Greece tourist visa
Greece runs on the standard Schengen short-stay visa — the Type C. It lets an Indian passport holder roam Greece and the rest of the Schengen area, for tourism or to see family and friends, for up to 90 days in any 180-day window. Where do you apply? To a Greek mission when Greece is your main destination — the country where you spend the most days. Where no single country dominates the trip, you apply to whichever Schengen country you enter first.
Here is the wrinkle most people miss: Greece does not use VFS Global in India. It outsources application collection to Global Visa Center World (GVCW), which runs centres in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and other cities, while the Embassy of Greece Consular Office in New Delhi takes the decision. Budget EUR 90 for the Schengen fee if you are an adult — children under 12 travel free — plus GVCW's service charge, and carry travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000 covering the whole Schengen area.
Who this visa is for
- ✓Indian passport holders travelling for tourism, sightseeing or visiting family and friends for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- ✓Greece must be your main destination (the most days of your trip) or, where there is no single main destination, your first point of entry into the Schengen area.
- ✓Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least three months beyond your intended return date, with at least two blank pages.
- ✓Proof of sufficient funds, confirmed accommodation and return travel, and travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000 for the whole Schengen area.
- ✓Applicants aged 12 and above give biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) in person at a GVCW centre; children under 12 are exempt from fingerprints.
Visa options for Greece
Schengen short-stay visa (Type C)
The uniform tourist visa for Greece and the Schengen area — up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism or visiting family and friends.
Multiple-entry Schengen visa
Lets you enter the Schengen area several times within the visa's validity, still capped at 90 days per 180; longer validity is granted to frequent, compliant travellers.
Airport transit visa (Type A)
For travellers changing flights in the international transit area of a Greek airport without formally entering Greece or the Schengen area.
Documents typically required
- ✓Completed and signed Schengen visa application form (filled online on the GVCW portal)
- ✓Original passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least three months beyond return, with two blank pages, plus photocopies of the data page and previous visas
- ✓Two recent passport photographs to Schengen specification (35 x 45 mm, light background)
- ✓Travel medical insurance covering the entire Schengen area with a minimum of EUR 30,000 cover, including repatriation
- ✓Flight tickets and hotel bookings for the full stay (or an invitation letter with a copy of the host's Greek ID or residence permit)
- ✓Cover letter stating the purpose of travel and day-wise itinerary
- ✓Proof of financial means — personal bank statements for the last three to six months (bank stamp on each page) and income tax returns (ITR-V) for the last two years
- ✓Proof of occupation — employer's leave letter and recent salary slips, or company registration and GST returns for the self-employed
Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.
Greece processes its India applications through Global Visa Center World (GVCW), not VFS Global. Every file is decided by the Embassy of Greece Consular Office in New Delhi; submit at a GVCW centre other than New Delhi and you'll need around five extra days for the file to reach the deciding mission. You may apply up to six months before travel, and no later than 15 days ahead.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Greece Schengen visa take?
Usually about 15 days from your appointment. It can stretch to 45 days if the consulate consults other Schengen states — and the consulate alone sets that clock. Apply at a GVCW centre other than New Delhi and you'll add about five days for your file to reach the deciding mission. Either way, apply at least 15 days before you travel.
Does Greece use VFS Global in India?
No — this is a common mix-up. Greece's applications in India go through Global Visa Center World (GVCW), not VFS Global. You complete the form online on the GVCW portal, submit it in person at a GVCW centre, and the Embassy of Greece in New Delhi decides the application.
Which Schengen country should I apply to for my trip?
Apply to Greece when it is your main destination — where you spend the most days. If your days split evenly with no main destination, apply to Greece when it is your first point of entry into the Schengen area. Either way, a Greece visa still lets you travel the whole Schengen area within its validity.
Do you guarantee the visa?
No — the decision always rests with the Greek consulate. What we do is give you a frank assessment and make your application as strong as it can be. Our historical success rate is 97% over the last 2-3 years.