How to get Greece Visa

Greece is a member of the European Union (EU) and is in the Schengen Area of countries that have abolished border controls between each others’ borders - meaning you will need an India Greece Visa.

Depending on the purpose of your trip to Greece, there are different types of visas that will apply to the occasion. Whether you are planning to go on a visit, study or work and reside there permanently, you will have to apply for a different Greece Schengen Visa, accordingly. Multiple-entry visas are also available if you plan on traveling regularly to Greece or the Schengen Area. 

The Greece Schengen visa allows free movement to the visa holder within the Schengen area during its validity. You are eligible to apply for a Greece Schengen visa if you are a citizen of a non-European country. As per the type of visa issued, there are different restrictions that apply to the different visas in accordance with the nature of travel and other circumstances. 

Types of Greece Visas

The main types of Greece visas are:

Uniform Schengen Visas (USV)

The Uniform Schengen Visa is a permit of one of the Schengen Area Member Countries to transit or reside in the desired country for a certain period of time, up to the maximum of 90 days every six months. According to the purpose of travel, the Uniform Schengen Visas are of ‘A' or ‘C’ types. The ‘A' type is an Airport Transit Visa which allows its holder to travel in the international zone of the Schengen airport without entering the Schengen Area. This visa is mandatory for people travelling from one non-Schengen state to another non-Schengen state via a change of flights in a Schengen country airport.

The ‘C’ category visa stands for a short-term visa which allows the holder to stay in a Schengen Zone for a fixed period of time as per the validity of the visa. This visa can be obtained as a single-entry visa, double-entry visa or a multiple-entry visa.

Single-entry Visa

On a single-entry visa, you can enter the Schengen Area only once, within the stipulated period of time mentioned in the visa. Once you exit the Schengen territory, you cannot go back, even if you have not spent the full number of days as permitted by the embassy that issued the visa.

Double-entry Visa

By and large, a double-entry visa works in the same way as a single-entry visa. The only difference between a single-entry and a double-entry visa is that the latter gives you the chance to go back once more to the Schengen territory once you have exited it. However, you cannot enter the Schengen Zone again after you have exited it a second time, even if you have not completed your full permitted duration of stay.

Multiple-entry Visa

A multiple-entry visa allows you to enter and exit the Schengen zone as many times as you want, as long as you do not violate the 90/180-day rule. Depending on your requirement you can apply and obtain a 1-year, 3-year or 5-year multiple-entry visa.

National Visas or ‘D’ Category Visa

Then there is the national visa or ‘D’ category visa which is given for study, work or permanent residency in one of the Schengen Zone countries. This visa can be of a single- or multiple-entry given to people who are going to reside in the Schengen country for a fixed duration for a specific purpose after which they will return to their country.

Where to apply for a Greece visa in India

The Greek authorities outsource their visa applications process to the company Global Visa Center World. You can apply online via the Global Visa Center World website, and you will need to attend an interview at one of the Global Visa Center World branches, which are located in Mumbai, Pune, Puducherry, Chennai, Cochin, Gurgaon, Jalandhar, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Goa, New Delhi, Kochi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. Applications should take around 15 days but can take up to 30 days to process, especially during busy periods. However, in some cases, it may take up to 60 days.

Documents Required to apply for a short-stay Greece visa from India

First of all, you need to download and complete a Schengen Visa application form.

In addition to this, you will need two recently taken passport-style photos, an Indian passport or other travel documents that are less than 10 years old and valid for at least three months after your departure date from the Schengen Area. You will also need travel and medical insurance covering you for costs up to €30,000, evidence of legal residence in India (such as an ID card), a cover letter stating your itinerary and the purpose of your visit, as well as a flight itinerary and proof of accommodation during your stay, proof of your civil status, like a marriage certificate, and proof you have means of subsistence during your stay.

Indian citizens, or those from other non-EU countries, need to prove they have €50 per day and a minimum total amount of €300 for stays up to five days when applying for a Greek visa. Minors need half this amount.

Additional documents required to get a Greece Visa to work or study

If you are planning to work or study in Greece for fewer than 90 days, then you will need additional documents to obtain your short-stay visa. These include an employment contract, a current bank statement, a no objection letter from your Indian employer, and an income tax return. The self-employed need an income tax return, and a company bank statement, as well as any licensing documentation. As a student, you will need proof of enrolment at an educational institution in Greece, and a no objection letter from your current institution stating your study is authorized is helpful.

If you are looking to stay in Greece to study or work for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a study visa or a work permit through an employer who will take you on in Greece. Application approval may take longer than a standard short-stay visa, and applicants must meet all working visa requirements as outlined by the Greece Ministry of Foreign Affairs.