GreeceVisits and short stays
Greece tourist visa (Schengen C visa)
Schengen short-stay visa (type C) for tourism
In short
A holiday in Greece needs a Schengen C visa if your nationality is visa-required. You apply at the Greek embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, or its external service provider, pay EUR 90 and usually get a decision within 15 days.
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 adult Schengen fee. Children and some groups (e.g. pupils on study trips, researchers) pay less or nothing, as listed in the fee table of the Greek missions. An external service provider, where the mission uses one, adds 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 needs it
Nationals of countries on the EU visa list need a visa for any tourist trip to Greece or onward travel in the Schengen area. Holders of a valid residence permit or long-stay visa of another Schengen state do not. Greece should be your main destination: the country where you spend the most nights, or the first point of entry if stays are equal.
Documents
Besides the basic documents, a tourist file includes a travel plan, hotel bookings for every night and proof of funds such as three months of bank statements. Employees add an employer letter, self-employed applicants their business registration and tax papers, students a school certificate and retirees a pension document. Your mission publishes the exact checklist.
Minors travelling without both parents need the notarised consent of the absent parent. The consulate may ask for more documents in individual cases.
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.
- Hotel reservations covering every night, or an itinerary with bookings if you visit several places.
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.
Supporting documents (where they apply)
Family
- For minors: notarised consent of the parent who does not travel, or proof of sole custody.
Funds and insurance
Greece’s official reference amount is EUR 50 per person per day, with at least EUR 300 for trips of up to five days; minors need half. Your travel medical insurance must cover at least EUR 30,000 throughout the Schengen area for the whole stay.
Processing and multiple-entry visas
The consulate decides as a rule within 15 calendar days, and up to 45 days in individual cases. Regular travellers who used earlier visas lawfully can receive longer multiple-entry visas; for Turkish citizens living in Türkiye, an EU cascade in force since July 2025 leads step by step from 6 months to 1, 3 and 5 years, if the passport is valid long enough.
Refusal and appeal
A refusal is notified in writing with the reasons. It is an individual administrative act that can be appealed; the refusal form explains how and within which deadline. The visa fee is not refunded.
How to apply, step by step
- Find the Greek embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence; Greece should be the main destination of your trip.
- Book an appointment with the competent Greek mission or its external service provider, choosing the category that matches tourism. Apply at least 15 days before travel; the Visa Code allows lodging up to six months ahead.
- Prepare the standard Schengen documents plus the purpose-specific papers listed by your mission; bring originals and copies.
- Attend in person, give fingerprints if needed and pay the EUR 90 visa fee plus any service fee.
- Wait for the decision (normally 15 days); the consulate may ask for more documents or an interview.
- Check the visa sticker as soon as you collect your passport and report any error to the consulate immediately.
Forms
- Schengen visa application form (English) · Harmonised EU form published by the Greek MFA.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter other Schengen countries with a Greek tourist visa?
Yes, a uniform C visa is valid in all Schengen states, but Greece must be the main destination of the trip you applied for.
Is a paid flight ticket required?
No. A reservation is enough at the application stage; buy the ticket once the visa is issued.
How early can I apply?
At least 15 days before departure. The Visa Code allows lodging up to six months ahead, which helps in the summer peak.
Is the island visa on arrival an alternative?
Only for the Eastern Aegean islands covered by the temporary scheme, and only while it runs. It does not allow travel to the mainland or other Schengen states.
Official sources
- Consulate General of Greece in Istanbul – Visas (Kosmos Vize, Schengen and national visas)
- Consular Office of the Embassy of Greece in Ankara – Visas
- Consulate General of Greece in Izmir – Visas and jurisdiction
- Consulate of Greece in Edirne – Visas and jurisdiction
- Greek missions in Türkiye – harmonised list of supporting documents for Schengen visas
- Greek missions in Türkiye – Schengen visa fees table
- European Commission – Applying for a Schengen visa
- European Commission – Schengen reference amounts (Greece: EUR 50 per day, minimum EUR 300)
- European Commission – New rules for Turkish citizens applying for Schengen visas (29 July 2025)
- Prime Minister of Greece – statements after the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council (11 February 2026): island short-stay visa programme
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
- 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.
- Culture, sports and events 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
- Student visa Maximum stay: For the length of studies; the national visa itself is valid for up to one year.
- Researcher visa Maximum stay: For the duration of the hosting agreement.
- Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: For the length of the traineeship agreement.
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
- Family reunification visa Validity: Family permits run for the same period as the sponsor’s permit.
- Spouse and partner visa Validity: Five years; renewed for another five years where needed for the children’s situation.
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
- Asylum and international protection Maximum stay: You may stay until a final decision; the applicant card is valid from 30 days to one year and must be renewed on time.