How to Apply for a Greece Schengen Visa from Australia in 5 Easy Steps – A Complete Guide
Greece has got to be one of the most beautiful of all the Schengen countries for its stunning white beaches and turquoise waters. But, that’s not all it has to offer. Its people are friendly and its food is delicious, but most of all Greece has had a long and colourful past and there are many fascinating places to visit. In this article, learn more about how to apply for a Greece visa in Australia, Greece visa appointment booking, processing time at the Greece visa application centre, flight itinerary for a Greece visa, hotel bookings for a Greece visa, Schengen travel insurance for a Greece visa application, and Greece visa application process at the visa office in Australia.
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Greece Schengen Visas
In 2018, Greek embassies and consulates across the world dealt with 855,285 visa applications and rejected 42,013 (4.9%). The Consulate General of Greece in Melbourne received 858 applications and issued all of them (100%). The consulate in Adelaide received 188 applications and rejected 1 (0.5%). The embassy in Canberra received 50 applications and issued 48. The consulate in Perth received 351 applications and issued all of them and the consulate in Sydney received 527 and rejected 4 (0.8%).
Applying for a Schengen Visa from Australia
If you are a citizen of Australia there is no need to apply for a visa for Greece because you can enter the country visa-free for up to 90 days. If you are not a citizen, you do need to apply for a visa and you can do this if you live in Australia as long as you can prove you have a legal right to live in the country.
There are several visa offices for Greece in Australia and the one you will submit your application to will depend on where you live.
- Embassy of Greece in Canberra – the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Queanbeyan and Yass
- Consulate-General of Greece in Sydney – New South Wales and Queensland
- Consulate-General of Greece in Melbourne– Victoria and Tasmania
- Consulate-General of Greece in Adelaide – South Australia and Northern Territory
- Consulate of Greece in Perth – Western Australia
You have to make sure you apply at the correct Greece visa office.
Types of Schengen visas offered at the embassy and consulates of Greece in Australia
The reason for your trip and how long you are going to Greece for will determine which type of visa you need to apply for. There are 3 types of visa available:
- Schengen visa – type C – you will apply for this type of visa if you are travelling for tourism, business, visiting family or friends for up to 90 days
- Airport Transit visa – type A – this type of visa is required if you are changing planes en route to your final destination in a Greek airport and not leaving the international zone of the airport
- National visa – type D – you will need this type of visa if you are staying in Greece for over 90 days for study, employment or family reasons etc
How Can I Apply for a Schengen Visa in Australia?
The decision on the visa application is made within 15 calendar days from the date you submit your application, however, it could take as many as 30 – 60 days, so the earlier you can apply, the better! You can apply up to 90 days ahead of your trip. When you hand in your application, the office will give you the decision date.
Here are 5 easy steps to follow to help you apply for your visa:
Step 1: How to complete your application?
Go to the embassy of Greece’s website and click on: “Services” then “Visas”:
Then choose the correct visa office:
Then, click on “Lodging of Visa Application” and you will see the link for the application form:
You can then save the form to your computer, print it and complete it.
You can also access the application form by following the same process on the website of the visa office you are using.
Step 2: How to make an appointment?
Making appointments with the embassy, consulate or visa application centre is generally free and can be done yourself. However, if you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!
Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:
- Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
- Submit the appointment details, the visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
- Receive appointment confirmation in email
You can also make an appointment on your own by following the steps below.
Consulate General of Greece in Melbourne
- Go to their website and click on “Services” then “Visas”
- Contact the consulate by phone – 03-98664524 – or email – grgencon.mel@mfa.gr – during their business hours of 9.00 am – 2.00 pm
Consulate General of Greece in Adelaide
- Go to their website and click on “Services” then “Visas”
- You may make an appointment by e-mail: grgencon.ade@mfa.gr
Consulate General of Greece in Perth
- Go to their website and click on “Services” then “Visas”
- Send an email to grcon.per@mfa.gr
- Include your name and surname, contact number, main destination, date of departure as well as your nationality
Consulate General of Greece in Sydney
- Go to their website and click on “Services” then “Visas”
- You may make an appointment by e-mail: visa.sid@mfa.gr or grgencon.sid@mfa.gr
Embassy of Greece in Canberra
- Go to their website and click on “Services” then “Visas”
- You may make an appointment by e-mail: gremb.can@mfa.gr
Step 3: Prepare your documents
The documents required for your visa application can be found on VFS Global’s website, so go through this before you do anything else. It’s so important to provide all the necessary paperwork to avoid your application being denied.
You should also prepare photocopies as well as providing the original documents, so don’t forget to do that too!
Documents include:
- Visa application form – completed and signed
- Passport photographs
- Passport – must be valid for at least three months after the date of departure from the Schengen zone, at least two empty pages and issued no more than 10 years ago
- Proof of residence
- Proof of visa status – VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online)
- Flight reservation including confirmation of the booking of an organised trip including a detailed itinerary
- Proof of travel medical insurance that covers emergency medical care, hospitalization and repatriation (in case of death included). The minimum coverage should be for €30,000
- Proof of financial means in the country of residence (including recent bank statements showing movement of means over a certain period (minimum last three months)
- Proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation (such as invitation from host)
- If married or in a partnership, provide a marriage certificate or registered partnership agreement
- A document from the establishment providing the accommodation such as a confirmed hotel reservation
- Official invitation letter from a firm, host organisation, educational establishment or an authority to attend meetings, conferences or events
- Documents proving the applicant’s employment status in the company (for example, contract, proof of social security contribution)
- A certificate from a medical doctor and/or a medical institution advising that treatment is necessary (if applicable)
If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:
- Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
- Submit the travel details and make the payment online
- Receive flight itinerary in email
Step 4: A guide to your visa appointment
It’s advisable to arrive early for your appointment to avoid you missing it and having to reschedule. Remember to take all the required documents and you may wish to think about dressing smartly.
Be prepared to answer questions that the visa officer may ask if they wish to clarify any of the information you have given. If this happens, answer honestly.
- Why are you going to Greece?
- Are you going to study there?
- Who are you meeting in Greece?
- What are you going to do in Greece?
- Are you going to return to your job after your trip?
Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!
Type of visa | Fee |
Schengen visa – up to 90 days | 98 AUD/€60 |
National visa – over 90 days | Varies. See the embassy/consulate’s website |
Child between 6-12 years of age | 58 AUD/€35 |
Children under the age of six | Free |
The fee can usually be paid by cash or credit/debit card, but check with the visa office as to which payment methods are available. Please note, the fee is non-refundable even if your application is denied.
If this is your first time applying for a Schengen visa, you will have to have to provide biometrics which is a photo and a scan of your fingerprints.
Step 5: Receive your visa
Once a decision has been reached, you will receive your passport by mail to your home address. If your visa has been approved, you will find it inside your passport and you must check the visa for any errors. If you find any errors, you should contact the visa office immediately.
The decision will be either:
- Approved – your visa will be inside your passport
- Rejected – this would have been for a specific reason and you can appeal the decision
Common rejection reasons include:
- Lack of funds – you must be able to afford your trip and the documents you provide, such as bank statements, should prove this
- No sponsorship letter – if you are being sponsored to go to Greece by someone or a company, you must provide a sponsorship letter giving full details such as the amount, duration and dates of your trip
- Invalid passport – if your passport is invalid in any way (see above requirements) you must obtain a new one before applying for your visa
- The visa office has concerns about your intention to return to your home country – you must prove that you will be returning to your home country before the expiry of the visa. You can do this by providing documents such as your employment contract or proof that you own your home
Ways to contact the Embassy and Consulates of Greece in Australia?
Embassy of Greece in Canberra
Address: 9 Turrana Str., Yarralumla, Canberra ACT 2600 Australia
Phone: (0061) 262710100
Emergency phone numbers: (0061) 426806884, (0061) 403166931
E-mail: gremb.can@mfa.gr
Business hours: 10.00 – 15.00
Consulate General of Greece in Sydney
Address: Level 2, 219-223 Castlereagh Street, Sydney 2000 NSW
Email: visa.sid@mfa.gr or grgencon.sid@mfa.gr
Tel: (02) 92845500 (business hours only)
Emergency phone number: (04) 11161825
Business hours: Monday – Friday, 9.00 am – 2.00 pm
Consulate General of Greece in Adelaide
Address: Level 4, 32 Grenfell Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000
Tel: (08) 82124366
Fax: (08) 82124411
Emergency Phone: 0468 301 852
E-mail: grgencon.ade@mfa.gr
Consulate General of Greece in Melbourne
Address: 37-39 Albert Rd., Melbourne VIC 3004
Phone: 03-98664524
E-mail: grgencon.mel@mfa.gr
Business hours: 9.00 – 14.00
Consulate General of Greece in Perth
Address: Level 8, 16 St Georges Tce WA 6000
Tel: 0061-(0)-8-93256608
Fax: 0061-(0)-8-93252940
E-mail: grcon.per@mfa.gr
Public hours: 10,00 a.m. until 2,00 p.m.
Conclusion
To apply for a Schengen visa for Greece in Australia, follow these simple steps:
- Complete your application by downloading it
- Register and make an appointment
- Prepare your documents
- Attend your appointment
- Receive your visa
When you get to this stage, start packing because you’ll soon be jetting off to Greece!
At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.
See Also
How to Apply for Schengen Visa from Australia
How to Apply for Austria Schengen Visa from Australia
How to Apply for Belgium Schengen Visa from Australia
How to Apply for Czech Republic Schengen Visa from Australia
How to Apply for Denmark Schengen Visa from Australia
How to Apply for Estonia Schengen Visa from Australia
How to Apply for Finland Schengen Visa from Australia