Greece Visa For Indians

Greece is such a place that it has something to offer for everyone who goes there. If you are someone who is looking for some calm and serenity, you will be able to find that in many places in Greece, or even when you are just walking down the streets. Contrarily if you are looking for adventure and an adrenaline rush, that can be found in abundance in Greece as well. It has something for people who love art and literature, history buffs, sports enthusiasts and the one who loves culture and traditions. No one who goes to Greece comes back feeling dissatisfied but rather has a desire to go back and so more there. But before you can go there and explore what the land has to offer for you, you need to get your Greece visa for Indians.

It is important for a person making a Greece visa application to do so ahead of time because if you do not get your visa in hand, you will not be able to make your trip. A Greece tourist visa means that the Greek officials have screened you and have found you eligible to enter their country and enjoy all it has to offer tourists. As we have already mentioned, Greece is one of the 27 Schengen countries and getting a Greece Schengen visa means you can move around the country freely and even cross its borders. There are no provisions for a visa on arrival for Indians, so you must ensure that you get your visa before starting your trip to Greece. Getting the visa is not difficult and can be completed by contacting the Greece visa application centre.

The Greece visa application process has been simplified since you can get your visa from the Greece visa application centre (VAC). All you need to do is get in touch with the centre to get your visa. The process should ideally not take too much time, and you should get your visa without much hassle. However, be mindful of the process you must follow and stick to that to avoid any mistakes. Any mistake made by you can create a delay in getting your visa.

To get your visa from the Greece visa application centre, you need to;

• Go to the Greece visa application centre’s website
• Determine the kind of visa you require
• Go to the visa section and fill out an application form
• Find out the list of documents required to get the visa
• Once you have filled the visa application form, take a printout of the same
• Book an appointment to visit the application centre
• Go to the VAC with your application form and documents
• You will need to submit your application and provide your biometrics physically
• Once you have provided your biometric information and your application form with the documents, you will need to wait to hear back from the VAC

You now have the option to track your application on the VAC website.

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As we have already mentioned, Greece falls under the Schengen region of Europe and thus requires a Greece Schengen visa. A person can choose from broad categories of visas based on how long they wish to stay in Greece and the purpose of their visit. The two broad categories are Uniform Schengen Visa and National Schengen Visa.

• Uniform Schengen Visa- The Uniform Schengen Visa is a short-stay visa. It is meant for those who wish to visit Greece for a few days. This type of visa is best suited to those who wish to visit Greece as tourists or are going there to visit someone who lives in Greece for a few days. The visa is valid for 90 days from the day the trip starts.

• The National Schengen Visa- This long-stay visa is best suited for those who wish to stay in Greece for an extended period. Getting a National Schengen Visa is usually a little more difficult than getting a Uniform Schengen Visa and takes longer to process. This visa is meant for those who wish to study in Greece, work there or immigrate to Greece. The visa remains valid for 365 days and can then be renewed per a person's needs and the permission given by the government.
  Under these two broad categories, there are different kinds of visas you can choose as per your requirements.

• Medical Visa

This visa is meant for those going to Greece to undergo specific treatment. To get this visa, you must submit all the documents related to your health condition and the details of the doctor or hospital you are visiting in Greece. You will also need a letter from your doctor stating that you are flying to Greece on medical advice.

• Visa for Study, Training or Internship

This type of visa is meant for youngsters hoping to make their way to Greece to build their careers and for the betterment of their future. They need to provide documents proving that they have been accepted into a course and paid the fees for the same. A long-stay visa allows a student to stay in Greece until their course is over. A student may also take up an unpaid internship while in Greece to improve their chances of employment when their course gets over.

• Spousal Visa

A spousal visa allows the spouse of a Greek resident or citizen to go to Greece and stay with their spouse.

• Greece Tourist Visa

If you are going to Greece for a short vacation and plan to travel and go sightseeing while there, you must apply for a tourist visa. A tourist visa lets you stay in Greece for 90 days, wherein you can freely traverse the country and enjoy all it has to offer. When applying for this visa, you need to provide your detailed itinerary to the VAC along with your round-trip tickets to prove you will return home in time. This visa allows you to stay in Greece for 90 days.

• Visa for Members of Official Delegations

This is a special visa meant for those who have an invitation to a conference, meeting, delegation or government event. People without valid invitations will not be granted a visa.

• Visa for Cultural, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes

This is again a special type of visa that is only meant for people visiting Greece for cultural, sports or religious activities or as part of a film crew. This is a short-stay visa valid only until the event being attended or covered lasts.

• Visa for Business Purposes

This visa is meant for those going to Greece for specific business functions like attending a conference, meeting investors or closing a deal with a partner. However, a person cannot start a business venture in Greece on this visa. Therefore, the business visa is also a short-stay visa.

• Transit Visa

If you have a layover in Greece while going to a different country, you will require an airport transit visa for the same.

Any Indian citizen who wishes to travel to Greece must have a valid visa. No Indian will be permitted to travel to Greece unless they can provide the necessary documents, including a visa, when asked for the same. Certain people belong to some countries that do not require a visa to go to Greece, but Indians do not fall into that category. There are also no provisions for a visa on arrival in Greece. The entire process must be completed before you can leave for your vacation or any other reason you travel to Greece.

As we have mentioned, you can easily get your visa from the visa application centre, and you should have your visa in hand without much trouble. Remember that you must be physically present to submit your visa application, as your biometrics will have to be taken. After this, you should get your visa in a short period. Choose the type of visa you want carefully and follow the instructions regarding the documents needed for that visa. Long-stay visas are usually tougher to get than short-stay visas, so you should apply for the same, keeping this in mind. Also, remember that you will not be granted a visa unless you have travel insurance, so get your travelling insurance from Tata AIG before starting your Greece visa application process.

When applying for a visa, it is always better to start the process in advance to avoid confusion. If you are going to a country like Greece, where having a visa before you can arrive is mandatory, you cannot leave anything to chance. If for any reason, there is a delay in the arrival of your visa, you will be forced to cancel or reschedule your trip. Most Embassies and VACs process a visa for Greece within 10 days, but there are instances when things may get delayed.

If you have applied for a visa at a time when there have been a lot of visa applications, or if you have not met all the Greece visa requirements, it could take your visa 15-20 days to come through. Sometimes when an application does not have all the necessary documents, it could lead to a delay of over 30 days. Thus, it is always recommended that you apply for your visa 20-30 days in advance. Do not keep anything for the last moment.

The documents that you need to submit before getting your Greece visa are;

1. A passport valid for a minimum of 3 months from the start of your trip with at least 2 empty pages
2. Your visa application form that is carefully filled out
3. Recent coloured photographs
4. Your round-trip tickets
5. A detailed itinerary of where you are going and where you will be staying
6. Proof of accommodation for the duration of your stay in Greece
7. Income proof and proof that you have paid your taxes
8. A cover letter stating the purpose of your trip
9. Proof of visa application payment
10. Proof of civil status
11. Travel insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000, having a health cover

If you are wondering what the Greece visa fees for Indians is going to be, then you have nothing to worry about. We will be talking about it in detail in this section. The Greece visa has a fixed rate everyone travelling to the country must pay. Please note that the fee is not inclusive of the service charge. The service charge per visa to be paid is ₹1560. The state and VAC you apply to may also incur additional charges.

*Please note that these rates are subject to change depending on the Euro-Rupee conversion rate and immigration laws. Please check the latest rates before applying for a visa for Greece.

Europe is a long way from India. Thinking about this can sometimes cause a mild frisson of fear in the hearts of travellers. Everyone likes the comfort of the familiar, where they know who they can reach out to when they need help. But when you are abroad, alone or even with family, it can lead to stress. But there is no need to worry or stress about anything, even if you are abroad. Anything that could worry you can be put to sleep if you have travelling insurance.

Also, remember that when travelling to a Schengen country, getting travelling insurance is not only a matter of safety but also mandatory. You will not get your visa unless you have travel insurance. So when you have travel insurance from Tata AIG, you keep yourself safe and meet the requirements to get your visa.

When you have travel insurance from Tata AIG, you can rest assured that there is someone to take care of you when you need help. Whether an issue is big or small, your travel insurance will be there to ensure you are not inconvenienced. Your holiday to Greece is supposed to be filled with fun and adventure, and your travelling insurance will ensure that you enjoy your holiday peacefully.

Post May 1, 2022, travellers are no longer required to produce vaccination certificates or a PCR report. This has made travelling to Greece much easier for people. Even as restrictions are relaxed, people must remember that countries change the rules per the hour's need. So you must always check the updated guideline before planning your trip to Greece.

If you are concerned about Covid-19 and are looking for ways to keep yourself safe, here are a few tips you can follow while in Greece.

There are very few reasons why a person would have their Greece visa rejected. Some of these reasons include;

• Not filling out the application form carefully and making mistakes on it.
• Providing false information.
• Providing false documents.
• If you are seen as someone with wrong intentions toward the country, you will not get a visa.
• Being proven as an immigration law offender.

If you want to enjoy a place, you must take it upon yourself to learn as much about it as possible. When you learn interesting little bits of information about a country, it helps you connect with it more and, in turn, allows you to see it with new eyes. We have put together certain points that will help you learn more about Greece, which will help you appreciate it more.

• There are 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece
• Greece is made up of over 6000 islands
• There are red, white and black beaches in Santorini
• Athens gets its name from the Goddess Athena
• Over 80% of Greece is mountains, making it among the most mountainous places in Europe
• Greece gets over 17 million tourists every year
• Another name for Greece is The Hellenic Republic
• Athens has been inhabited for over 7000 years
• Greece is the seat of western civilisation which gave rise to the modern democracy
• Summers can get extremely hot in Greece, sometimes touching mid-40’s

There are so many things to see and do in Greece that a person may sometimes get lost in the myriad of activities. It is always helpful to have an idea of what places you wish to visit and what things you wish to do as it helps you cover the most important places and things. That way, you do not feel like you have missed out on some important things when you return home. Some places and activities in Greece you must not miss out on include;

1. Hike to the top of Mount Olympus to enjoy a view you have never seen.
2. Take pictures for your social media in Santorini.
3. Enjoy the magnificence of nature at Samaria Gorge.
4. Ground yourself at the Meteora monasteries.
5. Boat across the Melissani Cave.
6. Marvel at the wonder of the Acropolis.
7. Relive history as you take a ride through the Corinth Canal.
8. Enjoy one of the prettiest sea beaches in Greece at Balos Beach.
9. Explore Corfu for some fun and adventurous activities.
10. Have a day of fun and frolic at Lido Water Park.

Information last updated Sep '22. While this information is sourced reliably, visa requirements can change. For the most current visa details, visit the official Consulate/Embassy website.