Citizens of many countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia, can travel for up to 3 months in Greece without a visa. Residents of countries who require visas for travel in Greece are required to present a passport, proof of sufficient finances, round-trip airline ticket, a photograph and payment of visa fees.
The visa process for Greece requires that an application form be filled out in its entirety, signed and returned to the appropriate agency. The application form states that applicants must list their purpose of travel to Greece, entry and exit dates, arrival locations, departure locations and other details about the planned stay in Greece. In addition, the Greek visa application form requires personal contact information and other information about the applicant's family and employment.
Greece participates in the Schengen Visa program. As part of this program, travelers can obtain a single visa that is valid in 15 countries, thereby decreasing transit time and avoiding internal checkpoints. The other countries involved in the Schengen Visa program are Sweden, Spain, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Germany, Portugal, France, Finland, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Austria and Norway. The Schengen Visa should be obtained for Greece if it is the country you plan to stay in for the longest period of time.
A Greek visa allows international travelers to move freely about the country. With a valid visa, travelers can enter Greece from any point of entry and stay for the allotted amount of time. Travelers who require a visa and enter Greece without one are considered illegal and will face significant consequences if caught.
There are two types of visas in Greece: tourist/business visas and transit visas. Travelers who want to apply for business or tourist visas can obtain them for single entry or multiple entries.Transit visas are useful only when passing through Greece. Travelers who want to relocate to Greece or stay there for a long period of time can apply for a national visa.
