VISA INFORMATION

Provided that the stay in Greece or Schengen area is for no more than 90 days, nationals of the following countries do not require a visa to enter or transit through Greece, as long as the passport is valid for at least 3 months from the date of return from Greece:

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Honduras, Hong Kong(holders of passports Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), Israel, Japan, Macao (holders of passports Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau), Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, South Korea, San Marino, Singapore, United States, Uruguay, The Vatican and Venezuela.

Citizens of all countries not mentioned above do need a visa to enter Greece.

SCHENGEN SHORT TERM VISAS

ALL PERSONS WISHING TO APPLY FOR A SHENGEN VISA MUST BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BEFORE ATTENDING THE CONSULATE IN PERSON TO SUBMIT THEIR DOCUMENTS. PEOPLE WITHOUT APPOINTMENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED WITHIN THE CONSULATE. PLEASE TRY TO APPLY AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AND BEFORE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

 THE TELEPHONE NUMBER IN ORDER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IS 09065 540 744 (AUTOMATED SERVICE). PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE ONE APPOINTMENT PER PERSON BUT AN INDIVIDUAL MAY MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR UP TO FIVE MEMBERS OF THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY.

PLEASE NOTE:

• THIS CONSULATE GENERAL CAN ONLY ACCEPT APPLICATIONS OF PEOPLE RESIDING IN UK AND HAVE A VALID RESIDENCE PERMIT.
• THE PROCESSING TIME FOR VISA APPLICATIONS FOR THE NATIONALS OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES IS UP TO 14 WORKING DAYS: AFGHANISTAN, ALGERIA, BAHRAIN, COLOMBIA, CONGO(DEMOCR. REP), EGYPT, INDONESIA, IRAK, IRAN, YEMEN, JORDAN, QATAR, KUWEIT, LEBANON, LIBYA, NORTH KOREA, OMAN, PAKISTAN, PHILIPINNES, SAUDI ARABIA, SOMALIA, SUDAN, SURINAM, SYRIA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, PALESTINE.

• YOU MAY APPLY FOR A VISA UP TO 3 MONTHS BEFORE YOU START  

      YOUR TRIP.

• IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO APPLY FOR A SCHENGEN VISA IF YOU STILL HOLD A VALID ONE.
• YOUR APPLICATION FOR A VISA CANNOT BE CONSIDERED IF ALL THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS ARE NOT SUBMITTED.
• APPLICANTS WHOSE APPLICATIONS ARE SUBMITTED TO CONSULTATION (PLEASE SEE ABOVE) SHOULD APPLY AT LEAST 14 WORKING DAYS BEFORE THEIR TRIP.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

A visa application form (please click here) should be completed and submitted together with the following documents. The application form can also be completed at the Consulate General on the day of your appointment.

1. An original passport valid for at least three months longer than the expiry date of the visa you are applying for, showing a valid residence permit issued in United  Kingdom. The Brown Certificates are not recognised by Greece. Consequently the holders of such documents cannot apply for a visa.
2. Two recent passport size photographs.
3. A recent official letter from your employer addressed to the Greek Consulate General and a recent wages/salary slip or if you are a student in the UK a recent original letter from your college or university addressed to the Greek Consulate confirming your status/attendance and the duration of your course.
4. Provisional booking for flights.
5. Provisional booking for accommodation or a formal invitation from your host in Greece, plus a copy of his/her passport or ID Card. Both of these documents need to be authenticated by a Greek public authority (e.g. Greek police, Greek Consulate etc). If your host in Greece is not a Greek national, please also provide copy of his/her residence permit also authenticated (as mentioned above).
6. Evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover the cost of your intended stay in Greece e.g. a recent bank statement or travellers cheques.
7. Proof of travel insurance to cover your intended stay in Greece.
8. The Consular FEE is £55,20 which must be paid in cash or by postal order (we regret that personal cheques and credit cards cannot be accepted). The Consular Fee for the holders of passports of the following countries is £32,20: Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, FYROM, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova. Please note that visas for minors under 6 years old are free of charge.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS AND PHOTOCOPIES ARE REQUESTED. PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT PHOTOCOPIES CANNOT BE MADE AT THIS CONSULATE.

• minorS under 18 must be accompanied by both parents/ guardians. If only one parent/guardian is present, the written consent of the other is necessary. The authenticity of the signature of this parent should be validated by a solicitor or a Greek authority. Other documents required are: the original birth certificate of the child, parents’/guardians’ passports (as stated above originals and photocopies as well).  

• FAMILY MEMBERS OF EU CITIZENS (SPOUSES AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN).  

SPOUSES OF EU NATIONALS WHO ARE HOLDERS OF A BRITISH RESIDENCE CARD OF A FAMILY MEMBER OF AN EEA CITIZEN (CLICK HERE) DO NOT REQUIRE A VISA IN ORDER TO ENTER GREECE, UNDER THE CONDITION THEY ARE ACCOMPAGNIED BY THE EU CITIZEN.

THE SPOUSES OF AN EU CITIZEN WHO ARE NOT HOLDERS OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED RESIDENCE CARD NEED A VISA IN ORDER TO ENTER GREECE. THEY DO NOT NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT THROUGH THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM. FOR INFORMATION THEY CAN CALL 020 7313 5622, 02073135623, 02073135617.
The required documents for these applicants are as       
follows: - Spouse's passport + copy

• Applicant's passport + copy
• Marriage certificate + copy
• Visa application form with two pictures
• Provisional flight bookings
• Provisional accommodation bookings

Additional documents may be requested during the interview if deemed necessary.

Please note that the visas for Spouses and dependant members of an EU citizen are free of charge.
Third Country nationals who reside more than 200 miles away from London, may apply by post. In addition to the required documents (as stated above) they need to send a self-addressed "Special Delivery" envelope and the visa fee in postal orders. PLEASE NOTE that the processing time will be significantly prolonged and that this Consulate General can not bear any responsibility for losses of passports sent by mail.

Long Stay VisaS (more than 90 days) for living, working or studying in greece:

If you intend to visit Greece for more than 90 days OR going to take up employment or establish a business, trade, profession or commercial activity, you have to apply in person in the Consulate General of Greece for a National Visa.

Please note that you will need the following:
1. An original valid passport showing a valid residence permit issued in United Kingdom valid for at least three months longer than the expiry date of the visa you are applying for.
2.   Two recent passport size photographs.
3.   Criminal record issued by the authorities of the country of residence.
4.   Health certificate stating that the applicant does not suffer from
any contagious diseases threatening public health according to the
International Health Organization. 

• All other documents depend on the nature of your stay in Greece in accordance with Greek Legislation and more specifically Law 3386/05. Applicants are advised to be in contact with the inviting parties in Greece for the issuance of the appropriate documents before their interview by appointment at the Greek Consulate.  

Visa fee for National Visas is the amount of £34,50.

COLLECTION OF PASSPORTS

Passports can be collected everyday from 1200 to 1300 by showing the collection slip given on the day of the application. If the person collecting is other than the applicant then a passport or an identity card must be presented.