Do you need a visa for Greece?

Whether or not you need a visa to travel to Greece is dependent on what country is listed on your passport. As Greece is part of the European Union, nationals from countries that are also part of the European Union (and who have signed the Schengen Agreement of visa-free travel between EU countries) don't need to have a travel visa to holiday in Greece. This means that nationals from countries such as Austria, Denmark, Spain, France, Germany, and Italy, can stay in Greece for a period of up to 90 days for the purpose of short-term tourism, business travel, or as transit to a country that's not part of the Schengen Agreement.

However, this doesn't mean that passport holders from all non-European Union countries need a travel visa to enter Greece with visa-free agreements also in place for nationals travelling from countries such as the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan (among others) for up to 90 days. While nationals from these countries won't need a visa, they'll still need to have a passport with a validity of more than three months from the intended travel return date in order to enter Greece.

If the country you're travelling from isn't a part of the Schengen Agreement or doesn't have a different visa-free agreement in place with Greece, you'll need to apply for a Schengen Visa before travelling. Once you've received a Schengen Visa, you're free to travel around Greece (or any other country that's a part of the Schengen Agreement) for a period of up to 90 days.

For a full list of countries that need and don't need a visa to travel to Greece, please visit the Schengen Visa Informational website.

How to apply for a Greek visa

All nationals travelling from non-exempt countries will need to apply for a Schengen Tourist Visa and the best way to do that is by visiting your nearest Greek embassy/consulate. You can also submit an online visa application form to get the process started earlier, however, you will still be required to have an appointment with a visa official at the Greek consulate once your application has been reviewed.

Submitting a visa application online

While submitting a visa application form online might seem like a quick way to obtain a Schengen Tourist Visa, the process is still a long one so it's best to leave as much time as possible between applying for a visa and travelling to Greece in order to avoid any disruption to your travel plans. Below is the process for submitting a visa application online:

Complete the online application form.
Your application will then be reviewed by officials.
Receive an appointment time at the Greek consulate (make sure you have a signed, hard copy of your Schengen Visa application form with you when you go).
Gather your supporting documents for visa officials to look over.
Attend your appointment at the Greek consulate.
Wait for your visa approval (this could take up to 15 days).

To start your application online, please head to a Greek visa application website.

Visa requirements and supporting documents

There aren't necessarily any specific visa requirements for nationals travelling from non-exempt countries, however, there is additional supporting documentation you will need to provide as part of the application process. This documentation includes bank statements, proof of medical insurance, hotel reservations, and return plane tickets.

Please note that even if you're granted a Schengen Visa for travel into Greece, you're not automatically guaranteed entry into the country with border and immigration officials at the airport determining whether you'll be allowed to stay in Greece once you get there. This also applies to nationals travelling from visa-exempt countries.

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