GreeceVisits and short stays
Greece transit visa
Schengen visa (type C) for transit through Greece
In short
Travellers who cross Greece on the way to a third country, by car, coach or ferry, or who leave the airport between flights, need a Schengen C visa marked for transit. You show the onward ticket and, where needed, the visa of the final destination.
checked 23 October 2026
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Only the days needed for the transit, within the 90/180-day limit.
- 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.
When a transit visa is needed
A visa-required traveller who enters Greek territory, even for a few hours, needs a C visa. This covers driving through Greece to Italy by ferry, coach journeys and stopovers where you leave the international zone. Staying airside in the international transit area of a Greek airport does not need a visa unless your nationality is on the airport transit visa lists.
Transit documents
Besides the standard file you show the route and dates, tickets or vehicle documents for the onward leg, and the entry visa or residence permit of the destination country if you need one there. Funds are assessed for the transit days at EUR 50 per day.
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
- Onward ticket or ferry booking and, if needed, the visa or residence permit of the final destination.
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)
Travel
- For drivers: vehicle registration, green card insurance and driving licence.
How to apply
Apply to the Greek embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, or its external service provider. If Greece is only one of several Schengen states crossed, apply to the state of first entry when stays are equal.
- 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 transit. 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.
Refusal
A refusal is reasoned and can be appealed under Greek law, as explained on the form.
Frequently asked questions
I change planes in Athens without leaving the airport. Do I need a visa?
Not unless your nationality is on the airport transit visa lists, as long as you stay in the international transit area. If you must collect bags or change terminals through passport control, you need a C visa.
Can I stop for a night in Thessaloniki on a transit visa?
Only within the days granted on the visa; a longer stay is tourism and should be declared as such.
Is the fee lower for transit?
No, the standard EUR 90 fee applies.
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)
- Greek MFA – list of third countries whose nationals need an airport transit visa
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.
- 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.