Simplified visa for Rhodes. Russians visiting the islands of Greece without a visa from Turkey

Greece- one of the most popular destinations among Russian tourists for beach and sightseeing holiday. That is why the very first question when planning a trip to this country, we have a question: do Russians need a visa to Greece? Everyone knows that Greece belongs to the Schengen zone, so it is quite logical that Russian tourists need to apply for a Greek Schengen visa there. But hesitancy about this is caused by constant reports of funds mass media, which spread about various indulgences of the Greek side towards the Russians, almost up to the cancellation visa regime Greece with Russia. But this is just a competent speculation on the love of Russian tourists to relax in Greece.

Of course the rumors visa-free entry to Greece by the Russians are greatly exaggerated, but they were not born from scratch. Not everyone knows that there is an option for Russians to visit Greece without a Schengen visa in their passport. True, this fact has many reservations.

For Russian tourists who are on vacation in places like Bodrum and Marmaris, from April to November inclusive, there is an opportunity to get to some Greek islands by ferry across the Aegean Sea without having a Schengen. In time, tourists are waiting for several hours of travel by sea, and upon the arrival of the Russians on the coast of the islands of Greek Hellas, everyone receives a one-time island Greek visa. List of Greek islands Aegean Sea this year it was expanded, now without a Schengen visa, Russian travelers can visit and relax on, Chios, Lesvos, Rhodes, Samos, Kastellorizon, Symi.

An island visa to Greece for Russians can be done in several ways:

1. In Russia, through your tour operator during the purchase of a tour package to a Turkish hotel.

2. Using the services of a guide of your tour operator, while on vacation in Turkey;

3. Using the services of Turkish travel agencies organizing study tours to Greek islands.

To apply for a short-term island visa to the islands of Greece, you will need the following documents:

An extract from a bank account or from a card account that at the moment you have at least five hundred euros per person, and the certificate must be on English language;

Two photographs, and it is not necessary to take a photo in advance in Russia, they are taken right upon arrival in Greece, at the customs post during clearance island visa;

Photocopy of foreign passport;

Ferry tickets to your destination in Greece and back to Turkey.

If you are visiting the Greek Islands multi-day excursion, then the customs officers need to provide a certificate of paid reservation at the hotel of the island of your stay in Greece. Russians may not worry about the collection of documents, because the manager of the tour operator, or representatives travel companies Turkey themselves will prepare the documents necessary for obtaining a Greek island visa, and the tourist will only have to receive and pay for a visa at customs on the Greek islands. The visa will be issued after you present the originals of all the documents required for it. The price of a short-term island Greek visa for Russians - thirty-five euros.

Having an island visa to Greece in your hands, it is worth remembering that there are a number of restrictions on this entry document:

An island visa is not the same as a Schengen visa, it is not valid on the Greek mainland and on non-Hellas islands;

The Russian must return back to Turkey, and from there leave for Russia;

The validity of an island visa to Greece is two weeks.

Such a simplified procedure for entry into Greece by Russians is in great demand this year. After all, this is a great opportunity, as part of a trip to one country, to visit another, and even part of the Schengen zone. After all, if earlier Greece easily issued multi-visas to Russian tourists, then this year, although our tourists are almost not denied the Greek Schengen, they do not give it for a long time. Even those tourists whose passport is replete with Schengen visas - long-term and multiple-entry, Greece gives a visa either for travel dates, or for a couple of months. That is why the opportunity to enter the territory of the Greek islands without Schengen, while relaxing in Turkish resort towns Bodrum or Marmaris is a great option for Russian tourists to spend their holidays richly and colorfully.

Rhodes is the fourth largest island in Greece and a favorite tourist destination for the Russians. This place is famous not only for its mild climate and stunning scenery, but also for a variety of recreational opportunities - from the beach to sightseeing pastime. Trips to the island are very popular, despite the fact that a visa to Rhodes for Russians in 2017 is still required. About what documents you need to collect and what to expect from traveling to this region, will be discussed in this article.

Greece is one of the countries of the Schengen agreement, so to travel there in without fail you need to issue a pass. Since Greece is one of the most popular destinations for the rest of the Russians, in the press periodically there are reports of a possible visa easing. However, such statements should not be trusted - the state will not terminate the Schengen agreements even for the sake of attracting more tourists.

Holders of a valid Schengen visa issued by any of the representations of the countries of the Agreement can freely visit Greece, including each of its islands, including Rhodes. The rest will have to take care of obtaining the document.

You can apply for it yourself - at the Greek Consulate or at one of the visa centers that are open in many major cities throughout Russia, or with the help of a travel agency, making sure that it has accreditation.

As in other Schengen countries, there are two types of visas in Greece - short-term C and long-term D, also called national. The second type must be issued to those people who plan to stay in foreign country more than six months: for the purpose of work, study or just residence. For tourist trips you should obtain a type C visa. As a basis, both tourist purposes and invitations to relatives and friends, participation in various events can be suitable.

What is the price

The cost of a visa to Rhodes for Russians in 2017 remained the same. Most of the amount is the so-called consular fee of 35 euros for a type C document. If a visa is required urgently, the fee is doubled.

Behind national visa you have to pay 90 euros. When using the services of visa centers, a service fee of 28 euros will be added to the cost. It is worth noting that all amounts are paid in rubles at the current exchange rate and are non-refundable even if the issuance of the document is refused.

The Greek authorities cannot agree on the issue of easing the visa regime, however, in order to attract tourists, since the beginning of 2016, the consular department of the country's embassy began to issue visas with a validity period of up to three years for those who do not draw up a Schengen for the first time.

Features of rest on the island of Rhodes

Despite its relatively modest size, Rhodes is able to satisfy the most demanding requirements of tourists. It may seem surprising, but this island is really suitable for both lovers measured rest, and inveterate thrill-seekers, both married couples with small children, and a noisy cheerful company of young people, both lovers of luxury hotels, and owners of last-minute tours who save every cent.

Rhodes is conditionally divided into eastern and western parts. In the east it is washed by warm mediterranean sea; the beaches there are mostly sandy, the slopes into the sea are gentle, and the waves do not often break the measured surface of the water. The main resorts of this part of the island are Faliraki and Lindos. Faliraki is famous for its bright nightlife with noisy discos, various bars, restaurants and casinos. Not far from the town there is a water park, which is considered the best in the entire territory of Greece. Crowded central beach Faliraki will please with abundance water activities, and the secluded places of the coastal strip, which can be found a little away from the center, and the quiet streets of the old city will suit those who are annoyed by crowds of tourists.

Lindos is the second most visited city on the island of Rhodes, right after its capital. In this place, ancient monuments of different peoples who once inhabited this territory coexist with modern infrastructure that allows travelers to enjoy their vacation at the highest level. To feel the local flavor, it is better to stay in the city for a few days.

Extreme lovers prefer western part islands. It is washed by the Aegean Sea, where the restless wind often pleases with waves. The most popular local activities are windsurfing and parasailing. The west of Rhodes will also appeal to people who do not tolerate heat well - the waters of the Aegean Sea are cooler than the Mediterranean, and thanks to the wind, high air temperatures are not so noticeable. Main resort towns here are Ialyssos and Ixia.

A pleasant trifle will be the fact that the entrance to absolutely all the beaches of Rhodes is free, regardless of the hotel of residence; coastline is owned by the state. The tourist program should definitely include a trip to the market, where you can taste and buy local wine, olive oil and honey, not counting fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables. Fans of exotic souvenirs should pay attention to handmade carpets, lace and ceramics.

Do not forget about unique phenomena. There are five things that any self-respecting tourist should do after visiting Rhodes:

See the "kiss of two seas" - the place where two seas meet - the Mediterranean and the Aegean.
Redeem the seven deadly sins by bathing in the Valley of the Seven Springs.
Visit the Tsambika hill, where there is a monastery with the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary kept there.
Visit the Butterfly Valley.
Climb Mount Filerimos - the highest (of the available) point of Rhodes.

Visa-free islands of Greece

Looking for information on whether you need a visa to the island of Rhodes, you can stumble upon messages about the possibility of visa-free visits to some Greek islands. Most likely, in this situation, this is just an advertising hook of one of the travel agencies, and is only partly true. In some cases, applying for a Schengen visa is really not necessary, but this does not mean the complete absence of access documents, that is, a visa-free regime.

The islands of Kastellorizon, Lesbos, Kos, Chios, Samos, Sion and, including Rhodes, can be visited without a Schengen visa, but subject to several formalities:

stay in Turkey;
buy a ticket for a ferry or another water transport to one of the listed Greek islands;
apply for an island visa that allows you to stay only on the specified island for no more than two weeks;
after visiting the island, return to Turkey.

Thus, such a “visa-free regime” is few easier design Schengen visa and involves a preliminary holiday in Turkey. You can complete the document in travel agency Bodrum or Marmaris by buying there sightseeing tour or a ticket for water transport, or Russian tour operator when buying a ticket to Turkey while in Russia. Be sure to remember that in order to apply for an island visa, you need to collect a separate package of papers.

Are there refugees on the island

Due to the migration crisis that broke out in 2015 and is in a sluggish mode to this day, some tourists are afraid to go on vacation to Rhodes. This is because Greece has become a gateway to Europe for refugees fleeing the war and the bad economic situation and arriving here by sea from the countries of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.

Due to its proximity to Turkey, which is only 20 km away, Rhodes is a kind of transit point for mainland Greece and then to countries Northern Europe. Precisely because the island is not the immediate goal of migrants, when they arrive there, they do not stay in this place for a long time.

As of December 2016, according to official figures, a total of 224 refugees were registered in Rhodes.

Other islands were less fortunate. Lesbos and Chios, where the reception centers for people in need of help, are the most heavily loaded.

Despite the fact that the migration crisis is still ongoing, and there are a large number of migrants and refugees in Greece, the country, as before, accepts tourists and does everything possible to ensure that their holidays are at the highest level. The authorities assure that this situation will in no way affect the comfort of travelers. And tourists who do not stop visiting Rhodes even at the peak of the crisis speak only positively about this place.

Applying for a visa to Greece: Video

Attention! Due to recent changes in legislation, the legal information in this article may be out of date!

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The tourist season-2016 was marked by a high level of activity of Russians when visiting the Greek island of Rhodes. And since it is a Schengen territory, then a visa must be issued accordingly. This is not a problem if the foreigner has, and the passport has a mark on trips to countries that are part of the European Union. If not, then you will have to go through the procedure for obtaining permission to visit Rhodes.

Sea view of Rhodes

The following tourists enjoy free visa processing:

Are the closest relatives of residents of Greece or EU countries;
The main purpose of which is treatment;
Participating in competitions, together with coaches and all accompanying persons;
Young Russians who want to study there;
Disabled people;
Researchers who have arrived to participate in a study or conference.

Applying for a visa in 2017 upon arrival in Rhodes charter flight complicated and more expensive due to the international situation. But this did not reduce the flow of Russians wishing to visit the island for various purposes.

Not so long ago summer time for tourists was considered visa-free. But now the Greek government has imposed severe entry restrictions on Russian residents. True, there are options to visit Rhodes without a visa in 2017.

It is possible to visit Rhodes in visa-free regime only by sea and from Turkey.

Detailed map of the island of Rhodes showing all settlements

But you will need to meet certain requirements: depart from the cities indicated for this Bodrum, Marmaris, Dikili, Foca, Fethiye, Ayvalik, Cesme and Kusadasi, having ferry tickets or hotel reservations.

Therefore, excursions and ferries from Marmaris to Rhodes were very popular among Russians and Ukrainians in 2016. The cost of a ferry ticket, which is immediately bought there and back, is about 30 euros.

Types of visas for the island of Rhodes

The visa-free regime from Russia has been canceled due to an incident with Russian tourists. And now a trip to the island of Rhodes requires a visa.

There is a guest, tourist, business and student permit.

There are two types - Schengen and national. The first one opens the door not only to Greece, but also to the EU countries. And from the second, a Russian has the right to be only in Greece.

An example of a Greek visa to visit the island of Rhodes

Common list required documents For :

In addition to each goal, there are requirements:

Tourists need to present return ticket and booking a hotel room;
Business people present a letter of invitation from a business partner, written on company letterhead, indicating the place and duration of stay;
A guest goal implies an invitation from friends or relatives living in Rhodes with a copy of the passport details of the inviting person and a return ticket.

Paperwork

The applicant must have an internal and foreign passports with the presence of free pages where the visa will be pasted, as well as a passbook (bank reference-account). Documents are processed from one day to several weeks. No need to make mistakes in the papers, as the visa will be denied.
For each category of Russians, certain papers are also provided.

So, a working person in 2017, in addition to the main ones, needs to have:

Completed application form;
A paper from work with all the details and an indication of a salary of at least 30,000 rubles;
If the organization is private, then a license and registration documents (copies) are required.

Before you go to the island, you need to know: with a salary of less than 12,000 rubles. or without permanent job you will need documents from the person sponsoring the trip (the main document of the Russian Federation is a copy, a certificate from the place of work and confirmation of family ties).

Sample letter of employment

Students:

Fill out a questionnaire;
Submit a certificate from educational institution, confirming training, with a phone number;
Show student ticket (copy);
For minors, a photocopy of proof of birth is required;
From the sponsor - a certificate from work and a bank on the availability of funds in the amount of at least 30,000 rubles, and confirmation of family relationships.

Children traveling to the island with both parents must have:

Completed application form;
When traveling during school hours - paper from the school with all the details;
Birth document (photocopy);
Responsible statements from both parents;
With Schengen visas affixed to the parents - copies of these marks;
An extract from the bank and from the workplace of the person who pays for the trip, with a sponsorship statement.

You need to know that when several children are recorded in the civil document of one of the parents, a separate package is collected for each child. When accompanied by only one parent, the following will be required:

Completed application form;
A certified trust document from the second parent, which indicates the time of travel in numbers and words. If the location is unknown, - a certificate from the police;
Civil document of the country of residence of the one who makes the power of attorney, with all copies of the information pages;
Paper from the workplace of the one who accompanies the child, or from the bank, where there are from 30,000 rubles. and more, as well as sponsorship paper.

When visiting the island with a nanny, you need to have a copy of the paper allowing you to work in Russia, and an employment contract.
Non-working people:

Fill out a questionnaire;
They present a paper from the work of the sponsor or an extract from a bank account on the availability of an amount of 30,000 rubles or more. and more, consent to sponsorship and the fact of family ties.

Pensioners:

Entrepreneurs:

Fill out a questionnaire;
Provide a copy of the title documents;
Also, a paper from the tax office with income or a letterhead of your company with all the details and data on profits.

The Greek consular representation has the right to issue a requirement for the submission of any other documents, if necessary. Be sure to provide accurate information and as complete as possible. If this is not done, then you may not get a visa.

Registration in the passport will indicate the place where the collected papers should be submitted.

Location map of the Greek Consulate in St. Petersburg

If the registration is in the North-West of the Russian Federation, then the documents should be taken to the representative office located in St. Petersburg.

Island Rhodes

The island of Rhodes can be called the pearl of the Mediterranean. Indeed, named after the beloved of Apollo, he justifies his main symbol— Rose. Worshiping Apollo as the supreme deity, the inhabitants of the island erected huge statue, which was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Every year Rhodes attracts tens of thousands of tourists from different corners Earth. Here you can find everything that is interesting for tourists - this is ancient cities with ancient monuments, and chic sandy beaches, and noisy youth parties and discos. Greek cuisine impresses with its abundance, and the restaurants of Rhodes are able to surprise even the most sophisticated gourmets.
Of course, in order to see the whole island and its attractions, it is advisable to spend a week or two on Rhodes, but this is not always possible. Guests of Marmaris have a unique opportunity to visit two countries at once during their vacation - Turkey and Greece. The island of Rhodes is only 45 kilometers from Marmaris and every day a ferry departs from the port of Marmaris to the Greek island, which will take you to the pearl of the Mediterranean in 45 minutes.

On Rhodes you can see the Palace of the Masters, walk along the old streets of the city, visit sightseeing tour by bus (can be ordered on the ferry or at the exit from the port), have lunch in one of the restaurants in the city.

The ferry schedule in May and October must be specified additionally when ordering tickets.

The ferry from Marmaris arrives at the island at 10:00 and you will have 6 hours of free time. Check-in for the return flight starts at 16:00, and at 18:30 the ferry arrives back at the port of Marmaris.

If you want to spend more time on the island of Rhodes, you can book a return ticket with open date which will be valid for 14 days. You can use it on any of these days.

Ferry tickets Marmaris – Rhodes – Marmaris

You can book tickets for the Marmaris-Rhodes-Marmaris ferry at least 2 days before departure. IN high season(June-August) it is better to do this 3-4 days before the start of the tour. In order to order a ticket, you must provide a foreign number. passports, date of birth, citizenship and first name last name with Latin letters. The ticket price includes a transfer from your hotel and back to the hotel. You can order tickets by paying for the application on our website, using the Pay Pal system, or by meeting with our guide in Marmaris. The ticket price for Marmaris - Rhodes - Marmaris is $48 for adults, $35 for children aged 6-11.99 and $5 for children aged 0-5.99.

In 2017, Russians - beach lovers, as before, will often visit the Greek island of Rhodes. Beautiful blue sea , soft sun and Hellenic culture will leave unforgettable impressions for the most sophisticated tourist . For several years, Russians have been able to visit some of the Greek islands without a visa, including Samos, Chios, Kos and Lesvos. Until recently, this list included Rhodes, but after a noisy scandal with guests from our country who did not want to leave the island in a timely manner, he was excluded from visa-free list. Since then, a visa for Russians is required to travel to Rhodes.

Collection of documents

Before you start collecting documents, you need to consider that Rhodes is part of Greece, and to visit it, you need a regular Greek visa. The package will be common to all states participating in the agreement. Here are the documents applicants will need:

Questionnaire - an application filled in English, without errors and blots will be the first step towards obtaining a Greek visa. A sample and blank form can be found online or obtained locally.
Copy all internal passport Russian.
International passport. According to Schengen standards, its validity must exceed 3 months, and inside 2 blank pages. In addition, attach copies of the entire passport, and copy personal data in 2 copies.
2 photos 35*45 mm.
Medical insurance covering 30 thousand euros medical services and valid throughout the trip.
Get a certificate from work on letterhead about the length of service, position held, vacation period and income. If the salary does not reach 12 thousand rubles, and there is no opportunity to provide a bank statement confirming the provision of 50 euros per day, a sponsorship letter will be required. That is, the obligation of a relative to provide for a tourist.
Round trip transportation tickets.
Hotel or hotel reservation, travel agency voucher.
Payment confirmation consular fee.

Attention! Non-working citizens will need to confirm their status with a sponsorship letter, pensioners will need a pension certificate, students will need a letter from the dean's office and a student card.

If the applicant has already closed Schengen visas without violations, it will be easier to obtain permission in 2017.

Since 2015, for the first trip to the Greek islands, you will need to undergo a fingerprinting procedure - leave fingerprints. This is done once every 5 years. During this period, fingerprints are stored in a single database.

Traveling with children

To travel to Rhodes in 2017, the child will need their own visa. The package of documents will be slightly larger than for adults.

If a child travels in the company of both parents, a birth certificate and a passport are required, if not, then they are entered in the parent's passport.

If the child is traveling with only one of the parents, third parties or independently, it is worth visiting a notary public in advance and signing a permit to leave Russia.

Children under 6 years old can visit the islands without paying a consular fee.

How much will you have to pay?

A visa to Rhodes in 2017 costs the same as any other Schengen visa. When applying to the Greek consular authorities, it is enough to pay 35 euro consular fee. Will have to wait 7-10 days but there will be no other costs.

If the applicant can confirm the importance and urgency of the visit to Rhodes, then permission can be obtained in 3 days. To do this, you will need to convince consular officials in writing of the reasons for an urgent visit to the island. In this case, the costs will increase to 70 euros.

Obtaining permission in visa application center will cost 15 euros more. Additionally, you can order photos, photocopies and SMS - control over the status of the application

The most expensive option is the services of travel agencies. They will take over most collection of documents and visits to consular offices, but the price of a visa will increase by an average of 3 times.

Period of obtaining and validity of the permit

Most tourists receive a short-term single visa to visit Greece in general and the island of Rhodes, as part of it. It is valid for six months and gives the right to stay in the country for 90 days. You can apply for a visa in 2017 no earlier than 6 months before travel.

When applying to the consular authorities, a visa will be obtained in no more than 10 days. It takes the same time to resolve the issue at the visa center, because the decision is still made by the consular authority.

Travel agencies often offer expedited clearance services within 3 days. During this time, you can get it yourself, provided that you can prove the urgency of the visit.

Where can I get a Greek visa

Permission to visit Rhodes can be obtained from the consular authorities of Greece by registering in advance:

Consulate General of Greece in Moscow on the street. Spiridonovka, 14.

Additional information and registration on the site site: http://www.mfa.gr/russia/ru/consulate-general-moscow

Consulate General of St. Petersburg on the avenue. Chernyshevsky, 17, (metro station Chernyshevskaya),

official site http://www.mfa.gr/russia/ru/consulate-general-st-petersburg/

Simplified visa for Rhodes. ﻿ Russians visiting the islands of Greece without a visa from Turkey