Dreaming of waking up in a white-washed villa in Santorini, or exploring the Parthenon in Athens? Greece is a Mediterranean haven of great food, gorgeous beaches and picturesque villages. The Greece visa application process is a simple one, and you can easily find out all you need to know.
South African passport holders require a Greek Schengen visa to travel anywhere in Greece. You can apply at the Greek Consulates or Greek Visa Application Centre located in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. We advise you to apply for your Greece visa two to three months before you travel to avoid disappointment or delays.
Please note this process is applicable to South African passport holders.
The short-stay Schengen visa is available as a single or multiple entry visa. It is valid for 90 days.
How to apply for your Greece visa:
- Schedule an appointment online with your nearest VAC
- Submit your documents, booking confirmation, proof of payment and biometrics in person at the VAC
- Expect to wait between 15-30 days for your application to be processed
- Collect your visa or have it couriered to you, as soon as you’re notified
All Schengen states require everyone to appear in person for biometric data to be collected. Greece is no exception, though travellers who have submitted their biometric data to Greece within the last five years may be allowed to submit their application through an authorised representative.
Note: Any additional visas to your final destination must be obtained before applying for your Greece visa
Greece visa cost:
You can either make a cash deposit before your appointment, or pay by debit/ credit card at the application centre.
Visa fee: R1020 / EU60
An additional charge of R350 is payable should you choose to apply via GVC World.
The fee can be paid in cash to the following Nedbank account:
| Bank Name: | Nedbank |
| Branch Name: | Business Banking North Rand |
| Account Name: | Euro World |
| Account No: | 1050318277 |
| Branch Code: | 146905 or 198765 (Universal Code) |
| Swift Code: | NEDSZAJJ |
| Reference: | Passport Number |
Please note that application fees are non-fundable and subject to fluctuations in exchange rates.
When submitting your application, you can select an SMS service at R20 for visa collection notification. There is also an optional courier service at R200 per visa application.
Consular visa fees are waived for the following applicants:
- Children under 12 years
- Spouses and children (under 22 years) of EU citizens
- Holders of diplomatic and service passports
- Participants of NPOs taking part in events or conferences organized by NPOs
- Scholars and students travelling for the purpose of study or educational training
Requirements for the Greek Schengen visa:
South African applicants must present:
- Fully completed application form. Application forms for minors (below 18 years) must be signed by both parents.
- South African passport, valid for at least 3 months after your last day in Schengen territory. Passports must have two blank pages for visa stamps.
- Two colour passport photos 35x45mm, not older than six months.
- A return air ticket with travel dates. A reservation ticket is sufficient for application.
- Proof of income in South Africa.
- Proof of sufficient funds for duration of stay – minimum R700 per day or R3,600 reflecting in your account. You need to submit bank statements of the last three months. Any other bank account details may be submitted as additional proof.
- Copies of travel medical insurance covering at least 30,000 Euros (R470,000), or SOS International cover from Discover Health.
- Copies of all previous Schengen visas.
- Confirmed hotel booking for entire stay (with hotel’s official letterhead) OR a sworn affidavit of invitation by a Greek resident with a certified copy of their ID/ passport.
- For minors below 18 years: ID’s of both parents/ guardians and consent forms certified by the SA police. An unabridged birth certificate should be submitted or the official documents/court decisions establishing the minor’s parents/legal guardians. Parents must accompany minors in person at the Consulate.
Spouses of Greek/ EU citizens and children under 21 years are exempt from the above requirements, provided they supply the following:
- Fully completed application form.
- Originals and copies of spouse’s EU passport.
- Full marriage / birth certificates.
- Additional documents may be requested.
For a detailed breakdown of the Greece visa requirements, consult the Consulate’s checklist.
Where to Apply:
Greek Consulate General – Johannesburg
| Address: | 261 Oxford Road, Fortune Kunene House, Illovo |
| Telephone: | (011) 214 2300/2309/2317 |
| Email: | ecocom-johannesurg@mfa.gr / greekconsulate-johannesburg@mfa.gr |
| Website: | https://www.mfa.gr/missionsabroad |
| Office Hours: | Monday – Friday, 09:00 – 13:30 (Closed on Wednesdays) |
Consulate of Greece – Cape Town
| Address: | 19th Floor Reserve Bank Building, 60 St.George Mall (cnr. Hout str.), CBD |
| Telephone: | (021) 424-8160/1 |
| Email: | grconcpt@mweb.co.za / grcon.cpt@mfa.gr |
| Website: | https://www.mfa.gr/missionsabroad |
| Office Hours: | Monday – Friday, 09:00 – 12:00 (Closed on Wednesdays) |
GVC World – Greece Visa Application Centre
| Telephone: | +27 012 425 3018 |
| Email: | info.zagr@gvc24assist.eu |
| Website: | http://za-gr.gvcworld.eu/ |
| Address – JNB | 2nd Floor, Harrow Court 1, 11 Boundary Road, Houghton |
| Address – CPT | 5th Floor, 47 Strand Street, CBD |
| Address – DUR | 91-123 Cowey Road, Unit 101A, 1st Floor, Essenwood, Durban |
If you have any queries regarding your Greece visa, contact our partners at VisaBox for an obligation-free quote and assistance!
Are you nervous about having a visa application denied and losing all your hard-earned money spent on your flights? Check out our Visa Denied Service to add to your flight booking.
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Disclaimer:
All information on this blog page was correct at the time of publishing and may change at any time without prior notice. Travelstart is not affiliated to immigration authorities or their application centres and will not be liable for loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this volatile information.
I am a South African with a south african passport but staying in Mozambique. Can I apply for a Schengen visa in Mozambique ?
Hi Louis,
Thanks for reaching out.
That should not be a problem. As long as you have the relevant documents when applying as well documents or visa staying in Mozambique.
Hi
my boyfriend live in Greece and i would like to visit him,i would like to know what type of visa should i apply for.
Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out. If you visiting you would need to apply for a tourist visa.
You would need to contact the Embassy or official visa handling agency direct. They will be able to provide you with the most up to date information on the correct procedures to follow, what documents are required when applying for the visa as well as the cost.
My husband has a BRITISH passport. We need to acquire a schengen for my daughter to visit Greece. I have a schengen which expired mid year.
What is the current status of British citizens entering Greece and do we need accommodation proof and financial proof etc for my daughters application. Tks Toni
Hi Toni,
Thanks for getting in touch.
Please contact the Embassy direct. They are the ones granting the visa’s and will be able to provide you with the most up to date information.
Is there a VAC or Greek Embassy in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape? Traveler lives in George. It’s easier and cheaper and quicker to go to PE than Cape Town for Biometrics.
Hi Carol,
Thanks for reaching out. I’m afraid there is not Greek Embassy in Port Elizabeth.
There is an Embassy in Johannesburg and Cape Town. And the official visa handling agency is in Pretoria.
You can find the contact details in our blog.
This was very hepful, thank you! I just have one question, in the “How to apply for your Greece visa” section – the article says:
“Note: Any additional visas to your final destination must be obtained before applying for your Greece visa”
If I am flying to Greece via Italy and am spending 2 days in Italy on the way back to South Africa (so it is my final designation), does this mean that I need to apply for an Italian Schengen visa as well?
Thanks in advance 🙂
Hi! I’d like to find out if my family and I can enter Greece using our Portuguese-Schengen visa’s still valid? Thanks 🙂
Hi Tracy,
Thanks for reaching out.
Greece and Portugal both fall under the Schengen States.
However we do recommend you contact the Embassy direct to make sure you still have the sufficient days remaining on your visa.
Hi there
My husband and I have a multi-entry Shengen Visas from the Italian Consul in Cape Town issued in June 2018 valid to June 2019 with the main port of entry being Italy (prior to a cruise). Can we use this Shengen Visa to stay in Crete in May 2019, travelling via Zurich for 1 day overnight each way. I would like to check this before booking flights and would appreciate any help.
Hi Gail,
Even though your visa is valid for 1 year you would need to see how many days you would be allowed in the Schengen state.
If you have used up those number of days from your previous trip, to my knowledge you would need to apply for a new visa.
To get the most up to date information I would recommend you contact the Embassy direct as they granted the visa and will be able to provide you with the relevant information.
Hi there,
Requirements, costs and document required to travel to Greece.
3 Persons 2 adults and a one year old
thanks
Arno
Hi Arno,
You welcome to ready our blog: Greece visa requirements for South Africans
However to get the most up to date information please contact the Embassy or official visa handling agency.
They will be able to provide you with the most up to date information on correct procedures to follow, what documents are required and the cost.
Please advise on obtaining a permanent work visa for Greece..im from SA
HI Peter,
I’m afraid we do not specialise in work visa’s. Fort his you will need to contact the Embassy direct.
they will advise what documents you will need to submit from your Employer in Greece, what documents you will need, the correct procedures to follow and the cost.
Do I have to pick up my visa myself, or can my daughter, who’s traveling with me, pick mine up when she goes to pick up her’s? Must I fill in a form? Where will I get the form?
Hi Gezina,
Thanks for getting in touch.
This will depend on which Embassy you are applying through.
For the Belgium Embassy they have the following options however other might be different. I recommend you contact the Embassy or official visa handling agency you have applied through and they will be able to advice accordingly.
(1)Passport self-pick up
Please provide the following documents if you would like to retrieve the passport by yourself:
– Visa application checklist
– The original identity card
– A copy of your identity card
(2)Passport pick-up by a representative
A representative may retrieve your passport on your behalf. The representative must provide:
– Your application checklist
– A copy of your ID card
– The original and a copy of your representative’s ID card
– An authorization letter signed by the applicant
Please kindly note that passports will be returned from TLScontact to the Consular Authority, if the passports are not retrieved at TLScontact within a period of 30 Days after being returned from the Consular Representation.
(3)Courier pass-back service
You may have your passport returned to you by express delivery service; it will be sent directly to the address you have specified. Please check hereto see availability of this service for your application.
Hi Marcelle,
We need to apply for visa for Greece as we’re leaving on the 4th July, and we can’t get appointment. What must we do and can we apply or get an appointment at Greece embassy in Johannesburg? Do we need visas for Doha and Athens as per our stops and connecting flights cause we’ll be sleeping there for a each travel and be out of customs?
Hi Teboho,
Sorry to hear you are struggling to get an appointment at the Greek Embassy.
As we are not the ones granting the visa’s you would need to contact the Embassy direct or the official visa handling agency.
South African passport holders who will be in transit in Doha for less than 8 hours, awaiting a connecting flight, do not require a visa. However you will need to contact Embassy of the State of Qatar to get the most up to date information. As visa rules could change at anytime.
Telephone No : (012) 452 1700 / 11/ 13
Hi Marcelle
We are travelling to Greece in June and cant get an appointment at the Greek visa office
Would any Shengen visa be accepted
Hi Fred,
A schengen visa will cover you for any Schengen country.
However I am not sure if another consulate will grant you a Schengen visa if you are not travelling to that country.
One needs to apply at the Embassy of the Schengen country you are staying the longest.
You would need to contact the Embassy or official visa handling agency direct to see what they advise.
Best of luck.
greek visa office has issued single entry visas on our SA passports.. we are going on a cruise next week, one island is Turkish, we are only on the island for a few hours..? what do you recommend? they refuse to change it
Hi Mark,
You would need a multiple entry Schengen Visa if you are leaving the Schengen State and coming back in. You could or will get denied boarding the cruise.
However this is up to the discretion of the officials. Best to contact the Embassy as they will need to provide you with more info.