GreeceVisits and short stays

Greece culture, sports and event visa

Schengen short-stay visa (type C) for cultural, sports and other events

In short

Participants in festivals, competitions, conferences and cultural exchanges of up to 90 days apply for a Schengen C visa with the organiser’s invitation. Artistic groups, sports teams on training camps and similar groups staying longer can receive Greek national visas.

checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen area.
Validity
Single, double or multiple entry; regular travellers with a good visa history can receive multiple-entry visas of longer validity (for Turkish citizens, a 2025 EU cascade leads from 6 months up to 5 years).
Fee
€90Standard fee. Participants aged 25 or under in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organised by non-profit bodies pay no fee. An external service provider may add its own service fee.
Funds required
€50 per dayReference amount set by Greece for border checks and visa decisions: EUR 50 per person per day, minimum EUR 300 for stays up to 5 days; half for minors.
Processing time
Decision normally within 15 calendar days of an admissible application; longer in individual cases that need more checks (the Visa Code allows up to 45 days).
Work
No paid work.
Family
Each family member applies separately with their own form and fee; children can be included in one appointment.
Where to apply
At the Greek embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, or the external service provider it uses.

Who applies in this category

Performers, athletes, coaches, delegates, speakers and visitors whose trip is built around a specific event in Greece. Pure spectators can use the tourist category, adding the ticket as supporting evidence.

Event documents

Show the invitation or registration from the organiser with the event name, dates and venue, and say who covers travel and accommodation. Groups usually submit a list of members signed by the organising federation, club or institution.

Required documents

Identity

  • Schengen application form, completed and signed (minors: signed by both parents or the guardian).
  • Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months beyond the planned exit from the Schengen area, with two blank pages; copies of earlier visas.
  • One recent ICAO-compliant photo; fingerprints are taken unless stored in the VIS within the last 59 months.

Travel

  • Return or round-trip reservation (flight, ferry or bus) and proof of accommodation for the whole stay.

Money

  • Bank statements for the last 3 months and proof of regular income; Greece expects means of EUR 50 per person per day (at least EUR 300 in total).

Work

  • Proof of your situation in your country of residence: employer letter and proof of employment for employees, business registration and tax documents for business owners, student certificate for students, pension certificate for retirees.

Insurance

  • Travel medical insurance valid in all Schengen states for the whole stay, at least EUR 30,000 cover for emergency care, hospital treatment and repatriation.

Other

  • Invitation or registration from the event organiser with dates, venue and cost coverage.

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Other

  • For groups: member list signed by the federation, club or institution.

How to apply

Apply at the Greek mission responsible for your place of legal residence or its external service provider; for a large group, contact the consulate early so appointments can be coordinated.

  1. Find the Greek embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence; Greece should be the main destination of your trip.
  2. Book an appointment with the competent Greek mission or its external service provider, choosing the category that matches the event. Apply at least 15 days before travel; the Visa Code allows lodging up to six months ahead.
  3. Prepare the standard Schengen documents plus the purpose-specific papers listed by your mission; bring originals and copies.
  4. Attend in person, give fingerprints if needed and pay the EUR 90 visa fee plus any service fee.
  5. Wait for the decision (normally 15 days); the consulate may ask for more documents or an interview.
  6. Check the visa sticker as soon as you collect your passport and report any error to the consulate immediately.

Longer stays for artists and athletes

The Migration Code includes national visas for members of artistic groups (up to one year) and for sports delegations; the Ministry set EUR 500 per month as sufficient resources for athletes and coaches in preparation. Professional athletes and coaches signed by a recognised Greek club enter on a C visa or visa-free and then apply for an E.3 residence permit.

Frequently asked questions

Is a concert ticket enough for a visa?

A ticket supports the purpose, but you still need the full tourist file: funds, accommodation, insurance and ties to your country of residence.

Our youth orchestra is under 25. Do we pay the fee?

Members aged 25 or under attending an event organised by a non-profit body are exempt from the visa fee; the service fee may still apply.

Can a foreign footballer sign with a Greek club on a C visa?

The player can enter on a C visa or visa-free and then apply in Greece for the E.3 residence permit for professional athletes.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Greece

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen area.
  • Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen area.
  • Transit visa Maximum stay: Only the days needed for the transit, within the 90/180-day limit.
  • Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen area.

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen area.
  • Investor visa Validity: Five years, renewable for the same period while the investment continues or operates.

Study and training

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: Long stay; the visa is converted into the residence permit.
  • EU Blue Card Maximum stay: Long stay; the card allows residence and work in Greece.
  • Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Total transfer period across the EU: up to 3 years for managers and specialists, 1 year for trainees.
  • Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: Up to nine months of residence and work in any 12-month period on the E.6 permit; leave Greece for the remaining three months.
  • Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: Visa for up to 12 months; residence permit afterwards.

Family

Residence

  • Golden visa and residence by investment Maximum stay: Permanent residence right while the investment is held; the card is renewed every five years.
  • Retirement visa Validity: Under the Migration Code initial permits are, as a rule, issued for three years and renewed for the same period; the exact validity is printed on the permit.
  • Permanent residence Validity: M.1: five years, renewable for five years. M.2: ten years, then automatic conversion to M.1 if absences were limited.

Protection

Greece visa guide