Quick answer
Indians need a Schengen visa for Greece, decided by the Greek Embassy in New Delhi and lodged through its appointed visa centre. The fee is EUR 90 (about ₹9,200) plus a service charge. Greece is usually the longest stay on an island trip. Apply six to eight weeks before June travel and show ferry or flight legs between islands.
At a glance
- Visa type
- Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) issued by Greece
- Stay allowed
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- EUR 90 (about ₹9,200) per adult, EUR 45 (about ₹4,600) for children aged 6–11, plus the visa centre's service charge
- Processing
- About 15 calendar days; apply 6–8 weeks ahead for June–September
- Validity
- As issued: trip dates on a first visa, 2-year or 5-year multiple-entry under the India cascade
- Apply at
- Official portal
Documents checklist
- Schengen application form, completed and signed
- Passport issued within 10 years, valid 3 months beyond return, plus old passports
- Two 35 x 45 mm photographs on a white background
- Cover letter and day-by-day itinerary with each island hop (ferry or domestic flight)
- Bank statements for the last 3–6 months, stamped
- ITR acknowledgements for the last 2–3 years
- Leave letter and last 3 salary slips, or GST and business records
- Hotel bookings for every night on the mainland and islands
- Refundable international flight reservation
- Cruise booking, if joining an Aegean cruise, with the port list
- Travel insurance with at least EUR 30,000 medical cover for all Schengen states
- Copies of previous Schengen, UK or US visas
Common mistakes that get Indians refused
- Paying anyone other than the official visa centre for an appointment; confirm the current provider on the Greek Embassy website first.
- Itineraries with impossible connections, such as a Santorini hotel from the night your Athens flight lands at midnight.
- Single-entry visas for cruises that call at Turkish ports; leaving Schengen mid-cruise needs a multiple-entry visa.
- Leaving June applications until May, when island-season demand peaks.
When is Greece the right country?
Greece usually works as a stand-alone trip, Athens plus two islands over 7–9 nights, so it is almost always the longest stay. On a Greece–Italy combination, count nights carefully. The common rules (90/180 days, the India cascade, EES) are on our Schengen visa guide.
Who handles Greek visas in India?
Applications are decided by the Embassy of Greece in New Delhi, which uses an external service provider to collect files and fingerprints in Indian cities. The provider has changed in some markets in recent years, so confirm the current provider and centre list on the Greek Embassy's website before booking, and never pay a third party for a slot.
The summer crunch
Greek islands peak from June to September, and Indian demand concentrates on late May and June because of school holidays and honeymoons. Greece decides most clean files in about 15 calendar days, but appointments become the constraint from March onwards. For a June trip, apply in February or March; applications open six months before travel. September and early October are quieter for appointments and still warm enough for the islands, which makes them a sensible choice for couples without school-age children.
Greece-specific points
- Ferries belong in the itinerary. Athens–Santorini–Mykonos plans should show the ferry or domestic flight for each hop, with realistic times. Officers notice impossible connections.
- Every night covered. Many island hotels ask for deposits. Refundable bookings are fine, but each night must be accounted for, including the last night in Athens before your flight home.
- Cruise passengers. If you are joining an Aegean cruise from Piraeus, add the cruise booking and note any ports outside Schengen, such as Turkish ports. A single-entry visa will not let you back in after a Turkish stop, so ask for multiple entries and say why.
Documents that decide the outcome
Bring three to six months of stamped bank statements, ITRs for two to three years, salary slips and a leave letter or business proof, a day-by-day plan, hotel bookings for every night and refundable flight reservations. Insurance must cover at least EUR 30,000 in all Schengen states.
If you hold a valid UK or US visa, or a used Schengen visa, include copies. Prior travel is one of the strongest signals for any Schengen officer, and used Schengen visas count towards the India cascade.
Our visa assistance team prepares Greek files and cover letters, and we arrange Schengen-compliant travel insurance. For budgets and weather, see the Greece trip cost and best time to visit Greece guides.
Frequently asked questions
Who processes Greece visas for Indians?
Can I take a cruise from Greece to Turkey on a Schengen visa?
How early should I apply for a Greece visa for June?
Do I need to show ferry tickets for a Greek island itinerary?
How we checked this page
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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
