Apply for your Greece Schengen Visa online

You must apply through the Greek consulate or its official Visa Application Center (VAC) only if Greece is your primary destination. This means you're spending the most days in Greece compared to any other Schengen country on your trip. If your stay is split exactly evenly, you must apply to the Schengen country you'll enter first.

If you're being invited by a Greek citizen or registered resident, they must provide an official sworn invitation statement (Ypefthyni Dilosi). This document must be formally authorized and stamped by Greek local authorities, such as a KEP (Citizens Service Center) or a Greek police station, and include a copy of their ID.

Yes, if your nationality requires a visa for the Schengen Area. Even if you're sleeping on the cruise ship, every time you disembark at a Greek port (like Mykonos or Santorini) to sightsee, you're entering Schengen territory. You'll need a standard Schengen Visa, typically a multiple-entry one if the cruise itinerary leaves and re-enters Schengen international waters.

The Greek authorities require proof that you can financially support yourself. You must submit certified bank statements covering the last 3 to 6 months (ideally featuring a scannable QR code if issued by local banks). While the exact daily minimum can vary, demonstrating available liquid funds of around €50 per day of your stay is a safe standard.

You can apply up to 6 months before your intended travel date (9 months for seafarers). The absolute latest you can submit your application is 15 calendar days before departure, but we strongly recommend applying 3 to 4 weeks in advance to avoid peak summer travel backlogs.

Your policy must cover the entire Schengen Area with a minimum coverage of €30,000 for emergency medical treatment and repatriation. The insurance must be valid for the total duration of your intended stay, and you must present the physical certificate during your visa appointment and at border control.

Yes. There aren't any age exemptions for this visa; every traveler, including infants, must have their own individual application and visa sticker. For minors, the application form must be signed by both parents or legal guardians, and you must submit the child's birth certificate along with a notarized parental consent letter if they're traveling alone or with only one parent.

If you're remaining in the international airport transit area for less than 24 hours without clearing immigration, you only need an Airport Transit Visa (Type A) if your nationality is on the required transit list. However, if you plan to leave the airport, change terminals requiring border clearance, or have a long layover where you clear immigration, you must obtain a standard short-stay Schengen Visa (Type C).

Unlike an electronic visa, the Schengen visa is a physical sticker affixed directly into your passport. After you attend your mandatory in-person biometrics appointment at the embassy, consulate, or official visa application center, your passport will be kept for processing and later returned to you via courier or personal collection with the visa inside.

The standard processing time is 15 calendar days from the moment your application reaches the Greek embassy or consulate. However, it can take up to 45 days during peak seasons or if additional document verification is required. We recommend applying at least 2 months before your trip.

The Schengen Visa is for travelers who are not visa-exempt. The ETIAS (launching late 2026) is a digital travel authorization for citizens of visa-exempt countries (like the US, UK, and Canada). If you currently need a visa to enter Greece, you will continue to need a Schengen Visa.

If denied, you'll receive an official refusal letter detailing the specific reasons. The most common grounds for denial are an incomplete travel itinerary or a lack of strong ties to your home country. You have the right to lodge a formal written appeal within 15 days of receiving the refusal, or you can choose to fix the issues and submit a completely new application.