Getting a tourist visa to Greece for Russians
What kind of visa do you need for Greece? How to get a Greek visa and what documents are required for this? What are the terms of production and the cost of obtaining a visa to Greece? Read on Tour-Calendar!
What kind of visa do you need for Greece
Greece is visited for different purposes and at different times of the year. But whenever and for what purpose you go to this hospitable country, you will need a visa, because Greece is also a member of the Schengen Agreement.
The requirements of Greece have practically no features compared to the general Schengen rules for issuing visas. The exception is the autonomous territory of Athos, which has its own regime for visiting. And some Greek islands, under certain conditions, can be visited without obtaining a Greek visa.
In general, the Greeks are quite loyal to Russian tourists, as evidenced by the fairly frequent issuance of three-year (can be issued if there is at least one Schengen visa in the applicant's passport) and five-year visas (can be issued if previous Schengen visas are used without violations).
Applying for a Greek visa through a travel agency
The standard set presented by tourists for obtaining a Greek visa when buying a tour at a travel agency is:
Questionnaire and documents for obtaining a visa to Greece
Attention! If your passport contains marks about visiting Northern Cyprus, be prepared for increased attention to your documents from the Greek missions!
Financial guarantees when obtaining a Greek visa
As such, when obtaining a visa to Greece, the following can be presented:
- Certificate from the place of work with the details and seal of the employer and signed by the head. The certificate indicates the position, length of service, salary of the applicant, as well as data on the dates of the paid leave provided. If your employer is an individual entrepreneur, you will additionally need to provide his certificate of PSRN and TIN.
Individual entrepreneurs themselves provide a copy of the certificates of registration and tax registration, the latest tax return.
- As financial guarantees, an account/credit card statement with information for the last three months, or proof of ownership of real estate in Russia, can also be provided.
Pensioners and students present photocopies of documents confirming their status. For students - this is a certificate from the place of study and a student card, for pensioners - a pension certificate.
From unemployed persons who cannot prove their financial solvency with bank documents, a letter from the sponsor will be required. The letter is drawn up by hand, in which the sponsor undertakes to pay for the applicant's trip to the Schengen countries, including Greece. The sponsor signs the document, the period of the trip, the date of registration must be indicated. The sponsor's financial documents (certificate from the employer, account statement), a copy of the sponsor's passport and a document confirming the fact of kinship with the sponsor are attached to the letter.
Only a close relative can act as a sponsor!
When participating in a tour to Greece, a child under 18 years of age is provided with:
Persons under 18 years of age will need to provide: the original and a copy of the birth certificate. If the child is traveling accompanied by one of the parents - a notarized permission to leave the child from the other parent.
If the child travels without parents - a notarized consent to the child's departure, certified, in addition, by an apostille, from both parents, as well as copies of all pages of their Russian passports. The power of attorney contains the passport data of the parents, the address according to the registration, the data of the person accompanying the child (name, passport data), the purpose of the trip (tourism), the dates of the trip.
In the event that a visa is requested only for a child, photocopies of the parents' valid Schengen visas will be required.
Attention! The original documents and notarized copies submitted for visa processing remain at the consulate, so stock up in advance either with a second original or a notarized copy of the child’s exit permit, which will need to be presented when crossing the border.
How to get a visa to Greece on your own
To apply for a visa to Greece on your own, you will also need:
- Medical insurance with a minimum insurance coverage of EUR 30,000, valid in the territory of the Schengen countries for the entire stay (original and photocopy of the policy).
- Hotel booking confirmation (original or electronic copy of the booking with the hotel stamp and signature of the responsible person).
A special requirement of the Greek side is confirmation of 30% payment for the booked accommodation.
When traveling by car, you will need a route sheet (where you need to indicate a detailed route to Greece by dates), a photocopy of the registration certificate for the car, a driver's license and international car insurance.
Travel to the islands of the Aegean Sea, visiting Athos
Without a Schengen visa (under certain conditions and from June to September (inclusive)) you can visit some of the Aegean islands: Samos, Chios, Kos, Rhodes, Lesbos.
Conditions under which such a visit is possible:
- Arrival to the islands by ferry from Turkey
- Availability of reservations in the hotels of the islands
- Buying a tour from a Turkish company
A single-entry visa is issued for a trip to the islands (its cost is also 35 EURO). A visa is issued for a period of 15 days and you cannot visit the mainland of Greece with it.
Visiting Athos is possible only for males. Tourists-pilgrims need a special permit (diamonitirion) to visit. This permit is valid for 4 days. You can get it yourself, but it is better to use the services of operators who organize pilgrimage trips to the holy mountain.
Greece visa cost
As of November 2017, the consular fee for a Schengen visa to Greece is 2380 rubles (equivalent to 35 EUR).
The fee is paid in rubles in cash or by card, directly on the day of submission of documents.
Service fee when submitting documents through visa centers is paid a fee in the amount of 1360 rubles.
No visa fee is charged for children under 12 years of age, close relatives of persons legally residing in Greece or EU countries, disabled people of the first and second groups and an accompanying person (upon presentation of a certificate).
Greece visa processing time
The standard processing time for a Schengen visa is 10 business days. Usually a Greek visa is issued within about 2 working days (not including the date of submission of documents and the period of transportation of documents to the visa center). However, it is better to apply for a visa in advance - two weeks before the trip, but not earlier than three months before it.
Information on how to apply for a Greek visa
You can apply for a Greek visa at visa centers, either in person or through travel agencies accredited by the Consulate General of Greece, or through a representative (a close relative when applying for visas for a family trip).
