Greece Visa From India – How to Apply for Greek Schengen Visa Application Requirements Guide

Greece is a fabulous Schengen country to visit. You will find gorgeous vistas and glorious beaches everywhere! If you want to relax, go on an adventure or learn about history, you will find what you are looking for in Greece. In this article, learn more about how to apply for a Greece visa in India, Greece visa appointment booking, processing time at the Greece visa application center, 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 India.

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Greece Schengen Visas

In 2021, embassies around the world received 295,634 visa applications for Greece. Of this amount, 18,545 applications were rejected. The Embassy of Greece in New Delhi received 2,615 applications and rejected 799.

Applying for a Greece Schengen Visa from India

If you are a citizen of India and you are planning on visiting Greece, you need to apply for a visa.

The Embassy of Greece in New Delhi will make the decision as to whether they will grant your visa, however, your application needs to be submitted to Global Visa Center (GVC) who has offices based across India.

The processing time for visa applications is up to 15 days from the date the embassy receives the application from GVC. It could take longer to process if the embassy has to make further checks about your application. It’s important to apply well in advance, especially during the peak months of April through July. You may submit your application no more than 6 months before your planned trip.

Types of Schengen visas offered at the Embassy of Greece in New Delhi

You must make sure you apply for the correct visa. This will depend on your reason for traveling to Greece. There are 3 types of visas available:

1. Schengen visa (C) – for tourism, business, visiting family or friends for up to 90 days
2. Airport Transit visa (A) – if you are catching a connecting flight in India and not leaving the international zone of the airport
3. National visa (D) – for over 90 days for study, employment or family reasons etc
   

How Can I Apply for a Greece Schengen Visa in India?

There are a few steps to follow when you are ready to apply for your visa. Before applying, please ensure you are very clear on your “purpose of travel”. It is your responsibility to apply for the correct type of visa, so read all the information on GVC’s website before you do anything else.

Step 1: Complete your application form

Go to GVC’s website and click on “Apply online”:

Scroll down and click on “Apply online”:

You will have to create an account before you can access the online application form:

Complete the requested information to create your account and then you can sign in:

Step 2: Make an appointment

Making appointments with the embassy 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:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. 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
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make an appointment on your own by following the steps below:

1. Go to GVC’s website and click on “Book your appointment”
2. Click the link to schedule an appointment
3. Create a new account (if you have not done this already)
4. Sign in to make an appointment. Make sure you book an appointment online at the closest center to your address to save you time at the submission counter at GVC, especially during peak season
5. Print out the booking and take it with you when you submit your application to GVC

Step 3: Prepare your documents

It is a good idea to spend time getting to know what documents you need to submit. This information can be found on GVC’s website. You should also prepare photocopies as well as original documents, so don’t forget to do that too!

Documents include:

1. Visa application form – completed and signed
   
2. Two recent photographs – check the complete list of photograph specifications
3. Passport – valid for at least three months after the date of return to India, has at least two blank pages, issued within the previous ten (10) years
4. 1 copy of the identification page and 1 copy of all visa pages
5. Cover Letter explaining the details of visit
6. Proof of travel medical insurance – minimum cover of 30,000 EURO, for medical costs and medical repatriation, valid in all Schengen countries during the whole validity of the issued visa
7. Copy of flight ticket or round-trip airline reservation
8. Proof of financial means – salary slips / bank statements
   
9. Proof of employment status whether employed, self-employed, unemployed or retired
   
10. Hotel reservation or other proof of accommodation
11. Proof of sponsorship (if applicable)
    
12. Invitation letter (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:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2.  Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 4: Attend your appointment

On the day of your appointment:

1. Don’t be late for your appointment, arrive in plenty of time
2. Check that you have completed and signed your application
3. Remember ALL your supporting documents

The embassy will:

1. Review your application. They may also ask you questions if they need to clarify any of the information you have provided. If this happens, simply answer honestly (see below)
2. Record biometric information – your fingerprints and a photograph
3. Take the fee for the visa

Typical questions include:

1. Are you traveling to Greece for work?
2. How long are you going to stay in Greece?
3. What is your job in India?
4. Has your employer approved your time away from work?

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

Visa fees

Step 5 – Track your application

Once you have submitted your application, you can track its progress. Go to GVC’s website and click on “Track your application:

Key in your application ID and passport number and then click on: “Submit”:

Step 6 – Collect your passport

When a decision has been reached, you can collect your passport from GVC.

The decision will be either:

1. Approved – your visa will be inside your passport
2. Rejected – this would have been for a specific reason and you can appeal the decision

Common rejection reasons include:

1. Purpose of travel is not clear – you must provide enough evidence for why you are going to Greece
2. Proof of financial means not included – you must prove that you have enough money for your trip and your return journey and you must provide bank statements or other documents should show this
3. You submitted false documents – when processing visa applications, the embassy will check everything on your application. If they find that you have given false information and/or documents, you will appear untrustworthy and you may not be allowed to travel now or in the future
4. Your passport does not have any empty pages – your passport needs at least 2 empty pages for the visa to be attached. If not, you must obtain a new one before applying for your visa

COVID REGULATIONS

Contact details of Global Visa Center in India

Assistance Desk for GVC in India

Tel: +91 22 6786 6011 – 08.00 – 17.00, Monday-Friday

Email: info.ingr@gvc24assist.eu

To apply for a Schengen visa for Greece in India, follow these simple steps:

1. Step 1 – Complete your application
2. Step 2 – Make an appointment
3. Step 3 – Prepare your documents
4. Step 4 – Attend your appointment
5. Step 5 – Track your application
6. Step 6 – Collect your passport