
Greece is a Schengen country, so the Schengen visa scheme applies. EU nationals: Will need a residence permit for more than 90 days. Non-EU nationals: Will need a visa to stay in Greece for more than 90 days. Schengen visa applications usually take 15 calendar days, but sometimes up to 45 days.
Do I need visa traveling FRM the US to Greece?
You are allowed to travel to Greece and to all other members of the Schengen Area for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa, as long as your U.S. passport is valid for at least 3 months after your planned return to the United States!
Do US citizens need visa to Greece?
Visit the Embassy of Greece website for the most current visa information. Greece is a party to the Schengen Agreement; therefore, U.S. citizens may enter Greece without a visa for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. For additional details about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our Schengen fact sheet.
What countries do you need a visa?
You may require a visa if you have been in Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, or Yemen ...
How to get a national visa for Greece?
The basic application steps include:
- Obtaining a tax number from the local tax office and a social security number from the Social
- Security Institute
- Filling out a residence permit form in Greek and submitting in-person or through a certified lawyer with power of attorney
- Showing a copy of a visa, passport, passport photos, certificate of medical insurance, and a

Can I live permanently in Greece?
If you have been legally resident in Greece for: over 5 years: you will be eligible for permanent residency and a 10-year residence document which you should renew when it expires. less than 5 years: you will be eligible for a document valid for 5 years.
How long can I live in Greece without visa?
90 daysAs of 2020 and barring the COVID-19 travel restrictions, if you are a U.S., U.K., or Australian citizen, you can come to Greece for 90 days without a special visa.
Can you move to Greece without a visa?
Visa regulations for moving to Greece When immigrating to Greece from non-EU countries, you are supposed to get a visa and apply for a residence and work permit upon your arrival. While visa allows foreigners to enter the country, permits provide a legal right to live and work in the country.
Can a foreigner live in Greece?
Relocating to Greece The government is encouraging expats to buy property in Greece and to invest in the tourism industry. Every foreigner needs to get a residence permit. However, EU citizens do not need a visa to enter the country and stay for less than three months.
Can I get residency in Greece if I buy a house?
Yes, members of the Greek Residency by Investment Programme can obtain a residence permit with minimum investment. All you need to do is purchase property at the minimum of €250,000. This is the most lucrative offering in the EU.
How do I get a permit to live in Greece?
Conditions for obtaining a residence permit in Greece Documentary evidence of the absence of a valid criminal record in the country of citizenship. Provide valid health insurance. No visa violations in the Schengen countries. Document the availability of own or rented housing, the required minimum of 9 m2 per person.
Can I live in Greece for 6 months?
You will need to apply for a Greece long-stay visa in order to remain here for more than three months unless you are a national of: The European Union Member Countries.
Can I move to Greece without a job?
At the moment, it is relatively easy for European Citizens to move to Greece. A visa or a promise of work is not required. What is this? Third country nationals cannot apply for a residency permit on arrival.
How much money do you need to immigrate to Greece?
The basic requirements for a residence permit application are a passport, proof of current and continuous medical insurance, and proof of either a regular income of at least 2,000 euros per month or at least 24,000 euros in a bank. (One euro is equal to about $1.18.)
Can foreigner buy house in Greece?
Can Foreigners Buy Property In Greece? Yes, they can. There are no restrictions as to who can purchase property in Greece, yet EU citizens or residents are considerably more advantageous in the process.
Is it cheap to live in Greece?
Greece is super-affordable, especially when compared to North America and much of the rest of Europe. Prices for daily essentials (food, transport, etc.) are at least 20% cheaper than in the U.S., and costs to rent an apartment can be as much as 70% less.
Can I stay in Greece for 6 months?
A long - term visa (National visa - D Type Visa) is an authorization issued by the competent Greek Authorities for the entry and stay of third - country nationals in Greek territory for a period exceeding 90 and up to 365 days, according to the respective national legislation or European Union Law on the residence ...
How long can a non-EU citizen stay in Greece?
Americans, Canadians, Australians and citizens of certain other non-EU countries may visit Greece without a visa, as long as the visit does not exceed 90 days in a 180 day period. All other non-EU citizens need a visa to enter Greece.
What happens if I overstay my visa in Greece?
Anyone staying in the Schengen zone beyond the 90-day period may be subject to a fine at the time of departure and will be barred from entry into any other Schengen country for 90 days. In Greece, fines for overstaying the 90 day visa free period run from €600 to €1,200.
Can a UK citizen live in Greece?
Many non-EU citizens including Brits, USA citizens, etc., can stay in Greece for up to 3 months without a visa. After this, you will need to apply for permanent residency. Generally, this must be completed at the Greek consulate in your home country.
When did Greece become a member of the European Union?
You can apply for the Greek Schengen Visa since 2000 when Greece as a Member of the European Union, also became a member state of the Schengen Area.
What is a medical attestation in Greece?
A medical attestation from the hospital or doctor in Greece, confirming the date of your appointment as well as your medical situation
What is an invitation letter from a Greek company?
Invitation letter from the Greek company you will be visiting and their detailed address accompanied with the dates of your visit
How long is a tourist visa valid for Greece?
The most common visa type for tourist purposes is a Schengen visa, which allows visitors to travel through any Schengen country, including Greece, during the period the visa is valid for, usually 90 days. Longer and multi-entry visas are also available.
How long does it take to get a visa for Greece?
The maximum time for visa applications to be processed is 15 days, but typically the timeframe is shorter. If you are planning to visit multiple Schengen countries, alongside Greece, then apply at the embassy or consulate ...
How to extend a visa in Greece?
To extend a visa, or 90-day period of visa-free stay, after arriving in Greece, you’ll need to fill out a form on the Hellenic Police website. It’s worth noting visa extensions are only granted on the subject of the person having evidence of ‘exceptional reasons’ for which the extension of stay is required. Greece offers working holiday visas ...
How long do you have to stay in Schengen?
After staying 90 days, travelers will need to leave the Schengen area for at least 90 days before re-entering. Stays of more than 90 days require a visa. Citizens from other countries, including India, Pakistan, Egypt, Lebanon and South Africa, will need a visa to visit Greece.
How long does it take to get a visa for Greece?
The minimum processing time for a Greece Long-stay visa application is 6 days. On the other hand, the maximum the processing of your visa can take is up to three months.
What is the most important part of a Greek visa?
The most important part of your Greece visa application, is collecting the right supporting documents. First, make sure you collect the main required documents for a Greek visa:
How to get a residence permit in Greece?
Complete the online application form for a residence permit. Make sure you complete this form as soon as you arrive in Greece (within a few days).
How long can an employee travel to provide a specific service under a contractual obligation?
Employees legally employed by an undertaking established in a Member State of the European Union, who travel to provide a specific service under a contractual obligation – up to 1 year
Do Greek embassy accept walk in visas?
The Greek Embassies and consulates do not accept walk in visa applications. That is why you should make an appointment to be able to submit your application, and attend the compulsory visa interview.
Do I Need a Greece Long-Stay Visa?
You will need to apply for a Greece long-stay visa in order to remain here for more than three months unless you are a national of:
Who must sign an affidavit in Greece?
If you are invited by a friend or family member you must submit: a letter of invitation (affidavit) signed by the person who is inviting you and notarized by the appropriate Authorities in Greece.
How long do you have to apply for a visa before you travel?
All visa applicants must appear in person in order to submit their application at least two weeks prior to their trip.
Can a minor child apply for a visa?
Minor children cannot apply for their own visa. Both parents have to give their consent in person.
Does the Greek consulate accept money orders?
The Greek Consulate Authorities in the USA accept only cash and money orders. For Greece Schengen Visa Fee please click here.
How much does it cost to get a visa to Greece?
The processing fee for this visa is only 75 euros, but there is an additional cost. Because the short-term visas don't require you to apply for and pay for a residency card when you arrive in Greece, these recipients have to pay a 150-euro consular fee in addition to the 75-euro visa fee. It seems like a lot to pay upfront, but it saves you the headache of having to navigate the Greek bureaucratic system upon arrival.
How to get a visa extension in Greece?
You'll need to head to the nearest police station in Greece and bring your passport, a photo of yourself, proof of adequate funds, health insurance, and documents that show why you're requesting an extension. This must be done before your current visa expires or your 90 days run out; if you've already overstayed your time in the Schengen Area, the application will be denied and you'll likely be deported immediately.
What happens if you overstay your Schengen visa?
Overstaying your visa also makes it more difficult to get a Schengen visa in the future, and you may be turned away on future trips if you attempt to come back.
How much does a Schengen visa cost?
The fee for a Schengen Visa is 80 euros, payable at the current exchange rate in the currency of where you're applying (in the U.S., it's about $92) . However, discounts are available for certain groups. Citizens of European countries that aren't EU members—such as Russia—pay about half that price, while students and young children pay nothing. 2
How long does a work visa last?
When applying for a work visa, the consulate may decide to grant you a short-term visa instead, which is any visa with a validity period for more than 90 days but less than 365 days. Those who might receive short-term visas include seasonal workers, fish workers, artists, athletes and coaches, tour guides, or interns. You're still required to turn in all of the documents of a standard work visa, so be sure you have a work contract or something that substantiates what you plan to do in Greece.
How long can a tourist stay in the Schengen area?
Only citizens from non-exempt countries are required to apply for Schengen Tourist Visa, which allows them to travel around the entire Schengen Area for up to 90 days.
Where to apply for Greek citizenship?
You apply in-person at the local Greek Consulate of where you legally reside. After making an appointment, prepare all of the necessary documents, including:
What determines what type of visa is required?
The purpose of your intended travel and other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law. As a visa applicant, you will need to establish that you meet all requirements to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.
What is a visa for a foreigner?
What is a Visa? A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport, a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship.