There are two options for entering Greece, depending on the nationality – visa-free and visa.

Who needs a tourist visa for Greece?

Currently, citizens of more than 90 countries can travel to Greece without a visa, and citizens of other 150 countries must obtain a Schengen visa before traveling.

If you are entitled to visa-free entry, your stay should not exceed 90 days. This applies to those cases when you travel as a tourist, visit family or friends, attend business meetings, cultural or sporting events.

Anyone staying in the Schengen area for more than a 90-day period may be subject to a fine on departure and will be banned from entering any other Schengen country for 90 days. In Greece, fines for exceeding the 90-day visa-free period range from 600 to 1,200 euros.

A longer stay is possible, but you must apply for an extension.

You must contact the nearest Foreigners' Office at least two weeks before the required departure date to apply for an extension of stay. The Greek authorities assess each application on a case-by-case basis and generally do not approve extensions for tourism purposes.

Necessary documents for submitting an application:

• Passport (all pages, including pages with entry and exit stamps).

• Declaration of the person offering hospitality in Greece

• A copy of the Greek identity card or residence permit and the international identity card (if the person is not Greek) offering hospitality.

• Residential rental agreement or other bills (for example, water or electricity bills).

• Issuance of a document from the tax service of the person who offers hospitality.

• Payment of 50 euros for each additional day that the person will be in Greece. This can be paid in cash or by bank transfer. If payment is made by bank transfer, you must provide two copies of your bank account or withdrawal card (if the same can be used in Greece).

• Travel insurance

• Two (2) photographs.

All of the above must be submitted in two (2) copies.

Travelers to Greece are not legally required to purchase travel insurance for their trip to Greece. Although this is not a mandatory condition for entry into Greece, it may be advisable for many tourists.

A travel insurance policy must meet the following requirements:

• minimum coverage of 30,000 euros

• valid in all countries of the Schengen Agreement

• cover expenses related to repatriation for medical reasons, urgent health problems, emergency hospitalization, or death.

In the absence of a biometric passport or if you are a citizen of a country that does not have visa-free entry to Greece, you need a Schengen visa type C to enter and stay up to 90 days within 180 days, for example in the context of tourism, visiting friends, short-term study languages, etc.

To obtain a short-term Schengen visa, a visa application can be submitted no earlier than six months before the planned entry into the Schengen area.

How Much Does a Schengen Visa Cost?

• €90.00 – for adults

• €45.00 – for children between 6-12 years of age

• €35.00 – for nationals from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus

• €67.50 – for nationals from Cabo Verde

Schengen Visa is free for children younger than six years of age.

If the visa is for a single visit, the holder must apply for a new visa if he wishes to visit Greece again.

You can read more about the list of supporting documents for applying for a visa to Greece on the website:

https://www.mfa.gr 

A residence permit is required to stay in Greece for more than 90 days. A residence permit for financially independent persons is issued for two years, after which holders can renew it every three years. The length of stay in Greece is not limited, and holders of a residence permit can live there permanently or not visit the country at all. Access to the labor market is prohibited.

Where can I get a residence permit?

Residence permits are issued by the migration authorities of Greece.

What additional documents are required to enter Greece?

• Proof of travel arrangements: flight/roundtrip booking or other proof of the intended transport and the full itinerary of your visit to Greece (if several Schengen States will be visited or if the trip covers several Schengen States and non-Schengen countries).

• Travel medical insurance for Greece – indicates that you are covered for emergency medical care and repatriation not only in Greece but also throughout the Schengen area (minimum cover of 30,000 euros).

• Proof of residence in Greece: Proof of booking, Letter of invitation from a friend or family member living in Greece. Lease agreement. 

• Proof of financial support: To be eligible to travel to Greece, you need to have enough money to support yourself. The Greek authorities want you to have a minimum of 50 euros for each day you spend here. To prove that you meet this requirement, you must submit at least one reference: Bank statement for the last three months, Checks, Certificate of income.

• A document confirming ownership (cars, apartments, or another real estate).

• Registered proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation.