HOW TO APPLY FOR A TOURIST or A VISIT VISA TO GREECE
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‘The glory that was Greece’, in particular, has been appropriated as the origin of much that is familiar to us now, including science, philosophy, democracy, art and architecture, poetry and drama.
Famous for its ancient civilization and magical natural landscape, Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, has countless hidden gems to offer! When we talk about this Mediterranean country, for sure, the timeless Greek Mythology and magnificent temples in Parthenon will always ring a bell.
And oh, lest we forget, the mouth-watery Meditarranean cuisines are also something that is worth visiting this country to explore.
An Overview of Schengen Visa for Short-term Stay in Greece
Greece is a part of the Schengen zone, composed of 26 Euroean countries. To enter Greece (and any other countries in the Schengen zone), you must obtain a Schengen Visa first. You can get a tourist visa (if touring the country is your primary purpose) or a visit visa (if your main objective is to visit a family, friend, or significant other).
So if you are a Philippine Passport Holder (Filipino), you need to secure a Schengen Visa that will allow you to stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Who is Eligible to Apply for a Schengen Visa to Greece?
The Greek Embassy in Manila also processes applications on behalf of the Portuguese government, so this post also applies if you’re traveling to Portugal.
Apply at the Greek Embassy only if ANY of the items below is true:
- Greece is your main destination. It means that you will visit Greece only and have no plans of visiting any other neighboring Schengen country (sa Greece ka lang pupunta at mag-stay); or
- You will stay the longest in Greece. You have plans of visiting other Schengen countries, but Greece is where you will be staying the longest. (Pupunta ka pa sa ibang Schengen countries, pero sa Greece ang pinaka-mahabang stay mo).
Example: You will stay in Greece for 14 days to visit a family member. After that, you will go to Belgium, France, and Germany for a 2-week side trip, before returning to the Philippines.
- The main purpose of your travel is in Greece. You have plans of visiting other Schengen countries, but the focus of your travel is in Greece.
- Greece is your port of entry. You have plans of visiting multiple Schengen countries for the same number of days, but Greece is your first point of entry.
If you’re sure that the Greek Embassy is the right place to lodge your application, it’s time to get started.
Important Documents to Prepare
1. A duly filled out electronic Schengen Visa Application Form for Greece here. It must be computerized/ typewritten (not handwritten).
2. Two current biometrical passport photos (35-45 mm width)– have your passport photo taken. The embassy is very strict on their photo specifications. Fortunately, they have a page on their official website dedicated to explaining this. Bring at least two copies or more, just in case. One photo should be glued to the application form. The second photo will be returned to you.
- Taken with nothing covering the face, without sunglasses or contact lenses, or a head covering unless worn for religious or medical reasons.
- The subject should have their mouth closed (no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows).
After which, paste your photo on each of the electronic visa form that you completed online (1 original and 1 photocopy of the form).
3. Original Passport and a Photocopy of it as well as the Bio Page– The embassy requires that your passport is valid for at least another three months on the date the visa application is submitted. It also must have two empty pages for them to stamp your passport. If you have renewed your passport, bring your old one/s with you. These are needed especially if you have previous overseas trips.
4. Travel plan indicating your destination (in this case, Greece), route, proof of accommodation (hotel or apartment booking, etc.), and a round-trip flight reservation with dates and flight numbers showing the entry and exit from Greece.
Important reminders:
- You do not need to pay for the flight ticket right away because you are only applying for a visa and have no guarantee that it will be approved. You’re essentially just showing them that a flight itinerary from the Philippines to Greece is available on your preferred travel date. Your departure must be at least 15 days after your Greece visa interview. We can assist you with a dummy ticket for your flight reservation requirement; get it here!
- The embassy typically asks for a cover letter along with other documents; the cover letter details the purpose of your journey to Greece plus your complete itinerary indicating all of the places you are planning to visit while you’re there. The cover letter is crucial to the success of your application; a well-thought-out and well-written cover letter gets you a higher chance of visa approval. Let us take care of your cover letter (and others such as sponsorship, invitation, and appeal), get our letter service here!
5. If applying for a tourist visa: You will need a cover letter addressed to the Embassy of Greece. In the cover letter, explain your reason for visit, where you will stay (did you get a hotel accommodation? Are you staying over at someone’s place?), how you will fund the trip (do you have enough in your savings to finance your travel?), and your day-to-day itinerary. Outline every specific activity you are planning to take—places to go, tours to join, people to meet/visit, etc.
Also, through this cover letter, submit an informal declaration explaining your intention to return to the Philippines before your visa expires. Make sure you sign the cover letter.
Explain and submit proofs for your reason to return:
Do you have a young child in the Philippines you need to go back for and take care of? Submit the child’s birth certificate.
Do you have senior citizen parents who are counting on your return? Submit a copy of their senior citizen IDs.
Are you an employee or a student and must return for your job or schooling? Submit copies of employment or school documents.
We will discuss more about proof of strong ties later in this article.
As already stated above, you will also need to submit your flight reservation and proof of accommodation.
6. If applying for a visit visa: You will need proof of relationship with your host, partner, or sponsor—how are you related to the person you are visiting? You may submit a copy of birth certificate, marriage certificate, written correspondence between you and your sponsor (screenshots of video calls and chats), and any other evidence of your relationship with your sponsor, such as photos together, as proof of relationship.
- Proof of relationship (marriage certificate/birth certificate)
- Photocopy of the inviting party’s passport’s bio page and/or inviter’s travel history in case of non-formalized relationship (boyfriend/girlfriend)
- A signed original Letter of Invitation and Guarantee. Must be addressed to the Consular Section of the Embassy. Must state guarantee of repatriation and coverage of travel, accommodation and medical expenses.
- Proof of hotel reservation, if staying at a hotel.
- Solemn Declaration (“Υπεύθυνη Δήλωση”) with authenticated signature, if the inviting person is a Greek national. (The newest list of requirements posted on the Greek embassy website does not include this one anymore. But it might help your case if you secure this one too.)
Do not forget the invitation letter from the host or your partner based in Greece. In this letter, the host or your partner must indicate the exact address where the host lives, as well as the purpose and full duration of your visit to your host’s country.
If you are visiting your immediate family member or a close relative, you have to provide a proof of the urgency of that visit. It could be a marriage celebration, birth of a child, serious health problem, or funeral.
Proof of strong ties or deep-rootedness is also extremely important. One of the most common reasons for visa denial is the lack of strong ties; make sure you provide a compelling reason to return to the Philippines.
7. Travel Insurance – the coverage must be applied during the entire duration of the trip in Greece and must be valid for all Schengen countries. Coverage sum must be AT LEAST EUR 30,000 (Php 2.5 million or USD 50,000). I highly recommend Pioneer Insurance which you can avail yourself through me. Feel free to directly inquire through JASTravel on Facebook and I would be very glad to assist you.
8. Proof of financial capacity to show that you (or your sponsor) can support your expenses for the whole duration of your travel.
- For sponsored travel: Your host or sponsor declares that he or she will be solely responsible for all expenses incurred during your trip.
- For those traveling without a sponsor: this means that you will cover all your expenses during the entire duration of your travel.
- Bank statements – must show records of the past six months. A bank statement shows your transactions in your account at a specific period. It will show debits (withdrawals, payments, taxes, service fees) and credits (deposits, interest earned.) Bank Statements can also be seen online especially if you have a registered account. There is no signature for the manager or a bank officer.
- Bank Certificate – it is a confirmation by the branch manager or a bank officer that you have an existing account in their bank. It shows the account number, the type, and other details such as the opening date of your account, your account balance as of the date of request, and your average daily balance.
- Other proof of income (supporting documents) – although it is not really required, you can submit invoices and pay slip equivalent to prove that you earn enough to support this trip financially.
- For those traveling without a sponsor: this means that you will cover all your expenses during the entire duration of your travel.
If you maintain a bank account for a long time, better maintain it. Kahit na may sponsor ka, of course, plus points pa din sa visa application mo if idadagdag mo din bank statements mo, payslips from our employer, and other proof na financially capable ka din and most importantly, it proves deep rootedness as well.
Sponsorship Letter which should state the fact that he/ she is inviting you to come over, your relationship with each other, and that he/ she is willing to sponsor you during your trip. Of course, it needs to have documentary proof.
Original Affidavit of Support, legalized and notarized by the municipality in Greece where the sponsor’s address is registered. Afterwhich, have it acknowledged by the Philippine Consulate in Greece.
The sponsor’s copies of: passport including the biodata page and travel history (passport stamps) and ID Card or Resident ID card
Recent proof of income of the sponsor (3 last months’ salary slips, etc.)
Proof of relationship with the sponsor (pictures together, Birth or Marriage certificate, and screenshot of chat conversations)
To know more about additional requirements that you would need from your sponsor, check out my YouTube video: https://youtu.be/SEad8VHVkLk
8. Proof of Civil Status – Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate of the spouse, etc. These documents must be issued on security paper (SECPA) by the Philippine Statistics Authority, see http://www.psaserbilis.com.ph.
Note: The birth certificate does not need to be authenticated by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.
9. Evidence of your rootedness in the Philippines – Evidence of deep-rootedness a.k.a. strong family and social ties to your home country, is one of the most critical requirements when applying for a Schengen Visa. It is what the Consul will look for in your visa application. So how do you prove that you are firmly established in the Philippines and that you will go back to your home country?
You need to convince them that you will return to the Philippines. Insufficient evidence of deep-rootedness to your home country is also one of the chief reasons for visa denial.
- For Employees:
- Employment or Work contract and bank account statements or payslips showing the transfer of your last six-monthly salaries
- Certificate of Employment which should include the employer’s full name, complete address, telephone number with area code, details regarding the position, income, and employment duration
- Approved letter of approved leave signed by your employer (Leave of Absence letter)
- Optional: Signed No Objection Certificate which states that your employer has no objection for you to travel to Greece and that they have approved your leave request
- Most recent Income Tax Return 2316 (ITR)
- Optional Supporting Documents:
› Government Mandated Contributions – SSS, Pag-ibig, Philhealth Contributions
› If with existing loan – SSS Loan or Pag-ibig Salary loan
- For Self-Employed:
- DTI Business Name Registration Certificate
- Barangay Business Clearance
- Mayor’s Business Permit from your Municipality where the business address has been registered
- Business activity of your company for the last 6 months – invoices and bank transactions
- Most recent Income Tax Return 2316 (ITR)
- For Retirees:
- Pension statement for the last 6 months
- Retirement Certification
- Others (No work, No Business, etc.): Family as Proof of Rootedness:
- For Solo parents:
› A copy of your birth certificate- PSA Authenticated
› A copy of your child/children’s birth certificate- PSA Authenticated
› Solo parent ID
› Barangay Certification as Solo parent
› Notarized Affidavit of Solo Parent with Undertaking
› Money remittances to support your dependents - For those who are supporting or watching over the health/well-being of the family:
› A copy of my parent’s birth certificates- PSA Authenticated
› If parents are already Senior Citizens: a copy of their Senior Citizen ID and Barangay Certification as Senior Citizens
› If parents have sickness/ illness: Medical history of parents (diabetes, hypertension, etc.)
- For Solo parents:
- For Employees:
- Property Titles: if you have some, the following are accepted.
- Land titles
- Car registration certificates
- Deeds of Sale
- For Minors
- Joint affidavit of both parents or legal guardians granting consent
- Photocopies of the passports of both parents or legal guardians
- Birth certificate of the minor. Must be recent, original, and issued by PSA.
- DSWD Clearance, if the minor is not traveling with either parent or legal guardian
- Recent certificate of enrollment from the school
- Letter authorizing the student’s absence from school
- Property Titles: if you have some, the following are accepted.
Helpful tips: Additional document requirements for a minor: https://youtu.be/aVUq5nbmQig
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Apply for a Schengen Visa to Greece
STEP 1: Determine the type of Greece Schengen visa you need to apply for and have a look at the checklist of requirements to gather all the documents that you need to submit. Each application must comply with the guidelines applicable for your visa category.
STEP 2: Complete the Schengen Visa Requirements stated above.
Some important notes.
- The documents must be arranged in the same order as the list above. Even the photocopies of your stamps and visas must be in the same order as they appear on your passports.
- Place all the requirements in a long brown envelope. Write your last name, first name and contact number in bold capital letters on the upper left corner of the envelope.
- The original copies will be returned to you on the same day of application.
STEP 3: Request an appointment by emailing visa.man@mfa.gr
The format should be:
Preferred Date: (DD MMMM YYYY)
Name of Applicant: (Last Name, First Name)
Passport No.:
Contact Tel.:
Type of Visa: Schengen
Main Country of Destination: Greece
Expected Date of Departure: (DD MMMM YYYY)
Some important notes:
- Once they receive your request, you will get an acknowledgment reply within the next 24 working hours.
- If you need to change anything, you may email them at least 24 working hours before your appointment date.
- If you need to cancel or reschedule, you may do so by emailing at least 2 working days before the schedule given to you.
- That email address is only for visa appointment only. Don’t send your inquiries or other messages to that address.
Actually, items #1 (schedule) and #2 (requirements) of this process are interchangeable. But you can choose to prioritize the scheduling because sometimes, the earliest available slot is over a month away.
STEP 4: Submit the requirements at the Embassy of Greece. On the day of the appointment, submit the requirements in person. Personal appearance is mandatory because you might be interviewed by the consul. Failure to show up means forfeiture of your appointment slot.
Prior to last year, most applicants were interviewed. But starting this year, it is no longer the case. They only interview applicants when they have additional questions or clarifications. Most applicants will not be required to undergo an interview anymore.
The address of the Embassy of Greece is this:
EMBASSY OF GREECE
Unit 701 7F SEDCCO I Building
Corner Rada and Legazpi Streets, Legaspi Village
Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines 1229
Here’s what you need to do:
This gives you time to register, deposit your ID, and climb to the 7th floor. If you arrive earlier, the guard will not let you in until 5 minutes before your schedule.
You will have to write down your name and sign the reg sheet. This sheet also determines who gets entertained first. After registration, take a seat.
They must be in the same order as the checklist and must be in a long brown envelope. If they have questions, answer promptly and respectfully. You will be asked to take a seat as they check your docs.
You will be given a deposit slip. Fill it out with the provided details. (It’s also displayed on the corkboard in one corner of the room.)
There is a report that visa fees across all Schengen embassies have increased from EUR 60 to EUR 80 per applicant. Either way, you will be paying this in pesos. There should be four copies of the transaction slip. One will be left with the bank, two will be submitted to the embassy, and the final copy is yours to keep.
Afterwhich, go back to the Embassy and submit your deposit slips.
After that, await further instructions.
Normally, there will be no interview. But if the embassy need more information, they may call and invite you to an interview. The interview is done in a separate room, away from other applicants. If you apply as a group, there’s a chance you will be interviewed together, but not always. You will be asked about why you will be traveling and whom you will be traveling with. You will be asked about the details of your itinerary so make sure you know it by heart. The interview is short and straightforward. Be confident when you answer. Don’t be nervous. The Embassy is strict and firm, but they are very respectful and pleasant.
After the interview, you may still be required to submit more documents if they feel that your pile is insufficient.
Once everything is done, you will be given a slip with the date when you can pick up your passport. Take note of the time too!
STEP 5: Claim your passport and visa. Show up at the embassy again on the date and time of the release of your passport (the date indicated on the note given to you after submitting your documents).
The date of release is usually 1 to 2 weeks from your submission date (depending on how many days you were advised to claim your passport). Bring the slip they gave you to claim it and attach a photo of your ID with it.
No need for an appointment when claiming. Just register at the lobby of the building, go to the consular office, register at the window, and wait for your name to be called. Claiming is fast and easy. Also, make sure you double check the visa details for any errors, tell the consular authority immediately.
Quick Facts
- Validity of Visa : Short-stay Schengen visas allow people to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days every six-month period
- Processing time:Applications shall be decided on within 5 to 10 working days after the date of lodging.
- Where to lodge your application:
- Embassy of Greece in Manila (Πρεσβεία της Ελλάδος στη Μανίλα)
Unit 701 7F SEDCCO I Bldg.,
Corner Rada & Legazpi Streets, Legaspi Village Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines 1229- Schedule: (Mon-Fri)
Visa Applications – 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Visa Pick-up – 2:30 – 3:30 PM
Walk-in Inquiries – 2:30 – 3:30 PM E-mail address: visa.man@mfa.gr.
- Schedule: (Mon-Fri)
- Embassy of Greece in Manila (Πρεσβεία της Ελλάδος στη Μανίλα)
Common Reasons for Schengen Visa Rejection
Here are the common reasons a Schengen Visa application gets denied:
- No clear travel purpose—a detailed cover letter is a must!
- Lack of strong ties—reevaluate your application and prove why you must return to your home country!
- Insufficient travel insurance coverage—make sure you get the right policy!
- No proof of financial means—convince them that you can afford your trip! Provide bank or credit card statements, VUL, investment portfolio, etc.
- Passport does not have 2 free pages—where will they attach the visa if your passport pages are already full? You should get a new passport before applying for a visa if there are no more available pages on your old one!
- No proof of accommodation—you need to prove them that you have a place to stay in the Schengen Area.
Recap and Tips
So, just a recap and a reminder, please don’t forget these TIPS:
If you ever need help, you can avail my visa application bundle, and I will be glad to help you through the process!
Let Us Be Your Partner in Your Schengen Visa Journey
Applying for a Schengen Visa can be overwhelming, with all the paperwork involved and confusing information from different sources. We understand that—we’ve been there and have done that!
But through the years, we gained experience and knowledge on the ins and outs of the Schengen Visa application. We’ve helped countless satisfied clients; we would like to invite you to be one of them!
With our Schengen Visa services personalized to your unique needs and circumstances, we will make your visa application less stressful and laborious and more promising. Contact us to schedule a consultation or for other inquiries.
