Indian citizens need a Schengen visa to enter Greece. The application is submitted in India before travel, processed through the Greek consulate's authorized visa center, and grants stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The process is straightforward when you prepare the right documents in the right order and knowing exactly what embassies require at each stage prevents the most common causes of rejection.
Step 1: Determine Your Visa Type
Greece issues several categories of Schengen visas, and selecting the correct one before you begin the application prevents unnecessary delays.
Short-Stay Visa (Type C)
The Type C visa covers tourism, business visits, and family visits lasting up to 90 days within a 180-day window. This is the visa the overwhelming majority of Indian applicants need. The Schengen 90/180-day rule means your permitted days reset on a rolling basis, not a calendar year.
Multiple-Entry Visa
If you plan to visit Greece or the broader Schengen Area more than once, a multiple-entry Schengen visa allows repeat entries without reapplying each time. First-time applicants are typically granted single or double-entry visas; multiple-entry visas are usually issued to applicants with a documented travel history.
Long-Stay Visa (Type D)
Stays exceeding 90 days for work, study, or family reunification require a separate national visa. This article covers the standard short-stay Type C visa.
Step 2: Check When to Apply
Submit your application no more than six months before your travel date and no fewer than 15 days before your planned departure. Applying within this window matters: applications submitted too early may be declined on procedural grounds, and applications submitted too close to the travel date risk processing delays.
Standard processing for a Greece Schengen visa from India takes approximately 10 to 15 working days from the date of the appointment. Peak travel seasons – particularly May through September – can extend this timeline. Apply at least four to six weeks before travel to build in adequate buffer.
Step 3: Gather Your Documents
The Greek consulate requires a complete, ordered document package at submission. Missing even one item can result in a returned application or an outright refusal.
The full Schengen visa document checklist for Indian citizens covers every nationality-specific requirement, but the standard set for a Greek short-stay visa includes:
- Valid Indian passport with at least two blank pages and validity of at least three months beyond your intended departure from the Schengen Area; the passport must be less than 10 years old
- Completed Schengen visa application form, signed and printed
- Two recent passport-size photographs meeting Schengen photo specifications
- Travel and medical insurance covering a minimum of €30,000 in emergency costs, valid for the full duration of your trip across all Schengen countries
- Flight itinerary showing entry into and exit from the Schengen Area on dates consistent with your planned stay
- Proof of accommodation for every night of your stay (hotel confirmations, host invitation letter, or rental agreement)
- Cover letter stating the purpose of your visit, your planned itinerary, and a declaration that you intend to return to India
- Proof of financial means: Greek consular guidelines require Indian applicants to demonstrate at least €50 per day of stay, with a minimum of €300 for stays up to five days; bank statements from the last three to six months are the standard proof
- Proof of legal residence in India (Aadhaar card, voter ID, or equivalent)
- Proof of civil status (marriage certificate if applicable)
- Employment or income documentation: salaried employees should provide a no-objection letter from their employer, the most recent salary slips, and an income tax return; self-employed applicants should provide business registration documents and a company bank statement
Step 4: Get Your Flight Itinerary
The Greek embassy requires a flight itinerary as part of the visa document package. This does not mean you must purchase a confirmed ticket before your visa is approved – doing so exposes you to financial loss if the application is declined.
A flight reservation for visa purposes is a verifiable booking that shows your planned travel dates, route, and passenger name without requiring full ticket payment. Embassies and visa centers use these to confirm that your stated travel dates are credible and that your itinerary is consistent with the rest of your application.
ProvisionalBooking issues verifiable flight itinerary PDFs in under 60 seconds, used by travelers in over 190 countries for exactly this purpose. A one-way itinerary costs $15; a round-trip itinerary costs $19. The document contains a real PNR code that can be verified directly with the airline – which matters, because embassies do check flight reservations during the application review.
Your itinerary must show dates that fall within the validity of any visa that could be issued. If you are applying for a 30-day visa, your return flight should reflect that. Mismatches between the itinerary dates and the requested visa duration are a common reason for requests for additional documents.
Step 5: Book Your Appointment
Greece outsources its visa application process in India to Global Visa Center World (GVCW). Applications are not accepted by post. You must attend in person at one of the GVCW visa application centers located in Mumbai, Pune, Puducherry, and other cities across India.
To book an appointment:
- Visit the Global Visa Center World India portal at in-gr.gvcworld.eu
- Complete the online application form on the GVCW website and print it
- Schedule your appointment through the portal; you may book up to six months in advance
- Print your appointment confirmation letter and bring it to the center
Appointment availability varies by city and season. During peak summer months, slots in major cities may fill two to four weeks in advance. Book your appointment before completing your full document set if availability is tight – you can finalize documents while waiting for the appointment date.
Step 6: Attend Your Appointment and Submit Your Application
On the day of your appointment, bring your complete document set, your printed appointment letter, and the visa fee. The current visa fee for adults is €80; for minors aged 6 to 12, the fee is €40. Children under six years of age are exempt from the fee.
At the center, you will:
- Submit your document package to the visa officer for review
- Provide biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) if this is your first Schengen visa application or if your biometrics on file are more than 59 months old
- Pay the applicable visa fee
The biometric appointment process is standard for first-time Schengen applicants and takes only a few minutes. If you have previously submitted biometrics for a Schengen visa within the last five years, you may be exempt.
Keep the receipt you receive at submission. You will need it to track your application.
Step 7: Track Your Application and Collect Your Passport
After submission, track your application status through the GVCW portal at in-gr.gvcworld.eu using your application reference number. Standard processing takes 10 to 15 working days from the submission date, though this can extend during peak periods.
Once a decision is made, you will be notified to collect your passport from the visa application center. You may also authorize a third party to collect on your behalf, subject to center-specific requirements. The visa, if granted, will be affixed as a sticker in your passport.
If your application is refused, the refusal letter will state the reason. Indian applicants have the right to appeal; the Schengen visa appeal process requires submitting a written objection to the issuing authority within the timeframe stated on the refusal notice. Common refusal reasons include insufficient financial documentation, incomplete travel insurance coverage, and inconsistencies between the stated purpose of travel and the supporting documents.
FAQ
Do Indian Citizens Need a Visa to Visit Greece?
Yes. Indian citizens require a Schengen visa to enter Greece and any other country in the Schengen Area. Greece is a full Schengen member, so there is no separate Greek visa – the standard Type C Schengen visa covers your visit. The visa allows stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period across all 26 Schengen countries.
How Much Does a Greece Schengen Visa Cost for Indian Applicants?
The standard visa fee is €80 for adults and €40 for children aged 6 to 12. Children under six are exempt. These fees are non-refundable regardless of the visa outcome. Additional service fees apply when applying through GVCW visa application centers.
Do I Need a Confirmed Flight Ticket Before Applying?
No. The Greek consulate requires a flight itinerary showing your planned travel dates, not a fully paid confirmed ticket. Purchasing a non-refundable ticket before your visa is approved is unnecessary and risky. A verifiable flight itinerary reservation – which carries a real PNR code – satisfies the embassy's requirement at a fraction of the cost of a full ticket.
How Long Does It Take to Process a Greece Schengen Visa From India?
Standard processing takes 10 to 15 working days from the date of your appointment. This does not include the time taken to schedule an appointment. During peak travel months (May to September), both appointment availability and processing times can extend. Applying at least six weeks before your intended travel date is advisable.
What Travel Insurance Is Required for a Greek Schengen Visa?
Your travel insurance policy must cover emergency medical expenses of at least €30,000 and must be valid for the entire duration of your stay across all Schengen countries you plan to visit. The policy must explicitly state Schengen Area coverage. Policies that cover only Greece but not the broader Schengen Area are not accepted.
Can I Apply for a Multiple-Entry Visa on My First Greece Application?
First-time Schengen applicants are generally granted single or double-entry visas. Multiple-entry visas are typically issued to applicants with an established Schengen travel history. If you have previously held Schengen visas and used them without incident, you may qualify for multiple-entry status but it is granted at the consular officer's discretion, not automatically.
What Happens If My Greece Visa Is Refused?
If your application is refused, you will receive a written decision stating the reason for refusal. You have the right to appeal within the timeframe specified in the letter, typically by submitting a written objection with additional supporting documentation to address the stated reason. You may also reapply with a stronger document set. The most common causes of refusal are insufficient bank balance, incomplete insurance coverage, and itinerary inconsistencies.
Where Can I Submit My Greece Visa Application in India?
Greece's visa applications in India are processed exclusively through Global Visa Center World (GVCW) visa application centers. Centers are located in Mumbai, Pune, and other major cities. Applications submitted by post are not accepted. You must attend an in-person appointment.
What to Do Now
Confirm your intended travel dates, check appointment availability at your nearest GVCW center, and begin assembling your document package in parallel – do not wait until the appointment is booked to start gathering paperwork. If your appointment is within the next few weeks, your flight itinerary is one document you can secure immediately: get your flight itinerary from ProvisionalBooking and have a visa-ready PDF in your inbox within 60 seconds.