South Africa
Greece
Greece visa for South African citizens
Entry requirement
South African citizens need a visa for Greece, obtained before travel.
- Where to apply
- 1 mission
- Visa guide
- Greece visa guide
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at mfa.gr
Which Greece visa?
Schengen short-stay visa (type C) for tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen area.
- Fee
- €90
- 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).
Greece’s tourist visa costs €90 at the standard rate published by its authorities. Processing time, as Greece states it: 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). Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen area.
Greek missions in South Africa
- Embassy of Greece in Pretoria
Alpine Way 323, Pretoria
Greece has 1 mission in South Africa, with its embassy in Pretoria.
Greece: visa decisions in South Africa
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 13,219 | 12,715 | 420 | 3.2% | 99.2% |
| 2024 | 12,655 | 12,226 | 361 | 2.9% | 97.0% |
| 2025 | 12,730 | 12,461 | 228 | 1.8% | 97.0% |
In 2025, Greece’s embassy and consulates in South Africa (Johannesburg and Cape Town) received 12,730 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 12,461. 1.8% of applications were refused. In 2024 the rate was much the same, 2.9%. The number of applications was almost unchanged (12,655 in 2024).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 5.3% of the applications lodged in South Africa that year. Greece’s consulates worldwide refused 14.5%. Greece was the 6th most applied-for Schengen state in South Africa.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in South Africa, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Greek citizens travelling to South Africa
GreeceSouth Africa Visa-free, 90 days South Africa visa for citizens of Greece
Travel advice for Greece
- US State Department Level 1: Exercise normal precautions
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
South African citizens planning a trip to Greece can compare how foreign ministries rate it: the US State Department rates Greece at Level 1, exercise normal precautions (updated 22 October 2025), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Greece (updated 3 November 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Greece (updated 15 October 2026). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.
Good to know
How long South African citizens can stay in Greece
How long South African citizens may stay in Greece is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How South African citizens apply
In South Africa, applications go to the Greek embassy in Pretoria, or to a visa centre acting for Greece; fees, documents and processing times are published by Greece.
Greece and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by Greece lets South African citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Greece when it is the main destination of the trip.
Greece’s neighbours for South African citizens
North Macedonia and Bulgaria require South African citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Greek citizens travelling to South Africa
No visa is needed by Greek citizens for South Africa, for stays of up to 90 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do South African citizens need a visa for Greece?
South African citizens need a visa for Greece, obtained before travel.
Where is the Greek embassy in South Africa?
The Greek embassy in South Africa is in Pretoria.
How much does the Greece tourist visa cost?
Greece’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. 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).
Do Greek citizens need a visa for South Africa?
No visa is needed by Greek citizens for South Africa, for stays of up to 90 days.
Can South African citizens enter Greece visa-free?
No; South African citizens need a visa for Greece obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.