Greece Visa

The Greek visa is one of the most requested Schengen visas in Turkey. A well prepared file shortens the process and lowers the risk of refusal. This guide covers every step, the current fees and the documents required for your occupation.

Who needs a Greek visa?

If you hold a valid, unused Schengen visa that covers your trip, you cannot apply for a new one (Istanbul and Edirne jurisdictions). Foreign nationals living in Turkey can also apply through Kosmos and must show their Turkish residence permit.

Types of Greek visa

Which country should I apply to? Under Schengen rules you apply to the country where you will spend the longest time. If stays are equal, the country of first entry applies. With a visa from Greece, your first entry should be through Greece and Greece should be your main stay.

Documents required for a Greek visa

Documents should be no older than 5 working days on your appointment date. Everyone submits the standard set below; additional documents depend on your occupation.

Standard documents for every applicant

• Application form: completed on the Kosmos website, printed and signed. You cannot book an appointment without it; the form is valid for 6 months.
• Passport: issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months after your trip ends, with at least 2 blank facing pages and in good condition.
• Passport copies: the data page and previous Schengen and other visas. Old passports if you have them.
• ID copy: Turkish ID card.
• Biometric photo: one, white background, 3.5 x 4.5 cm, no glasses. Taken within 6 months (3 months for children under 12).
• Travel medical insurance: at least €30,000 cover in euro, valid across Schengen for the whole trip, with a QR code or wet signature and stamp. It must cover repatriation.
• Flight reservation: return booking showing the price, PNR and barcode. The consulate may ask for the issued ticket.
• Accommodation: hotel booking with dates that match your travel and the price. For Airbnb, include the host's phone number, dates, amount paid and guest names.
• Bank statement: last 3 months, issued no more than a week before the appointment, printed double sided, with wet signature and stamp or a QR code and e-signature, plus the bank's signature circular.
• Civil registry record and residence certificate: from e-Devlet with a QR code.

Additional documents by occupation

Related guides: travel medical insurance for a Greek visa, flight reservations, hotel bookings.

How to apply, step by step

1. Fill in the application form

   Register on the Kosmos application system and complete the form. No form, no appointment.

2. Book an appointment

   Appointments are booked only on the Kosmos website, never by phone. You can cancel or change once, up to 72 hours before.

3. Prepare your documents

   Complete the checklist for your occupation. Documents should be no more than 5 working days old.

4. Attend the centre and give biometrics

   Hand in your file and pay the visa fee in euro cash. Your fingerprints and a digital photo are then taken, which takes about 10 minutes. Applications by post are not accepted.

5. Assessment

   The competent Greek mission decides; Kosmos staff have no influence on the outcome. Standard processing is 15 working days.

6. Collect your passport

   In person, by a relative with the same surname named on the form. Anyone else needs a notarised power of attorney.

Struggling to find a slot? When do Greek visa appointments open?

When to apply and how long it takes

Kosmos asks applicants to apply at least 15 days before travel; for later applications the return of the passport is not guaranteed. Slots fill fast before summer, public holidays and New Year, so plan 6 to 8 weeks ahead. More: How many days does a Greek visa take?

Where to apply: jurisdictions

Short stay Greek visa applications in Turkey are handled by Kosmos Vize application centres. You can only apply at the branch covering the province where you live and work. Four Greek missions decide on applications:

Check which mission covers your province on the Kosmos jurisdiction page. Photo services are available at the Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, Bursa, Edirne and Bodrum centres; insurance at all centres.

Visa on arrival for the Greek islands

Turkish citizens with ordinary passports can visit certain Eastern Aegean islands without a Schengen visa, using a 7-day visa issued at the port. The Greek ministries of Foreign Affairs and Migration extended the scheme from 1 April 2026 for another year, until April 2027.

• Islands: Eastern Aegean islands including Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos, Rhodes, Kalymnos, Limnos, Leros, Symi and Kastellorizo. The list is confirmed each season.
• Length: up to 7 days, cannot be extended.
• Validity: only the island you enter. It does not allow travel to the mainland or other Schengen countries.
• How it works: the visa is issued on arrival at the port after passport control and fingerprinting. We can check what your ferry company needs when you book.

Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Corfu and Zakynthos are not part of the scheme and require a Schengen visa. For the current fee and island list, message us or read: visa on arrival for the islands, is there a visa on arrival for Santorini?, from Istanbul to the Greek islands.

At the border: the EES

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully in use at all Schengen borders since April 2026. Instead of passport stamps, your entries and exits are recorded electronically.

• On your first entry, your fingerprints and a facial image are taken at the border; later entries are verified against them.
• The 90/180-day rule is calculated automatically and overstays show up immediately.
• First entries can mean longer queues; allow extra time at airports and land crossings.

Source: official EU EES page.

Refusal reasons and tips for approval

The reason for refusal is given on the letter returned with your passport. Fees are not refunded. When reapplying, add documents that answer that reason. More: Is a Greek visa hard to get?

• Driving a car that is not yours requires a power of attorney from the last 5 years; if travelling with the owner, add a copy of their visa. A green card insurance is not required at the application.
• New format Turkish licences renewed after 1 January 2016 are valid in Greece; no international licence is needed.
• Driving through Greece to North Macedonia also requires a visa.