Greece is a country located in southern Europe. Greece is located where three continents come together: Asia, Africa, and Europe. 80% of the country contains mountainous areas, with the famous Mt. Olympus being the tallest. Greece is one of the popular destination for U.S. green card holders. It is mandatory to know how to apply for Greece Schengen visa for US Green card holders, if you have planned to visit Greece.
This guide will explain you about the requirements for Greece Schengen visa. Greece is an EU member and it has different entry procedures, requirements, types based on the visitor’s country of origin. Let’s take a consultation from us just by filling the form given below.
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Who can Apply for Greece Schengen Visa From US?
You can apply for Greece Schengen Visa from US to Visit Greece, in these cases;
- If you are a US citizen, and in past, you have been denied visa-free enter to Greece or any other Schengen countries.
- If your have planned to visit only Greece among other European country.
- Greece is your primary destination in which you want spend most of the time of your entire trip, in case, if you are planning to visit multiple countries in Schengen area.
- If you want to visit multiple countries in Schengen area, and planned to spend equal time in all countries. In this case, if your first entering country is Greece then you need to Apply for Greece Schengen visa.
- You must be a US legal resident. Your residence must be valid for another 3 months after you return from the Schengen area.
Do US Citizen need Greece Schengen visa?
No! It’s not. Schengen visa is not required for US citizen to visit Greece. However, you should keep in mind that you can only visit Greece or any other Schengen Member State for 90 days out of every 180. Because the European Union has an agreement with the US which enables visa-free travel for US citizens throughout the EU, including Greece.
Being US citizen, if you want to stay in Greece for longer duration for study or work purpose, then you need to apply for visa.
From 2025 onwards, It’s mandatory for US citizen to register for ETIAS to enter Greece as well as any other Schengen country.
Do US Green card Holders require a Greece Schengen visa?
Being a US green card holder, obtaining Greece Schengen visa is completely dependent on your nationality. If your nationality requires a visa to enter Greece, then you will have to apply for Greece visa.
But not to worry, because you can apply for your Greece Schengen Visa from US at your nearest local Greece Embassy or Consulate based on your jurisdiction. You are not need to return to your home country to apply for visa to enter Greece.
ETIAS Greece for US Citizen
In 2025, American citizens will be able to apply for ETIAS. It’s mandatory for them to enter Greece or any Schengen countries.
The Requirements for ETIAS for US citizen are:
- US citizens need to apply for ETIAS online.
- ETIAS is valid for arrival in Europe via air, sea, or land.
- Tourists must have a machine-readable e-passport.
- ETIAS is only valid for short stay (90 days within 180 days period) purposes such as for vacations, business, short term study, and medical visits
- ETIAS will be provided free of charge to applicants under the age of 18 or over the age of 70.
To apply for ETIAS for Greece from US, your United States passport must be valid for at least three months after you leave the Schengen Area.
Greece Schengen Visa Types for US Green Card Holder
- Greece Transit Visa : Travelers can stop at a Schengen airport and need to wait for their flight to their final destination country in the international transit area.
- Greece Tourist Visa : Citizen of a third country or US green card holder can get a tourist visa to enter the Schengen areas for up to 90 days for travel purposes such as vacations, tourism, business trip, short term study and medical treatment.
- Greece Visitor visa : If you like to travel Greece for visiting family members, relatives and/or friends who are residing in Greece.
- Greece Business visa : A business visa may be applied for those who wants to travel to Greece on business purposes.
- Greece Diplomat visa : This type of visa needed for official visits by government officials or national groups.
- Greece Medical visa : If you are travelling to Greece for any medical treatment purpose, then you must have a medical visa.
- Greece Student Visa: Who want to stay in Greece for educational purposes. This student visa need for an enrollment certificate and financial support, among other things.
- Greece visa for Sports, Cultural or Film Crew : This type of visa is required for short-term cultural visits that let the holder go to events related to church, culture, entertainment, or sports.
- Greece Spouse Visa : If you want to visit Greece to visit your spouse, who are residing in Greece. This type of visa needed for them.
Greece Schengen Visa Requirements for US Green Card Holder
Check the required documents which are essential to get your Greece Schengen visa:
1. Greece Visa Application Form
Fill and sign your visa application form accurately and ensure all the details matches your passport . Application for minors must be completed and signed by parents or authorizing person. Download your your visa application form in English or Other Language. Note that you can only submit your application in person and not online.
Visit here to know how to fill the visa application form.
2. Valid Passport
Yo need to submit your valid passport or travel document. Make sure that your passport must valid for at least three months after you leave Greece and must have two blank pages. Visas can be endorsed on passports issued during the last 10 years. Those issued more than a decade ago will not be considered. Verify the passport expiration date before travelling to Greece to avoid trip problems.
3. Two Passport size photographs
You need to submit two recent identical color pictures of size 35mm x 45mm which has taken in the last 6 months in a light background. Applicants should look straight into the camera and ears visible and should not smile, maintain a neutral face expression, and lose any kind of sunglass or spectacle.
Know more information regarding Schengen visa Photograph Specifications
4. Copies of previous visas if applicable
If any visa available in past, you need to submit copy of that previous visa
5. Residency Proof
Yo should submit proof of residency such as a green card, Alien registration, or valid US visa. Make sure that your visa is valid after returning to the US from Greece.
6. Flight Itinerary
An Flight itinerary should have a booking ID, applicant name, and flight number. Do not book fully paid air tickets until the visa is approved; use our Flightgen app to obtain your itinerary.
- Arrival and departure from the Schengen area
- Departure and arrival to the United States of America
You can know more about flight itinerary for Greece Schengen visa.
7. Proof Of Accommodation
You need to show proof of accommodation such as Hotel or hostel bookings which proves that you have place to stay in Greece. Accommodation dates must match the flight dates. If you are staying in a hotel, provide detailed reservation details or if staying with relatives or friends, provide an invitation letter from the host.
Get more information on the Proof of accommodation here.
8. Travel Health Insurance
A certificate with the applicant’s name, the coverage dates, the coverage for repatriation, and the minimum coverage of €30.000 or $5,000 should be specified. Insurance consumables cannot have deductibles. To obtain insurance, simply click the link below.
Your insurance must also cover other countries that you plan to visit (if any) .
Know more about Travel Medical insurance for Greece Schengen visa here.
7. Cover Letter
Cover letter is nothing but visa letter, which outlining the purpose of your trip, duration of your stay, co-passenger information (if any), your travel dates, and return information. Since this is the first document which is used to convince the consulate / embassy officials to grant you a visa, hence, be clear while addressing.
If you need help writing a cover letter for a visa to Greece, we will help you out. Simply answer the following questions to download your document instantly.
Know more about cover letter for Greece Schengen visa.
8. Financial Sustenance Proof
This is to show the authorities that you have enough money for the your trip, after you’ve already paid for your flights and accommodation. You must have had at least $115 a day in your account for each person for the last three months, or at least $1,500 if the trip is less than 10 days. You can prove this by showing your bank records from the last three months.
9. Sponsorship letter:
In case, if anybody is sponsoring your entire trip to the Greece or any other Schengen area, therefore you need to submit the Sponsor letter.
Look at here sample sponsor letter here
10. Proof of your financial health:
You need to prove that you have enough money to cover your entire trip by submitting the Financial status proof.
11. Civil status proof:
You need to submit your marital status such as marriage certificate.
12. No objection letter from your employer:
It should states that your company or institution has no objections to your trip to Greece and that you have leave approvals for the duration of your trip.
13. Proof of Income:
Depending on your employment or student status, you will have to provide the required documents to support your Greece Schengen visa application:
- For Employed applicants
- Most recent pay slips
- a valid employment contract
- Latest 6 month your bank statements.
- A letter from your current employer or a company by stating your job title, start date and your yearly income and approved time off.
- ITR (Income Tax return) Certificate.
- For Self-employed applicants
- Copy of your company / business license;
- Proof of previous economic activity.
- Latest 6 month bank statement of your company
- company Income Tax return Certificate.
- a letter from an accountant, a solicitor or other appropriate authority verifying that the individual is self-employed.
- For retired applicants:
- proof of pension benefits or other regular and sufficient income
- Or Latest 6 month bank statement
- Documents which prove the retired status;
- Financial dependent applicants:
- Last joint Income Tax Return or joint bank statements
- Sponsorship Letter
- For minor applicants:
- Birth certificate and written consent of your parent / guardian
- Written permission from parents or guardians, notarized, to travel abroad.
- Parents or guardians sign the Belgium Schengen visa application form.
- One parent must be there, and the other parent must write permission for the application to be made in his or her place.
- If you are a Student or Researchers
- Documents which prove the student’s status
- A certificate from the receiving institution / University by attesting to the duration and intent of the visit Belgium
- Certificate from Home institution / University on enrolment.
- If you are not staying in a hotel, then confirm your accommodations by providing the name, address, and phone number of the lodging facility.
- a letter which should states that all costs are covered, if applicable.
- a proof of sufficient funds
15. Supporting documents
- If you are visiting Family or Friends in Greece
- Invitation letter: Invite letter from a friend or family member, along with a copy of their ID or residency permit. If the person is related to you, then you need include legal proof of family ties, such as birth certificates.
- Proof of confirmed accommodation: If you are not staying at any hotel or any hostel, then you need to submit name, address, and phone number of where you are going to live.
- If you are visiting for business purpose:
- A letter of invitation from the business partner
- reference letter proof from your current employer
- If you are not staying in a hotel, then confirm your accommodations by providing the name, address, and phone number of the lodging facility.
- a letter confirming that all costs are covered, if applicable.
How to apply for a Greece visa for US green card holders?
Follow the Greece Schengen visa procedure for for US green card holders:
- The first step is to identify the type of visa
- You need to determine where to file your visa application for Greece in the US
- Gather all your required documents for your Greece Schengen visa which we have mentioned in above section.
- You need to complete your Greece visa application form and sign it.
- You must set up an visa appointment for Greece with the embassy before visiting.
- Attend the appointment on scheduled date and time, and present your collected documents to the visa officer on duty
- You need pay the visa fees
- You need to wait for the feedback on your visa
Where Should the Green Card Holders apply for Greece Visa?
If you are planning to travel Greece from US, then you must be Green card holder, because US citizens can travel Greece or any EU country without visa. So Greece Schengen visa necessary for Green card holders.
You should apply Schengen visa applications for Greece should be submitted at a Greek Consulate / Embassy in person or through mail.
Know here more info on:
- How to Apply for Greece Schengen visa from Washington, D.C
- How to Apply for Greece Schengen visa from San Francisco
- How to Apply for Greece Schengen visa from Los Angeles
- How to Apply for Greece Schengen visa from Chicago
- How to Apply for Greece Schengen visa from Atlanta
- How to Apply for Greece Schengen visa from Boston
- How to Apply for Greece Schengen visa from New York
- How to Apply for Greece Schengen visa from Tampa
- How to Apply for Greece Schengen visa from Houston
How and Where to book an appointment for Greece Schengen Visa for US Green Card Holders?
To apply for a Greek Schengen visa from US (United States), then first you must set up visa appointment with one of the Greek Consulates via email or online based on your location:
| Where to Apply | How to Apply |
| Embassy of Greece in Washington, D.C. | Apply online |
| Greek Consulate General in San Francisco | Apply online |
| Greek Consulate General in Los Angeles | Apply online |
| Greek Consulate General in Chicago | Apply online |
| Greek Consulate General in Atlanta | Apply online |
| Greek Consulate General in Boston | Apply via Email : [email protected] |
| Greek Consulate General in New York | Apply via Email : [email protected] |
| Greek Consulate General in Tampa | Apply via Email : [email protected] |
| Greek Consulate General in Houston | Apply via Email : [email protected] |
When Should I Apply for Greece Schengen visa from US?
The Greece Schengen visa application must be submitted to the consular authorities at least 15 days before the planned visit and not earlier than three months before the start of the intended visit.
What is processing time for Greece visa, if I apply from US?
The decision on the Greece visa application is usually take up to 15 calendar days of the date the visa application is received by the consular authorities. This processing time can be extended for up to 30 days or, in extraordinary circumstances, it may extended up to 60 calendar days. When the consular authority receives your application for Greece visa, you will be notified the decision date.
What is the Greece Schengen Visa cost, If I apply from US?
Fees depends on the exchange rate on the date of the appointment. Check out the Greece Schengen visa fees here:
| Schengen Visa | €80.00 |
| Children 6-12 (until the age of 12 years minus 1 day) | €40.00 |
| Children 0-6 years (i.e., children that are 6 years of age minus 1 day) | €0 |
| Schengen Visa (Family Members of EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals) | €0 |
| Schengen Visa (for Countries with Visa Facilitation Agreements) | €35.0 |
| US residents holding a Gambia passport | €120 |
Important Note:
1. Applicants get a receipt after paying the visa fee.
2. The visa fee is not refundable unless the Consular authority decides that the application is not valid.
3. They can only take cash or money orders which made out to “Embassy of Greece” or the respective Consulate or General Consulate of Greece.
What I do if my Greece Schengen visa is rejected?
If your Greece visa application is denied, then the consular authority will notify you in writing for reason of your visa rejection. A visa application refusal is an individual administrative act that can be appealed. The form informing you of the rejection of your visa application which includes the instructions on how to appeal the decision.
Please keep in mind that Greece visa or any other Schengen visa appeals must be filed within three weeks of receiving your visa rejection.