recent tax returns instead.

Travel tip: Freelancers and self-employed applicants should document their work and income in detail. Client contracts, payment receipts, and a letter explaining how you earn.

The embassy wants confidence you can support yourself without needing state assistance, so this part carries real weight.

• Bank statements usually cover the last 3 to 6 months and should show enough for accommodation, meals, internal travel, and a reasonable buffer for emergencies. No fixed minimum is specified for a standard tourist visa.
• A sponsorship letter is required where somebody else is covering your costs. It states their willingness and their ability to support you, backed by their own bank statements or income documents.
• Income documents mean pay slips or an employment contract if you're employed, or business registration documents and recent tax returns if you work for yourself.
• Minors or dependents travelling alone may need their parents or guardians to demonstrate their own financial stability, together with a notarized letter confirming they'll support the applicant financially during the trip.

Confirm the current list with the consulate in your country before you apply.

• Completed application form for a long-stay visa, including details about the institution you'll be attending.
• Valid passport, valid for at least 3 months after your return date, with at least 2 blank pages.
• ID photos: two passport-size photos (35mm x 45mm) on a light background.
• Proof of registration, either proof of enrollment or a receipt showing payment of required fees.
• Language proficiency: proof of proficiency in Greek or English, depending on the program.
• Medical insurance, covering the Schengen requirement.
• Proof of status, marriage or divorce certificate, and birth certificates of children, if applicable.
• Means of subsistence, proof that you can financially support yourself, with a minimum of €400 a month in your bank account.
• Medical certificate, confirming you don't have a contagious disease.
• Criminal record, from your country of residence or any other country you've resided in.
• Consent from parents, if under 18 years old.
• Visa fee, €90, non-refundable if denied.

Thai citizens are not visa-exempt and need to apply for a short-stay Schengen visa using the standard document checklist above, submitted through the Greek embassy or an authorized visa application center.

Indonesian citizens are not visa-exempt and need to apply for a short-stay Schengen visa using the standard document checklist above, submitted through the Greek embassy or an authorized visa application center.

Vietnamese citizens are not visa-exempt and need to apply for a short-stay Schengen visa using the standard document checklist above, submitted through the Greek embassy or an authorized visa application center.

Philippine citizens are not visa-exempt and need to apply for a short-stay Schengen visa using the standard document checklist above, submitted through the Greece embassy or an authorized visa application center.

Singaporean citizens don't need a visa to enter Greece for tourism or business, provided the stay is under 90 days in any 180-day period. Check with the Greek Embassy before you travel, since exemptions shift.

Visa-free entry still comes with conditions at the border. Officers can ask for a return ticket, accommodation details, and proof that you can support yourself, and hospital treatment in Greece costs the same whether or not the paperwork asks for insurance.

Malaysian citizens don't need a visa to enter Greece for tourism or business if the stay doesn't exceed 90 days within a 6-month period. Greece's diplomatic representation for Malaysia may route through its embassy in Jakarta rather than a Malaysia-based office, so it's worth confirming the correct current contact before you travel.

The following fee structure has applied since 11 June 2024:

• Adults: €90
• Children aged 6–12: €45
• Children under 6: Free

However, there are certain exceptions and reductions:

• Reduced fees or waivers may apply for students or postgraduates and accompanying teachers on educational trips.
• Individuals travelling for scientific research may benefit from reduced fees.
• Diplomatic passport holders can obtain a visa for free.
• Certain categories of applicants from countries with Visa Facilitation Agreements with the Schengen states may be subject to a reduced visa fee of EUR 35.
• National visas or Type D visas, intended for longer stays or any other Schengen country, might have a different fee structure.

Fees are non-refundable, even if your visa application is rejected. Additionally, visa processing agencies or centres might charge an additional service fee.

As per Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 amending the Visa Code, Art. 23, a decision on a complete Schengen visa application is issued within 15 calendar days, extendable to a maximum of 45 calendar days if additional documentation or an interview is required, or during high-demand periods.

Yes, travel and medical insurance is mandatory for any Schengen visa application, including Greece's. Your insurance needs to be valid for all 29 countries in the Schengen Area, covering accidents and illness, with a minimum coverage of €30,000, even for countries you don't plan to visit.

Consulates check this closely. Policies get rejected for the wrong coverage limit, the wrong date range, or cover that stops at the Greek border instead of extending across the zone.

Meeting the €30,000 minimum is the starting point for a Greece Schengen visa, but it's worth thinking about what you actually want from a policy beyond satisfying that requirement.

LUMA Travel Insurance is built around exactly this kind of trip. Coverage starts at €30,000, matching the visa minimum directly, and it's designed to work whether you're planning a single Greece trip or multiple trips across Europe within the year.

A few things worth knowing about LUMA's Schengen coverage:

• Coverage starting at €30,000, meeting the Schengen visa insurance minimum directly.
• Flexible options for both individual trips and travelers making multiple trips within a year.
• A wide eligibility range, covering travelers from young children through older adults.
• An easy online application, with your insurance certificate delivered by email.
• Wide embassy acceptance, intended to make the visa application process smoother rather than adding friction.

Get your LUMA Travel quote now

As per Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 amending the Visa Code, Art. 23, a decision on a complete Schengen visa application is issued within 15 calendar days, extendable to a maximum of 45 calendar days if additional documentation or an interview is required, or during high-demand periods.

Not for a standard short-stay tourist visa. The student visa requires one confirming you're free of contagious disease, and applicants traveling to work, study, or work at sea need a Medical Examination Certificate alongside a Police Clearance Certificate.

Your own doctor can issue the certificate. Confirm the current requirement with the consulate before booking the appointment, since it varies by visa type.

Visa refusals are always given in writing, explaining why. You can submit an appeal for reconsideration to the relevant Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date you receive notification of the refusal.

Yes. Under Schengen rules, a Schengen visa is generally valid for travel throughout the Schengen Area. One important rule: you must apply for your Greece visa at the consulate of your primary destination.

Immigration requirements change at short notice, so confirm with your travel agent or the Embassy of Greece in your country before finalizing plans.