Greece Visa for Indians: A Comprehensive Guide to Tourist & Golden Visa (2025)

Greece is well known for its inviting blue seas as well as ancient historical sites. Its Mediterranean lifestyle continues to entice tourists, retirees, and investors. Indians traveling to Greece for tourism or investment need to consider multiple visa options, including the Greece tourist visa from India and the Greece Golden Visa.

The purpose of this document is to assist Indians at every step, including the information regarding the visa application, eligibility, application procedure, processing time, fees, and benefits.

1. Greece Visa Overview

Greece Visa Schengen Tourist Visa (Type C)

• Applicable for a maximum of 90 day stays within 180 days.
• Includes tourism, visiting family, business, and cultural activities.

Greece Golden Visa (Type D – Residency by Investment)

• Given in exchange for significant investment in Greece, a long-term residency permit is provided.
• The most popular option is real estate investment (from €400,000–€800,000 based on the location of the property).

2. Greece Tourist Visa for Indians

Who Needs It?

Passport holders from India intending to visit Greece and other Schengen countries for business or tourism purposes need a Greece tourist visa.

Key Requirement

The applicants must submit:

• A 10 year issued passport that is valid for 3 months after the return date and has 2 blank pages.
• Completed and signed the form for Schengen visa.
• Two recent color passport-sized photos (35 × 45 mm) against a white background.
• Insurance policy valid in the Schengen area with minimum coverage of €30,000.
• Reserved flights for a Roundtrip and a comprehensive itinerary for the journey.
• Proof for accommodation which includes hotel bookings or an invitation letter.
• Financial proof which includes bank statements, income tax return (ITR), and salary slips.
• Employment/student documents such as No Objection Certificate (NOC), proof of enrollment, or business registration.

Processing Time

• Normal processing time is 15 business days.
• Some applications may be processed in 30–45 days, especially during peak seasons.
• In some situations, applications are processed in 7–9 days.

Visa Appointment Process

• Applications can only be filed on the VFS Global centres in the following cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Kochi.
• Book an appointment and online; biometric capture is required.
• Applicants located outside of New Delhi may experience an additional 2–5 days for document routing.

Visa Fees

• Tourist short-stay visa: €80 (≈ INR 7,120) plus service charge (≈ INR 2,670) brings the total to around 9,790 INR.

Daily Financial Requirement

• Roughly €50 for each day of the visit with minimum of €300 for up to 5 days. Lower rates available for minors.

3. Greece Golden Visa (Investing for Residency)

What Is It?

The Greece Golden Visa welcomes non-EU investors by issuing a 5-year renewable residence permit. An investment is mandatory for obtaining it. It grants freedom of movement within the Schengen area including visa-free travel for multiple-entry visits and extends residency rights to family members.

Updated for 2025: Investment Requirements

• Currently set at €800,000 for Tier I regions including Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini.
• Have €400,000 to invest? Other Greek regions are more economical.
• The previous €250,000 investment requirement is eliminated.

Equity Investment Options Include:

• Acquisition of government or corporate bonds.
• Capital transfer to a Greek bank.
• Long-term leases.

Eligibility Requirements and Steps to Apply

• Older than 18 years.
• Clean criminal record and valid health insurance.
• Engage a Greek lawyer to assist with property acquisition and due diligence.
• Visit the Greek consular office for a Type D visa application.
• After coming to Greece, apply for residency to the relevant immigration services.
• Submit biometrics.
• Residency is granted for 5 years, renewable indefinitely and not subject to physical presence.
• After 7 years of tax residency (language and integration prerequisites apply), can apply for citizenship.

Timeline

• Permit processing takes approximately 3 to 4 months post investment confirmation.

Overview of Advantages

• No visa is needed for travel within the Schengen Zone.
• Residency for the spouse, children, and even the parents.
• Full-time residency in Greece is not a requirement.
• Greece offers the option of earning income through rentals of the property.
• After a period of seven years, the individual will be able to apply for Greek citizenship.

4. Comparison Table

5. Recommendations for Indians Applying

• Do not apply more than 6 months in advance, however, 15 days prior is acceptable.
• Do not file incomplete applications, provide translations in Greek or English where needed.
• Providing biometric data is compulsory unless done in the prior 59 months.
• Some centers may ask for European insurances.
• For golden visa, ensure investment funds are legally sourced.
• Engage a Greek lawyer when buying property to avoid losing money through scams.