There is always excitement planning a trip to Greece, be it to visit ancient ruins, to spend the sunshine on Santorini or to have a sea-side meal in Crete. But you cannot explore the wonders of this Mediterranean jewel before you prepare yourself well in advance of your Greece tourist visa. Being aware of the main specifics can save you time and rejection or unwarranted stress levels.
The following are the 10 Important Things to Know Before Greece Visa Submission, which aim at ensuring that you have an easy time and success in the visa process with the help of Go Kite Tours.
1. Choose the Right Type of Visa
The initial and the most crucial thing to do is to find the appropriate visa category. Greece belongs to the Schengen Zone which implies that you will apply to a Schengen visa. You will have to choose the right visa type depending on your purpose either tourism, business, visiting family, or study. The short stay Schengen visa (Type C) is a visa that enables most traveling people to spend not more than 90 days but not less than 180 days. Selecting the right type will guarantee that you choose an application that matches your travel objectives.
2. Make application at the right embassy or visa office
One of the most frequent errors that apply to most applicants is the attachment of their documents to an inappropriate embassy. You shall have to make your Greece visa request at the Greek Embassy or Consulate of your country of residence-or a visa application centre which is authorized to process Greece visa. When you intend to travel across several Schengen countries, you have to apply using the country where you are going to spend the largest number of days or where you are going to enter initially.
3. It is also important not to forget to ensure Your Passport Meets Requirements
Check your passport before handing in your application. It should:
- Have a duration of at least three months before you plan to go back.
- Be at least two blank pages on which the visa may be stamped.
- Issued within ten years.
Any passport which fails to satisfy these standards may make you get a passport which is rejected despite the strength of your application.
4. Write Proper and Fully Developed Documents
One of the leading causes of delays or rejections is incomplete or inaccurate documentation. Examples of common documents needed are:
- An application form, which is already filled in with details.
- Two recent passport sized photographs.
- Evidence of a travel insurance worth at least 30000.
- Yoga tours proved flight tickets and hotel reservations.
- Monetary evidence (bank account statements, job letter, etc.).
- Note of purpose of the travel and itinerary.
Ensure that all the documents are current and consistent. During the verification procedure, any minor differences will cause apprehensions.
5. Pre-Booking of Appointments
The process of submitting a visa in Greece sometimes involves the need to book an appointment in a visa center or embassy which is authorized. Appointments fill their books very fast and this is particularly in the busy seasons of traveling. The sooner the better to book your slot four or six weeks prior to your travelling date. It is better to plan early so that you do not experience last minute stress and have sufficient time to collect the necessary documents.
6. Know the Biometric Data Requirement
The first time you have to apply to a visa to Greece, you will have to give biometric information, namely a fingerprint and a digital photograph. This information is registered in Schengen Visa Information System (VIS) within a period of five years. You might not have to go through the biometrics procedure again in the past five years when you had gone through it to take out a Schengen visa.
7. Know the Processing Time
Processing of visas normally requires approximately 15 working days after the date of application however it can take longer depending on the season, place or special situations. It can be time-consuming during peak periods, as in summer. Apply early enough before the date of departure and you will have your passport returned in good time.
8. Check Your Travel Insurance
All the applicants of the Schengen visa are obliged to take travel insurance. It should include medical emergency, hospitalization, and repatriation at least three thousand three hundred euro in all the Schengen countries. Make sure that your certificate of insurance has your name, dates of travel, and the amount of money that is covered in it. Your visa application will lack valid insurance.
9. Tell the Truth in the Interview
In certain instances, the short interview can be conducted with the applicants at the embassy or visa office. Relax, be assertive and real about your plans to travel. Be able to give consistent responses that are compatible with your paperwork. Any contradiction between your application and spoken words can make people do this. It is important to remember, that the intention is to demonstrate the real purpose of travel and good connection to your home country.
10. Monitor Application Status
Once you have submitted your documents, you can just monitor the status of your application online. The tracking services of most visa centers and embassies are availed via their websites or by SMS. Periodic monitoring will update you on any changes or new information required of any document. This process will guarantee that you do not miss any message of the embassy.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Presenting expired papers or photographs.
- Lack of demonstrating adequate financial credibility.
- Failure to give a clear travel itinerary.
- Purchasing non-refundable tickets before visa processing.
- Disregarding the need to have travel insurance.
These are the most common types of mistakes that can be avoided to significantly raise the likelihood of your approval and make your visa process more efficient.
Conclusion
Getting a Greece visa does not necessarily have to be a complicated process provided one is well equipped and educated. The following 10 Important Things to Know Before Greece Visa Submission will help you to get to the location without any troubles and to make sure that you possess all the necessary documents and requirements.
At Go Kite Tours, we provide end-to-end visa services to the travelers- we will help you to prepare the correct documents, book appointments and make sure that the processing is carried out in time. We will ensure that your application journey to obtain a visa to Greece is a hassle-free experience regardless of whether you are on a leisure, business or cultural trip.
You can plan your Greek adventure with certainty with Go Kite Tours where your traveling dreams fly.