How to apply for and receive a Schengen visa to Greece Moscow, application process

A visa to Greece is a permit required to visit the mentioned country for various purposes (tourism, business, visiting relatives, work). To obtain it, you must contact the Greek consulate, use the help of employees of the Visa Center (VC) or a travel agency. The decision is made taking into account the availability of free time and financial capabilities. Below we will consider in detail how to obtain a visa to Greece in 2021 for Russian residents, what documents will be required, and what to consider when filling out the application. We will also look at the timing, cost of the permit, reasons for refusal and other important issues.

Do I need a visa to Greece?

Today there is a lot of discussion on the topic of weakening visa interaction between Russia and Greece, but so far the situation has not moved from a dead point. That’s why when asked whether a visa to Greece is needed, the answer is unequivocal – definitely. In most cases, you can get by with a Schengen permit, which opens the way to the EU countries.

In addition, starting from 2015, you will have to submit fingerprints and a photograph to process documents. The frequency of this procedure is once every five years, and to undergo it it is necessary to visit the Greek Consulate in the Russian Federation or the Visa Center.

Types of visas to Greece

You can use one of four main visas to travel to the country. Let's look at their features:

Airport (A) - a permit that is valid exclusively on the territory of the airport and does not allow you to leave its territory. Such a visa through Greece is rarely requested by Russians.
Schengen (C) is an authorization document that is valid in the territory of all Schengen member states. The request is made at the consulate of the country where you plan to spend the most time. A Schengen visa to Greece will be useful for various purposes, including tourism, cultural, guest, etc. However, earning income in the country is prohibited. Valid for up to three months.
National (D) is a long-term type of permit that allows a foreign citizen (resident of the Russian Federation) to stay in Greece for more than 3 months within six months. Such permits may be issued to conduct business, work or study in the country. Visa D is issued taking into account current legislation and should not contradict the norms of the EU Visa Code.
Combined (D+C) . This is a universal visa to Greece for Russians. On the territory of the country it is perceived as D, and when traveling outside its borders as C. When pasted, a national sticker is used.
LTV is a truncated version of the Schengen visa, which limits the time spent in the country and does not allow visiting other Schengen states.

Previously, transit B visas were used, but today they are no longer relevant. Instead, papers are requested to obtain a Schengen permit for transit through the country. The information is provided when submitting your visa request.

Types of visas

Since Greece entered Schengen quite a long time ago, accordingly, the rules of this zone apply on its territory. They also apply to entry permits.

Generally speaking, all types of Greek visas can be divided into two: Schengen C and national D. Previously, transit documents were also issued, but now the C visa is simply marked accordingly.

For all those Russians who plan to go to Greece as independent tourists, to visit their acquaintances/friends/close or not so relatives, as members of delegations, on business trips, on short private visits, you need a Schengen visa to Greece for Russians type C. For Those who plan to stay in the state for a long time: to work, study, live with a spouse, or even plan to obtain permanent residence will need a national visa D.

Tourist

It should be noted that a tourist visa to Greece also belongs to the Schengen category, only the purpose of the trip in this case will be tourism. This visa is made according to the same rules as for other purposes of travel, adjusted for the list of documents; the cost of a tourist Schengen visa to Greece will be the same.

For Russians, Greece is becoming an increasingly popular destination because it offers an excellent alternative to other resort countries for a beach holiday. Therefore, more and more Russian citizens are requesting a tourist visa to Greece. A considerable number of visa centers of this state are open in Russia, which is very convenient for our citizens. In other words, applying for a Greek visa on your own is becoming more understandable and accessible.

National type D

Such a document is no longer needed for tourist trips, but for more serious purposes. For example, a Russian managed to find a place in Greece where he could work or go to university. There are also cases when Russian citizens marry Greek citizens and want to live together there. For all these situations, a national D visa is suitable. It has a longer validity period and more days of permitted stay. Here it is also possible to obtain a visa to Greece on your own, only through the Consulate.

Transit through the country

For transit, Russians will also need a permit. If Greece is an intermediate point between Russia and a non-Schengen country, then it is necessary to collect documents for a transit visa to Greece.

If the destination country belongs to the Schengen zone, then you must have a visa stamp from that country in your passport, otherwise you simply won’t be able to pass through Hellas.

What is a Schengen visa to Greece: types, terms, purposes

One of the popular questions from users is what a Schengen visa to Greece is. This is a sticker that is affixed to a traveler’s foreign passport. It contains information about the visa, where it is obtained, coverage, deadlines (issuance and validity), as well as information about the holder.

According to the purposes, such permission is divided into several types:

tourism - sightseeing, seaside holidays, etc.;
business - issued for business at the request of legal entities that are officially employed;
guest - for visiting relatives and friends legally residing in Greece:
other purposes - treatment, internship, shopping, etc.

Before applying, you need to decide how many trips you need a visa to Greece for. Today there are several options available:

One-time . Issued for one trip.
Double . Allows two trips, including to other Schengen countries.
Multiple entry (multivisa) - does not limit the number of trips. Suitable for businessmen or visits to relatives.

When obtaining a multiple-entry visa to Greece, consider the following points:

the period of validity of the permit is five years;
issued if a single-entry visa was previously issued (a copy of the first page of the international passport and the permit itself will be required);
confirmation of the need for 2 or more trips to Greece is required (documents, vouchers, etc.);
The validity period of the document is determined by the Greek Consulate.

A multiple visa for a child is opened taking into account the validity period of the permit of the parent who has a shorter period. To increase the chances of receiving documents, it is necessary that the consent for the entry of a minor is valid for more than six months.

Types of Greek visas

Their issuance complies with the generally accepted rules of the Schengen zone, following which, the types of entry documents are divided into 2 groups: Schengen visa C and National D.

Visa C is issued in the following cases:

independent tourism
trip to relatives, friends, close acquaintances by invitation
members of official delegations to various forums, meetings, symposiums
scientific and business visits, business projects
participation in a joint interstate cultural event

Rentalcars – car rental in Greece from 850 rubles per day

Tourist visa to Greece

The most popular is the tourist visa C, issued for a period of up to 30 days according to the generally accepted rules of the visa regime: there are only slight differences in the composition of the documents. Applying for a Greek tourist visa on your own now does not seem to be a very difficult matter: the Greek government, interested in the influx of Russian tourists, is opening additional visa centers in major cities of our country.

National visa type D

Such a long-term visa, issued only by the consulate, is necessary for those who are traveling to Greece seriously and for a long time, and is divided into 2 types according to the validity period: up to 180 days of stay and a multivisa (valid for up to 1 year, allowing you to enter and leave the country many times). Both types of D visa are issued by those traveling:

to work for a long time
to study at Greek universities
marry Greek citizens if choosing a place of residence in Greece

Transit through the country

To travel through Greek territory to a non-Schengen country, a documentary permit is also required - a transit visa of 2 categories: A, B. If transit is to a Schengen country, a visa stamp in a tourist visa C or in a foreign passport is sufficient.

Validity

When applying for a permit, it is important to understand how long a visa to Greece is valid. Consider the following nuances:

A Schengen visa, regardless of the number of entries and type, allows you to stay in the Schengen countries for no more than 3 months (a six-month period is taken into account when counting).
The transit type of permit is valid for six months (no more). The length of stay in the country depends on the confirmation of the hotel reservation. If we are talking about a double or multiple-entry visa, the total period of stay during all trips is prescribed.
National - valid for more than three months and issued for more serious purposes.
A visa to Mount Athos is issued for a period of up to four days. Provided to a separate category of travelers (professors, students of certain areas related to the study of culture and art).

The validity period of a visa to Greece differs depending on the type, but the most popular among Russians is the Schengen version with a three-month limitation on the period of validity.

Validity periods of a Greek visa

There is no ambiguity on this issue. If your goals are limited to 3 months of required presence in the country, you will be issued a short-term Schengen visa (validity period - 3 months, with a visa corridor of six months). This visa gives you the right to travel within the Schengen area for a specified period of time.

A national visa is issued for a long period of time (it is impossible to submit documents through visa centers - only through the Consular General Representatives). If your presence in the country is more than 3 months, then a document of this type is what you need.
But then the review of the dossier will take more time.

Is Greece accessible without a visa?

Above, we considered the question of whether Russians need a visa to Greece, and came to the conclusion that it is necessary to obtain permission. But this rule does not apply to all territories. In the period from 1.04. until 30.11. You can visit a number of Greek islands with a simpler tourist visa. The peculiarity is that the trip is carried out from Turkey by ferry from Fethiye, Bodrum and a number of other cities. The benefit applies to the following Greek islands: Rhodes, Lesbos, Kos, Sion, Symi, Chios and Samos.

To obtain a simplified visa to Greece, you should get help from a travel company. This can be done during your trip to Turkey or before. Registration of such a permit will require the collection and submission of the following documentation:

travel documents in both directions;
copies of passport pages;
two 3x4 photo cards (made at customs in Greece);
confirmation of a hotel reservation on one of the specified islands;
application for a visit;
bank account statement or an equivalent of this document (per person must be from 500 €);
fee - 35 €.

To travel to Greece without a visa, you must collect and submit the above papers one day before the ferry departs (no later). To travel, you must take the original documents with you. In addition, you can apply for a visa yourself at customs in Greece with the same package of documentation. If you choose the latter option, it will take more time for registration.

The validity period of a single permit is up to 15 days and only on those islands that we have listed above. To enter the territory of Greece itself (mainland), you need a full-fledged Schengen visa. Otherwise, the violator will face deportation and a multi-year ban on travel to all countries from the Schengen area. So it's not worth the risk.

Visa category C

This category includes transit and tourist visas. They are used most often, the percentage of visas issuing is very high, and with the right approach, getting a visa is quite easy - the Greeks are interested in tourists. Documents for obtaining a tourist or transit visa:

International passport. It must be valid not only at the time of entry or exit from Greece, but also be valid for at least 90 days from the expected end date of the trip. The Greeks require that the passport have at least two blank pages.

Previous passport - if it contained Schengen visas for the last three years. You can also submit copies of these visas and a copy of the passport data page. Since the passport is usually confiscated upon expiration, the presence of these copies is not critical in obtaining a visa.
A copy of the internal passport – all pages that have any markings on them. Personal data, information about permanent or temporary registration, information about marital status and children, as well as information about previous foreign passports. When submitting documents to the St. Petersburg consulate, you must also attach the original passport.
Application form, in English, with your own signature.
Two color photographs, each size 35*45 mm. One photo is attached to the application form, the second must be attached to the documents. (Passport number is indicated on the reverse side of the photo).

An original document from the place where the person works will be required. You receive a certificate at work no more than 30 days before you plan to apply for a visa. The certificate is issued on the company's corporate letterhead, it indicates the position, salary, as well as information about the organization - telephone number and address, date of issue, seal and signature of the responsible person. You also need to provide a certificate from the bank. You must have at least 50 euros in your account for each day of your stay in Greece.
Hotel reservation in Greece.
Return tickets.
Medical insurance.
Consent to the processing of personal data.
Consular fee – 35 euros.

For private entrepreneurs and their employees, you will also need to provide a copy of the individual entrepreneur certificate; the owners of individual entrepreneurs, along with a copy, also provide a copy of tax accounting and tax payments.

Example of a certificate of registration of individual entrepreneurs

Pensioners attach a copy of their pension card and pension book (or an extract from their pension bank account). This is required to confirm solvency - the bank account must have 20,000 rubles or more. In another case, when the trip is sponsored by someone close to you, the following documents from the sponsor should be attached:

account statement;
copy of passport;
certificate from work.

Financial solvency is an extremely important issue - not a single state wants to transport tourists to their historical homeland, as well as reimburse their costs in the host country. Therefore, you should confirm your solvency with an extract from your personal or bank account. Each statement must be certified with a seal and signature - this means that the statement from the ATM in this case is simply invalid.

sample bank account statement

Tourists will also need medical insurance in the amount of 30 thousand euros or more.

Confirmation of transport reservation is also an equally important issue. When applying for a visa, you must attach a printout of your air, train or bus tickets. If the trip is carried out by car, then you must attach copies of the vehicle’s technical passport, driver’s license, and insurance - green card.

Documents for a visa to Greece: nuances

The main difficulty for travelers is the registration process, which requires collecting a large package of papers. When collecting documents for a visa to Greece, you should take into account your goals, status, age and other parameters.

Employed citizens

For working travelers, the following document requirements are put forward:

Questionnaire.
Application form with signature in four places. Without its execution, the rest of the package will not be accepted for consideration.
International passport and a copy of the 1st page of all permits to the Schengen area. The validity period is not the moment of application from 90 days.
Color photo 3.5x4.5. We will consider the requirements in detail below.
“Internal” document of a citizen of the Russian Federation (copies of pages with photos and registration).
Temporary registration document (copy). Must be valid for three or more months at the time of application to the Consulate or CC.
Confirmation of employment (certificate). The document indicates the address, telephone number, position, salary (from 12,000 rubles). Must be signed by the head of the company.
Insurance policy. Must cover the entire duration of the trip. Amount from 30,000 €.
For individual entrepreneurs - TIN or OGRN certificate (copy).
Hotel reservation and copy of round trip travel documents.
Receipt for payment in full of the fee.

Having such documents in hand, obtaining a visa to Greece should go smoothly and without delays.

Entrepreneurs without forming a legal entity

In addition to the above package of papers, the individual entrepreneur must prepare:

certificate of state registration of individual entrepreneurs;
documentation on registration with the Federal Tax Service;
certificate of income from the Federal Tax Service (an alternative is a copy of the declaration);
print from work (if provided).

Non-working persons

If a person does not have official employment or belongs to the category of pensioners, he may be required to provide an additional package of papers. It includes:

certificate of movement of funds in a bank account (amount from 45,000 rubles) with a validity period of a month or more;
a letter from the sponsor, drawn up in an alternative form, supported by a certificate from the employer of the sponsoring person (an alternative to the above certificate);
a copy of the student card (for university students);
a copy of the pension document (for pensioners) or a certificate from the Pension Fund.

If there is an application from a sponsor, the latter must have a salary of 20,000 rubles or more, and expenses per person of 57 € or more.

Minors

When applying for a visa to Greece in 2021, traveling with minors, it is important to prepare additional papers and take into account a number of requirements. To travel abroad you will need:

photo pasted into the parent’s passport (if the child is under 14 years old);
international passport if the minor is over 14 years old.

The visa period for the child is requested taking into account the shorter validity period of the parental permit. The likelihood of successful registration increases if consent for a person under 18 to visit Greece is issued for a period of more than three years.

The set of documents for obtaining a visa to Greece differs depending on the identity and number of persons accompanying the child (additional papers):

both parents - without additional documents;
one parent - consent to travel (copy) and a copy of the passport (1st page of the accompanying person);
without parents - consent to travel, issued by both parents, indicating the details of a third party (under 12 years of age, accompaniment is required);
with the guardian - consent from the administration or social security authority (copies), confirmation of the right of guardianship/trusteeship (copies).

If a parent is transporting a child alone and has sole rights, he must confirm this fact. Here, a copy of the death certificate of the mother/father, a paper from the registry office about the entry from the mother’s words, a decision of the judicial authority on deprivation of rights or recognition as missing can be used.

Foreign citizens

The above conditions are relevant for Russians to obtain a visa to Greece. Foreigners are subject to more stringent requirements. They need to prepare (in addition to photos, questionnaires and other documentation):

passport of your country;
international passport;
residence permit in the Russian Federation or residence permit;
a certificate from the place of employment (must include information on salary, position) with the stamp and signature of the director;
document from the bank with account information.

If you have a job, the salary should be from 30,000 rubles. When checking the account, it is taken into account that the movement of funds over the last 90 days is from 40,000 rubles.

When traveling by car

To obtain a visa when traveling by car you will need:

driver's license;
Green card;
PTS;
round trip route.

In the latter case, it is necessary to describe in detail the travel plan in both directions, including within the territory of Greece, in order to increase the chances of obtaining a visa.

By invitation

If a person plans to obtain a visa to Greece for a visit, an invitation from an EU or Greek citizen must be attached to the basic package. The document must be officially certified. The invitation is valid for up to three months. You also need information about the person who is inviting you to the country - full name, registration, telephone number, details of relatives, a copy of the passport and information from the insurance company. The presence of the applicant is required when handing over the papers.

For business purposes

If a person goes to Greece for business purposes, an invitation from a local company or legal entity indicating the data from the passport is additionally required. You also need to specify the purpose of the trip and the duration of your stay in Greece. You need a certificate from your place of work (must have a stamp). Sometimes the Consulate may request other documents.

List of documents for obtaining a visa to Greece through a travel agency

An approximate list of documents required to obtain a Greek visa (different tour operators may require a different set of documents):

international passport
valid for 3 months after the end of the trip. Be sure to have two blank pages. The passport must not be damaged, torn, dirty, or have any extraneous entries or marks. All corrections in the passport must be certified by the seal of the issuing authority. The passport must contain the signature of the owner from the age of 14;
Application form for a visa to Greece in two copies. The application form must have the original signature of the tourist, as in the international passport (signature in paragraph 37 and at the end of the 4th page), one of the parents signs for the minor;
2 color photographs
: 3.5x4.5 cm, matte, on a white background, without corners, ovals, stamps, black glasses, in dark clothes, less than 6 months old, head size 3.2-3.6 cm (70-80 % of the entire image). The passport should not contain visas with this photo;
copies
of the first page
of the international passport
and all Schengen visas in it. If the passport contains visas opened by the consulates of Schengen countries, but the border crossing stamp was placed by another Schengen country, then a written explanatory note from the tourist is required to provide the reasons for this discrepancy;
copies
of all
Schengen visas
in canceled passports, including copies of the first pages of these passports;
copies
of all completed pages
of the internal passport
. In case of a change of surname and replacement of a civil passport with a new one, the tourist MUST replace the foreign passport with a new surname within one month from the date of change of surname;
a certificate from the place of employment
on the company's letterhead indicating the telephone number and address of the organization, position, length of service and monthly salary of the applicant (at least 20,000 rubles), the period of paid leave is indicated. The certificate must indicate the date of issue. The certificate is valid for no more than a month from the date of submission of documents to the Consulate. The certificate is signed by the head of the organization and certified by a seal. If the head of the enterprise is a relative or namesake, a second signature is required (chief accountant, deputy director, head of human resources). Working pensioners additionally provide a pension certificate;
confirmation
of a sufficient amount of funds (if the salary is less than 45,000 rubles) - an original bank account statement with movements for the last 6 months on bank letterhead, confirming that the tourist has sufficient funds, at the rate of 57 euros per day, but not less than 1000 euros per person or, in case of insufficient personal funds, a statement from the sponsor to assume all expenses, indicating the relationship of the sponsor and the sponsored + documents confirming the relationship: copies of the marriage / birth certificate, + a copy of the first page and page with registration of the internal passport, a certificate from the sponsor’s place of work and an extract from his account;
for tourists who are married
but have different surnames, it is necessary to attach
a copy of the marriage certificate
;
if one of the tourists has a valid Schengen visa
, you must attach copies of the double-page spread of your passport with a photo and visa;
if your own funds are insufficient,
be sure to include
a statement from the sponsor
agreeing to cover all expenses

Additional requirements

for non-working people
(schoolchildren, students, pensioners, housewives, etc.):

certificate from the place of study
(students, schoolchildren)
copy of student ID
(students)
a copy of the pension book
, notarized (pensioners)
a statement from the sponsor
about accepting all expenses, indicating the relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored person (+ a copy of the relationship document), + a copy of his international passport (first page) or a copy of the first page and page with registration of the internal passport, a certificate from the sponsor’s place of work, with indicating a salary of at least 20,000 rubles or a bank account statement at the rate of 57 euros per day per person.

for individual entrepreneurs

and those who work for them (in addition to a certificate from the place of work):

a copy of the certificate of registration
with the tax authority
a copy of registration certificate
with the tax authority

for minors:

a notarized copy of the child's birth certificate
. If the surname of one or both parents in the birth certificate does not coincide with the surname of the child, it is necessary to provide notarized copies of documents confirming the relationship (certificate of paternity, marriage certificate, divorce certificate)
when a child leaves with one of the parents,
it is necessary to provide a copy of the notarized permission to leave from the second parent + a copy of the internal passport of the parent giving consent to the entry and exit of the child
when a child leaves accompanied by third parties,
it is necessary to provide a copy of the notarized permission to leave from both parents + copies of their internal passports, including the accompanying person
a copy of the visa
+ a double page of the passport with the details of the accompanying person (or parents), if any;
in the event of the death of one of the parents or deprivation of his parental rights, it is necessary to provide copies of the relevant documents. If one of the parents is missing, a police certificate is required; if at the birth of the child the father was registered according to the mother’s words, it is necessary to provide a certificate from the regional registry office - form 25 (original or notarized copy)

Sponsors can only be immediate family members

- spouses, parents, children, grandparents (documents confirming relationship must be provided)

The consulate reserves the right to request additional documents and invite a tourist for an interview, regardless of his location.

How to fill out an application for a visa to Greece

One of the main stages of obtaining a visa is entering data into the application form. Whether the consulate will consider other documentation and issue a travel permit depends on the correctness of filling out the document and the correctness of the information entered. The application form for a visa to Greece must contain complete information about the applicant. Data must be provided in legible handwriting. To avoid mistakes, it is advisable to rely on the completed sample.

The application form includes a number of sections:

Personal information about the traveler, including phone number, e-mail, information from the international passport, etc.
Information about the place of employment.
Information on the purpose of the trip.
Information about visas that were previously issued.
Travel information (date, countries, money, etc.).
At the end of the document you must sign and indicate the day of registration.

Entering data into the application form for a visa to Greece, as a rule, does not take much time. The main thing is to take your time and avoid mistakes so as not to have to redo everything all over again.

Photo requirements

Travelers often make the mistake of handing over the first photo they come across along with their package of documents. As a result, they get rejected. Before getting a visa to Greece, you need to go to the photographer and inform him about the purpose of the application. Most often, specialists are aware of the requirements of the Consulates and follow them. Just in case, it is worth checking the quality of the work performed to avoid returning the documentation package.

The photograph must meet the following requirements:

dimensions - 3.5*4.5 cm;
light background;
no distortion;
contrast image;
no ovals or corners;
face only from the front with about 80% of the photo taken up;
lack of headdress, hair, glasses (with dark lenses);
relevance (the photo must be taken no more than six months before submitting the application);
Printed on high quality matte paper;
in the picture - the head, neck and upper part of the shoulders;
looking straight into the camera;
lack of shadows and highlights.

To avoid mistakes, it is better to take a photo at the Consulate or CC, if the option is provided. If you choose another option, obtaining a visa to Greece for Russians may be delayed due to the return of documentation for corrections.

Production time

When submitting your application, check the timing for issuing a visa to Greece. If a travel agency is involved, the work will take up to seven working days. The countdown starts from the day the application is submitted. By this time, the costs of sending papers to another city are added. If documents need to be received during the holiday season, registration will take up to 10 days or more.

By contacting visa centers you can expect to receive a visa within three to five days. The time for sending papers is added to this period. A similar period is typical when applying directly to the Consulate. However, documentation for obtaining a Greek visa must be submitted no earlier than 90 days before departure. Production times at the CC may vary depending on the region. The further the city is from Moscow, the more time it takes for registration.

Registration deadlines

Another important question for applicants is how long it takes to obtain a visa to Greece. This depends on the visa center branch. The process moves fastest in Moscow; some citizens receive a ready-made passport with a stamp within one day after submitting the application. The average time is within three to five days.

Also, the timing of obtaining a visa to Greece in each individual situation greatly depends on the completeness and correctness of the submitted package of documents. If you do everything correctly, you won't have to wait long.

Looking at the overall picture, we can say that the average time for obtaining visas to Greece in Moscow and St. Petersburg is no more than two days. For Novorossiysk, the period increases to ten days. But it’s better to play it safe and submit documents two or three weeks before your planned trip.

It should also be taken into account that the number of days it takes to obtain a visa to Greece can be increased due to the sending of documents to the regions or the occurrence of an administrative hitch, so you need to constantly independently monitor the fate of your papers.

How much does a visa to Greece cost for Russians?

Before obtaining permission, immediately find out how much a visa to Greece costs at the time of application. Tariffs largely depend on the age, place and region where the person applies.

Total price for Moscow:

With the help of a travel agency. A visa to Greece for Russians will cost 70 €, and for children aged 6-12 years - 25 €. There is no payment for younger ages. Foreign citizens will have to pay 90 €, and their children 30 €.
When applying for a visa to Greece on your own, you can reduce costs. In this case, citizens aged 18 years and above pay 35 €. There is no need to pay for children under 12 years old.
In case of contacting Russians, they pay 35 € “plus” an additional fee of 1499 rubles. For children 6-12 years old, only 1499 rubles are required.

The price of a visa to Greece may vary depending on the region. For example, in Chelyabinsk, when registering with a travel agency, the price will be 75 €, in Tyumen 80 €, etc.

The fee (service and visa) is paid on the spot at the rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation on the day of payment. Money is not collected from the following categories of citizens:

close relatives of EU citizens and Russians who live in Greece legally;
children under six years of age;
students of universities and schools, graduate students and teachers who travel with them (if the purpose of the trip is education);
children indicated in the passport of the mother and father.

In other cases, payment is charged as usual.

Greece visa for minors

Above, we noted whether minors need a visa to Greece in 2021, and also provided a package of necessary documents. When obtaining permission, it is important to consider a few more points:

the child’s application form is certified by a parent or guardian;
When registering, a birth certificate (original, copy) is required;
A Schengen visa will be required for citizens accompanying the minor (provided that the package of papers for the child is submitted separately from the documentation for the parents);
you can’t do without a power of attorney for the child’s departure (signed by one or both parents), certified by a notary;
Parents or guardians act as sponsors.

Processing of paperwork for issuing a visa in Greece for a child follows the same principle as for an adult.

Addresses of the Consulates General of Greece in Russia

When registering on your own, you need to know the addresses of the Greek Consulates. Location by city:

Moscow. The Consulate General is located at st. Spiridonova, 14. To obtain a permit, you must pre-register by calling +7-495-53-9-38-40, 53-9-38-53. Documentation is accepted from Mon to Fri from 10.30 to 12.30. Issuance of permits from 10.00 to 13.00.
St. Petersburg The Consulate General in St. Petersburg is located at 17 Chernyshevsky Ave. Applications for visas to Greece are accepted from 11.00 to 12.00. To submit your documents on time, it is better to sign up in advance +7-812-33-4-35-86. Registration is carried out from Mon to Fri from 12.00 to 14.00. Ready permits are issued between 15.00 and 16.00.
Novorossiysk. The Greek Consulate is located on the street. Mira, 13. Citizens are received from 9.30 to 13.00. Registration is required by telephone +7-8617-770-039 daily on weekdays.
Kaliningrad. The Consulate General is located on the street. Ogareva, 33. To sign up to submit documents, you need to dial +7-4012-93-602-7.

There are also many CCs operating in Russia, offering services in almost all cities for all categories of citizens.

How to apply for a visa to Greece yourself

In the section “How much does a visa to Greece cost for Russians” we looked at the costs of obtaining a permit for citizens of the Russian Federation. It is clear from the section that the most profitable option for travelers is self-registration through the Consulate. In this case, you must make an appointment in advance, collect and bring a package of papers at the agreed time, and after a certain time, appear for the documents.

The downside is that Consulates, as a rule, deal with the issuance of type D (national) permits. Issues with type C are resolved in the situation where the Visa Center refuses to provide the service. In addition, when requesting a visa to Greece through the Consulate, you must contact the authority that deals with a particular region.

Visa Center

Citizens of Russia must contact the CC that oversees the issuance of permits for a specific region. Offices of such services are available in many cities of the Russian Federation, including Krasnodar, Vladivostok, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Khabarovsk, St. Petersburg, Moscow, etc. Regardless of the region of residence, independent visa processing for Russians proceeds according to the following algorithm:

Determining the type of permit required and collecting papers.
Registration for submitting documentation at the nearest CC.
Visit the authority at the specified time to submit fingerprints.
Payment of the cost of a visa to Greece (service and consular fees).
Transfer of collected documentation and wait for a decision.

Information can be controlled on the official VC resource. This feature is free and available to all users. It also indicates the time when you need to appear to receive documents.

Applying for a visa to Greece online

Today there is an option to obtain a permit to travel to Greece online. For this:

Log in to the website that provides the service.
Apply for a permit.
Wait for a call from managers who will clarify the specifics of the trip.
Submit the required package of documentation (by courier, in person, by e-mail) and pay for the service.
Visit the consulate or CC as usual to submit your fingerprints (if this has not been done in the last five years).
Pick up your visa within a week yourself or by courier.

The online registration process is suitable for those travelers who do not have time to visit the necessary institutions. But it is worth considering that in some cases you will still have to come to the Consulate in person (for example, to undergo fingerprinting).

Travel agency

When traveling to Greece, a visa is required for Russians who are traveling to the country for tourism purposes. Such work is often entrusted to a travel agency. In this case, the client does not need to do anything - just transfer the documentation package. The form is filled out by a company employee, and he also gives the papers to the CC. The downside is that a permit issued through a travel agency will be more expensive than obtaining it yourself. If you have not previously received a visa, you will still have to go to the Consulate to undergo fingerprinting.

Refusal to issue a visa in Greece

If the application form is filled out correctly, the necessary documentation is submitted and other rules are followed, a refusal to issue a visa to Greece is unlikely. But if certain violations are detected, the Consulate has the right to refuse to provide the service. This is possible in the following situations:

Lack of documents required to cross the border.
There is no permission to enter a third country if necessary.
The presence of the applicant on the black list of Schengen countries.
Discrepancy between the information in the questionnaire or other documentation and real information.
Errors in the application form, etc.

In case of refusal, a corresponding document is issued with information about a pleasant decision. The reason for the verdict is not explained, and the consular fee is not refunded. In such a situation, it is necessary to review all documentation and try to correct errors. If you are sure that there are no grounds for refusal, you must file an appeal with the Consulate and demand clarification.

When is refusal possible?

Visa refusals to Greece occur much less frequently than to other Schengen countries. This happens due to improper preparation of documents or the applicant’s negative reputation manifested in his past trips, financial insolvency and other reasons. It is important to know that in case of refusal, the paid amount of the visa fee is not refunded. You can apply for a visa again, having found out the reasons for the refusal and approach the application process more responsibly yourself.

All contact details of regional visa centers and Consulates in Moscow and St. Petersburg are listed on the websites of the above organizations, which you will still have to visit in connection with submitting an application.