With a history of thousands of years, Greece welcomes tourists from all over the world to visit the Parthenon and discover other Greek tourist attractions. If you also intend to travel to Greece and its numerous islands, which are among the most popular vacation destinations in Europe, you may need different visas depending on your nationality, length of stay, and reason for your trip. The conditions for obtaining these visas and their validity period are also different. In this article, after mentioning the types of Greek visas, we will discuss the conditions and documents required to obtain a Greek visa for Iranians.
Types of Greek visas for Iranians
In general, Greek visas can be divided into three main categories: short-term residence visas, long-term residence visas (more than 90 days) and transit visas. Another main difference between the types of Greek visas for Iranians, apart from the difference in the length of stay, is related to the frequency of entry. A single entry visa allows you to enter Greece only once, but with a multiple entry visa you can enter and exit as many times as needed. If your Greek Schengen visa was issued as a single entry, your entry into the Schengen area must be through Greece, but with a multiple entry visa, it does not matter from which country you enter or leave the Schengen area. .
Types of Greek short-term visas (type C)
Greek Schengen visa holders are allowed to enter Greece and stay for a maximum of 90 days in each 6-month period. The most common types of Greece Schengen visa are as follows:
Greek work visa
This visa is issued to participate in business activities. Greek work visa allows people to stay for a short period of time to register their work residence application according to Greek law.
Greek cultural-sports visa
Schengen cultural visa allows people to enter the Schengen area to participate in religious, cultural and sports events.
Greek medical visa
You can continue your treatment process in Greece under the supervision of Greek doctors in Greek hospitals by providing the required medical documents.
Greek official visit visa
If you intend to travel to Greece for official and government purposes and have been invited to Greece by a government institution, you must apply for a Schengen official visit visa.
Greek short-term study visa
Among the types of Greek visas for Iranians, short-term study visas can be mentioned. You can use this visa to participate in courses that last up to three months in semesters.
Greek tourist visa for Iranians
Tourist visa is used to visit Greece for vacation, sightseeing and other tourism purposes, and obtaining a Greek tourist visa for Iranians does not have a complicated process.
Visa for visiting family or friends in Greece
Visiting visa is used to visit friends, family members and Iranians in Greece. Iranians living in Greece can speed up the process of receiving visas for their family members by sending an invitation letter.
Types of Greek long-term visas (national type D)
Greek long-stay visas allow applicants to stay in the country for a maximum of one year and can be applied for the following:
Employment purposes
If you receive a job offer from a reputable employer in Greece and are employed by a company in Greece, you can use it to obtain a long-term visa for employment purposes. Also, you can get the residence of this country by registering the company in Greece.
Greek family reunification visa
If you or your family members go to Greece through the family reunification method, you can get a residence permit if you present your passport and travel documents to the Asylum Service Department and bring the original visa with you. do. Immigration through marriage or betrothal is also one of the methods of obtaining a Greek visa for Iranians by joining family members.
Independent financial activities or investment in Greece,
residence with the method of obtaining a self-supporting Greek visa, or FIP residence, and residence in Greece with investment and property purchase, or the Greek Golden Visa, are one of the best ways to obtain a Greek visa for Iranians. Of course, it is better to do sufficient research on issues such as the details of house prices in Greece in Iranian money before any investment to get a visa.
Greek study visa
Another popular way to get a Greek visa for Iranians is to stay with a study visa. After receiving the acceptance letter from the university of your choice, you can go to the Greek Embassy in Iran and follow up on your educational immigration process.
Greece transit visa (type A)
Greece transit visa allows you to stop at one of the Greek airports and wait for your next flight. Note that this visa does not allow you to leave the airport transit area, and if your flight stops in another Schengen area country besides Greece, you must apply for a Schengen tourist visa.
What are the conditions for obtaining a Greek visa for Iranians?
As we said, the conditions for obtaining a Greek visa for Iranians can be different depending on factors such as the length of stay, the reason for the trip, and your personal circumstances. But in general, the most important conditions for obtaining a Greek visa for Iranians are a valid passport, valid travel history, financial resources, bank statement and invitation letter. If you plan to travel to Greece alone and do not have an invitation, you can enter the Schengen area through other countries that have less strict visa requirements and then travel to Greece. Also, you increase your chances of getting a Schengen visa by choosing combined and group tour plans from Iran to Greece.
What are the documents required to obtain a Greek visa for Iranians?
Among the documents required to receive a Greek Schengen visa from Iran, we can mention the following:
Visa application form
The completed visa application form is one of the most important documents for obtaining a Greek visa for Iranians.
Photo:
Three full-face color photos with white background, measuring 35mm x 45mm, taken within the last three months and matching your current face.
Passport
Your passport must have sufficient validity (at least 6 months). Also, your passport must have at least two blank pages without stamps. Your travel history will also have a significant impact on the visa process.
Documents related to work and education status
If you are employed, you must provide a letter from your employer on company letterhead stating that you have taken leave, what is the purpose of your trip, how long will your trip last and that You will return to your current job. You may also be required to provide documents such as bank statement, Income Tax Return (ITR) and original salary slip.
If you are a student, you must send an official letter (certificate of study engagement) from your university that shows that your academic status is appropriate and that you are enrolled in the university for the next semester.
If you are not working or studying, you must provide proof of receiving your pension.
Proof of residence
Another requirement for obtaining a Greek visa for Iranians is to present paid hotel invoices or proof of your residence during the trip.
The statement of the bank account
must include the applicant’s name as the account holder, the account balance and the date. If the statement is received online, it must be stamped by the bank.
Travel Insurance
To obtain a Greek visa for Iranians, a travel insurance certificate for Greece must be submitted along with a table of benefits and services. These can include travel delay, lost luggage, natural disasters, and so on.
Flight ticket
It is mandatory for Iranians to provide a return flight ticket to obtain a Greek visa. But the Greek embassy suggests not to buy a ticket until your visa is approved.
Old passports
If you have had other passports before, you may need to provide them as well.
The letter of introduction
to obtain a Greek visa for Iranians requires the presentation of a letter of introduction stating the applicant’s profile, travel details, and the information of other people traveling with him.
How long does it take to get a Greek visa for Iranians?
Since the implementation of the new Schengen visa code (February 2020), you can apply for a visa at the earliest 3 to 6 months before your trip and at the latest 15 days before your trip. But in general, it is recommended to start your Greek visa application process at least 6 weeks before your trip because the process of document review by the Greek Embassy in Iran takes an average of three weeks.
How much does it cost to get a Greek visa?
The cost of obtaining a Greek visa for Iranians in 2024 varies according to the age of the applicant and the type of visa. This fee is free for children under 6 years old, 35 euros for people between 6 and 12 years old, and 85 euros for people over 12 years old.
When is the best time to travel to Greece?
Since most of the Greek cities have a warm Mediterranean climate, you can travel to this country in almost all seasons of the year. But some Greek cities like Athens are very hot in summer and their winters are accompanied by rain. Therefore, the best time to travel to Greece for cities with a climate like Athens is spring and autumn. Also, in these seasons of the year, compared to summer, fewer people travel to Greece; So, if you are one of those people who prefer to experience your foreign trips in quieter times, spring and autumn are the best seasons to travel to Greece, and the price of the ticket to Greece from Iran reaches its lowest value at this time of the year.
How many hours is the flight from Iran to Greece?
Perhaps, after receiving a Greek visa from Iran, the question has arisen that how many hours can you travel by plane from Iran to Greece? In response to this question, it should be said that considering that the distance from Greece to Iran, that is, from Tehran to Athens, is 2636.22 kilometers, your trip will take five and a half hours on average. Therefore, it is better to pay attention to the time difference between Greece and Iran when buying a ticket. Tehran time is an hour and a half ahead of Athens.
Finally,
citizens of 150 countries, including Iran, need a Schengen visa to travel to Greece. Currently, the types of Greek visas for Iranians do not include electronic visas and airport visas. Greek visa holders can enter Greece and stay there for a certain period of time. The visa also specifies the type of activities that the foreigner can do in Greece. Greece, like any other country, may not agree to your visa application and you may be rejected. To avoid this issue, it is better to avoid presenting fake documents and be sure of the purpose of your trip so that the case officer has no doubts. If you are sure of your decision to get a visa and travel to Greece, you can fill out the Greece visa eligibility check form or visit our contact page to speed up the visa process.