Greece Schengen Visa

Greece is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, given its rich history and plethora of sites to visit. This Schengen country is also a popular choice of UAE citizens for travel as well as education, work, and more. While UAE nationals won’t need a Greece Schengen visa to visit the country for a short period, others (as well as UAE citizens going for a long trip) will be required to have a valid visa for the same.

To find out more about the Greece Schengen visa, the process of applying for it, the documents required, and other details related to Schengen travel insurance, continue reading the article below.

Do You Need Schengen Visa for Greece?

Short answer – it depends! Whether an individual travelling from the UAE to Greece will need a Schengen visa will depend on their nationality, planned duration of the trip, and several other factors.

Go through the following points to find out whether you would need a Greece Schengen visa -

• Passport holders of the UAE (or any other country with a visa-free entry tie-up with Schengen countries) who have been earlier denied visa-free entry to Greece will need the visa 
• UAE residents holding passports of countries that don’t have a visa-free entry arrangement with Schengen countries
• UAE citizens with a valid UAE passport who wish to visit Greece for a period of more than 90 days

Requirements to Apply for Greece Schengen Visa

To ensure a seamless application process when you applying for a Schengen visa for Greece, keep in mind the following list of Greece Schengen visa required documents –  

• Visa application form: The visa application must be filled out with correct details and signed at the end by the applicant
• Photographs: Applicants must carry at least two photographs for the application process. They must also ensure that the photographs are not older than three months.
• Valid passport: The passport of the applicant should not be more than ten years old and must be valid for at least three months after departing from Greece
• Document of UAE residence permit: The residence permit has to be valid for three months after the trip to the Schengen area ends
• Cover letter: This type of document, besides stating the purpose of the applicant’s visit to Greece, must also include the details related to their journey, accommodation, and more
• Proof of accommodation: Applicants must have a valid document mentioning details of their accommodation during the visit to the Schengen country. This can include details of the hotels, hostels, and rental apartments, or an invitation letter from the concerned host.
• Itinerary of flight: Greece Schengen visa applicants must have documents of their valid tickets from the UAE to Greece and back ready when applying for the visa. Keep in mind that the exact dates must be mentioned in the document.
• Travel insurance: Getting travel insurance is mandatory if you require a Schengen visa to travel to Greece. Moreover, this plan must also fulfil specific requirements that’ll be discussed later in the article.
• Proof of financial support: The applicant must present documents like bank statements to prove the availability of sufficient funds to support their stay in Greece.
• Employment status proof: The requirements here vary as per the applicant’s employment type –  

For Salaried Individuals

• Contract of Employment 
• Bank statement for previous six months
• A leave permission letter from the employer

For Self-Employed Individuals

• A valid copy of Business Licence
• Previous six months’ bank statement of the company

For Retired Individuals

• Previous six months’ pension statements

Greece Schengen Visa for Minors

• Birth certificate of the minor 
• A document of family court order in case one of the guardians has full child custody
• Greece Schengen visa application form with both parents’ signatures
• Valid copies of passport or other valid ID of both parents
• A notarized parental authorisation –  in case the minor is travelling alone

Greece Schengen Visa for Tourists

• Travellers’ bank account statement for the previous six months

Greece Schengen Visa for Visitors

Individuals here must have a valid document stating that they have been invited to the Schengen country by any of their friends or relatives. This can include the following –

• An invitation letter signed by the person residing in Greece
• Residence permit of the host (if applicable)

Greece Schengen Visa for Business Purposes

• An invitation letter from a recognised Greek company with the detailed address, contact number, and visiting dates
• A certificate from your employer mentioning the purpose of your visit 
• Past six months’ bank statement of your company 
• Trade licence of the company
• Memorandum and Article of Association submitted in the original certified copy

Student Schengen Visa to Greece

• An enrolment certificate of the university or school the student will attend
• A No Objection Certificate from the enrolled university or school in Greece

Medical Schengen Visa to Greece

• A medical report assigned from the hospital in your home country stating that you require medical treatment in Greece
• Payment receipts of medical fees
• A valid confirmation report from the Greek hospital regarding your appointment

Greece Schengen Visa for Sports, Culture, Religious, or Film Crew Purpose

• Event details – invitation letter, tickets, and other details and documents related to the event
• Documents of past participation in festivals, events, sports, and others
• For Film Crew Members: 
  • A letter from the film company mentioning name, film synopsis, and shooting locations
  • A letter from a relevant agency in Greece as a confirmation document
  • Complete list of the travelling crew members with their respective designations

Greece Schengen Visit for Members of Official Delegations

• Official copy of the invitation

How to Apply for Schengen Visa for Greece?

Take note of the following steps to successfully apply for a Greece Schengen visa –

• First, verify whether you qualify for the Greece Schengen Visa and whether you would need a visa as per your nationality and duration of visit. As mentioned earlier, UAE citizens generally won’t require a Greece Schengen visa if their stay is of less than 90 days.
• Check the available options with respect to the submission of your Greece Schengen visa application. Depending on your location, you may be able to submit your visa application at the concerned consulate, embassy, or any authorised visa centre.
• Obtain a Greece Schengen visa application form. Carefully fill it up with accurate information and submit it to the visa authorities.
• Organise all the required documents and make sure that they are ready to be carried for the visa interview.
• Submit your application and select an appointment date for a visa interview.
• Complete the remaining steps like the interview and the payment of the visa fee.

Once done, wait till your visa application gets processed. You will then be informed about the approval or rejection of your application by the embassy.

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Greece Schengen Visa?

As stated earlier, if you need a Schengen visa to travel to Greece, you would necessarily require Schengen travel insurance as well. Moreover, this insurance plan must necessarily fulfil the following conditions –

• Medical cover of at least EUR 30,000
• Validity across all the Schengen countries A

Besides the part of the fulfilment of legal requirements, here are the benefits you can receive with a Greece Schengen visa travel insurance -

• Medical expenses and repatriation – Your travel insurance plan can provide you coverage against medical costs for your treatment for any injury or illness incurred during the trip. Moreover, some plans can also cover the costs of arranging emergency flights to get you back to your home country, if required.
• Cancellation or curtailment of trip  – In some unfavourable conditions related to epidemics, disasters, weather, and more, one’s trip may get cancelled or cut short. In such cases, having travel health insurance can be beneficial as it can cover the non-refundable expenses related to your accommodation, planned activities, and more.
• COVID-19 – Most insurance companies now include COVID-19 coverage in their travel insurance plans. In case the policyholder tests positive for the disease, the costs arising from their RT-PCR tests, quarantine, medical treatment, and more can be covered by their provider.
• Delays and missed flight departures – Travel insurance can also cover you against expenses arising from delayed, missed, or cancelled flights
• Lost or stolen luggage – In case the insured individual’s baggage is stolen or lost, their insurance provider can cover their losses and provide financial aid that can help them secure replacement items.
• Personal liability – Travel insurance policies can cover the costs arising from accidental injuries or damages caused by the policyholder to a third party as well as the legal fees, if required. However, keep in mind that if any such mishap is caused under the influence of alcohol or drugs, your claim would not be approved by your insurance provider.

There are primarily two types of Greece Schengen visa available – Single trip travel insurance and annual multi-trip travel insurance -

• Single-Trip Travel Insurance: Policy buyers can opt for this type of travel insurance if they are not frequent travellers, as a single-trip insurance plan best suits those who travel once or twice a year. It covers the entire trip of the policyholder (under the specified duration). The validity of the Greece Schengen visa travel insurance plan ends as soon as the specified period ends or you arrive back in the UAE.
• Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance: Individuals travelling to any Schengen area twice or more in a year can get an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy. This type of travel insurance provides coverage for all the trips an individual makes in an entire year.

When compared to the overall cost of getting a travel insurance plan for each trip, annual multi-trip travel insurance is more affordable than its single-trip equivalent.

Processing Time for the Greece Schengen Visa

The processing of your Greece Schengen visa application can usually take up to 15 days. However, in certain circumstances, this can extend up to 30 or even 60 days. The latter case usually arises if there are errors/criminal records on the applicant’s part or if a high number of applications is received.

When Should You Apply for Schengen Visa to Greece?

Following the Schengen visa guidelines, individuals must apply for the Greece Schengen visa at least 15 days before the date of journey. However, as we saw earlier, the processing can get delayed due to various reasons at times.

Thus, the ideal time to apply for a Greece Schengen visa is at least one month before the date of departure from the UAE. Please note that applicants can initiate the process earlier as well, i.e., up to 6 months before the travel date.

Schengen Visa to Greece Fees

Refer to the following table to know about the fees for Greece Schengen visa –

How Long is Your Greece Schengen Visa Valid?

The validity of your Greece Schengen visa depends on the type of visa you apply for. Type C visas, often referred to as short-term visas, are valid for 90 days within a period of 180 days. However, the Type D visa, which can be obtained by individuals going to the country for specific purposes like education, work, and more, can remain valid for up to 1 year.

Keep in mind that one can also get multiple-entry short-term visas for visiting Greece that can be valid for up to 5 years. With this visa, you would be able to enter and exit the country multiple times within the specified period. However, within each 180-day period, you won’t be able to stay in Greece for more than 90 days.

Key Takeaways

Depending on your nationality, duration of trip, and more, you may be required to get a Greece Schengen visa. Moreover, you would need to keep the visa categories in mind when applying for it as per your requirements. As we saw, applying for a Greece Schengen visa is fairly easy, although it is still advisable to apply for it at least a month before your trip commences.

It is mandatory to buy travel health insurance when travelling to this Schengen country if you require a visa for the same. Additionally, the plan must fulfil specific criteria like the minimum medical cover of EUR 30,000 and more. This makes it necessary to get a suitable insurance plan.

To get the best deal for your trip without spending massive amounts, all you need to do is simply reach out to us on policybazaar.ae. Our platform provides the best travel insurance plans in one place so that you can compare them at your leisure and choose the best one possible.

Our customer executive team is available 24*7 to assist you if you need any information regarding the same. To directly communicate with our team, call us at 042472904 or drop a mail at communication@policybazaar.ae.

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