Greece Schengen visa for citizens of Saudi Arabia

At the moment, there are few travel restrictions to Greece, which makes it a good time to plan a trip there from Saudi Arabia. One of the top destinations in Europe due to its ancient history, excellent beaches, and vibrant nightlife, Greece attracts many travelers from Saudi every year. However, for most Saudi citizens and residents, travel to Greece necessitates a visa. The best Greece visa for citizens of Saudi Arabia is the Schengen, which enables holders to travel to Greece as well as the rest of the 26-states in the Schengen area. Today’s blog will cover the Schengen Greece visa application process as well as the Greece visa requirements for Saudi citizens and residents. If you are from Saudi Arabia and you are thinking of applying for a Schengen visa, this blog will provide an overview of the entire process. If you are wondering how to apply for a Greece visa online or have other basic questions about the visa process, this blog will answer them. 

How to apply

• 1. Think about when you want to travel 
  • While it’s not required for you to know exactly when you need to leave for Greece, you should narrow down your travel dates, so that you have enough time to apply for and receive a visa. This is especially true if you are planning to leave for Greece soon—i.e. within two weeks, which is about the average Schengen visa processing time for most applicants. 
  • Please be mindful of the above timeframe and do not apply later than 15 days prior to when you need to leave for your trip. Finally, keep in mind that there is also such a thing as applying too early (if you attempt to submit an application for a trip that is over three months away, your application will likely not be accepted).
• 2. Choose the “type” of Schengen visa you need 
  • One of the first decisions you will have to make during your Greece visa application process is your Schengen visa “type.” 
  • There are a variety of Schengen visa types available for Saudi citizens and residents looking to travel to Greece—you should select the one that best describes the purpose of your travel to Greece. For example, many Saudis visit Greece for touristic purposes; if you are traveling to visit the Parthenon, the Acropolis, or simply sail around the Greek isles, then you should apply for a Schengen Tourist visa to Greece from Saudi. 
  • Another example—if you are a Saudi businessperson who needs to travel to Athens to attend a meeting or conference (or otherwise conduct business in the Greek capital) then you should apply for a Schengen Business visa to Greece from Saudi.  
  • Look at the list of Schengen visa types and think about which one is the best for you.
• 3. Choose the “entry category” of Schengen visa you need 
  • Even if you are approved for a Schengen visa, you will not be able to travel in and out of the Schengen area unless you receive an entry category that allows for re-entry into the zone. The Schengen visa entry categories that allow for re-entry include double and multiple. With the former, you can re-enter the zone a single time after exiting it once. With the latter, you can enter, exit, and re-enter the zone as many times as you like throughout your visa validity period. 
  • If you do not anticipate needing to travel between Saudi and Greece throughout your visa validity period, then you could always apply for a single-entry Schengen visa, which allows you one entry to the zone, and therefore will not allow you to re-enter it in the event that you leave. However, keep in mind that 90 days (the amount of time you can stay in Greece on your Schengen visa) is a long time—a lot can happen during that period, and you do not want to be in a situation where you need to return home for a family emergency and are then unable to re-enter the Schengen area upon your attempt to revisit the zone. Because of this, you should think carefully about the entry category that will work best for you. 
• 4. Determine where in Saudi to apply 
  • The Greek Embassy in Riyadh and the Greek Consulate in Jeddah both accept Schengen visa applications, as do visa application centers located in these two major cities. 
  • If you are living in Saudi’s east and central provinces, you should apply through the Greek Embassy in Riyadh; if you are from the western provinces, you should apply through the Greek consulate in Jeddah. 
  • For help on finding out where specifically in KSA you should apply, contact us here.
• 5. Assemble your required documents
  • Greece visa requirements for Saudi citizens and residents necessitate the submission of the below basic required documents:
    • Saudi passport.
    • Two passport photos.
    • Schengen visa application form.
    • Proof of accommodation.
    • Proof of return. 
    • Proof that you obtained travel medical insurance.
  • In addition to the above, applicants must also submit the following:
    • Schengen visa fee.
    • Biometric information (photos and fingerprints). 
    • Supplemental documents.
      • Supplemental documents are different from the basic required documents outlined above but are still mandatory for submission. 
      • The supplemental documents you are required to submit will depend on the type of Schengen visa you apply for. 
      • For example, if you are applying for a Schengen Business visa from Saudi, you will have to submit a letter essentially inviting you to do business in Greece. 
  • Please keep in mind that you will likely have to submit the above forms in either English or Greek (or in another commonly accepted European language). If they are not already in those languages, you can submit them provided you have them translated into acceptable languages. For example, if you submit an invitation letter (required for a Visiting Family and Friends visa) that is written in Arabic, you may have to have that letter translated into either English or Greek (or another acceptable language) for it to be accepted as a valid part of your application. For help on the language requirements for submitted documents, please contact us here.
  • Click here for a complete list of Schengen visa requirements.
• 6. Access your Schengen visa application form
  • The main component of the Greek Schengen visa application process is the basic application form, which you can access here.
  • Print out, complete, sign and submit the above form alongside the rest of your required and supplemental documents and materials. 
  • Some Schengen countries have their own online visa portals, which allow applicants to submit visa applications online. Because of this you, you may be wondering how to apply for a Greece visa online from Saudi. However, because there is currently no online visa form for the Greek Schengen visa, you will have to apply through the above form. 
• 7. Schedule your Schengen visa appointment
  • All Saudis will need to attend a Schengen visa appointment wherever they are applying in KSA—you will likely have to schedule this appointment beforehand. Contact the embassy, consulate, or center where you are applying in order to arrange your Schengen visa appointment. 
• 8. Attend your Schengen visa appointment 
  • Your in-person appointment is where you satisfy the in-person components of the Schengen Greece visa for citizens of Saudi Arabia. Your Schengen visa appointment is therefore where you will do the following:
    • Hand in your complete application. 
    • Attend an interview for your visa.
    • Have your biometric information collected.
      • Please note that if you have previously submitted your biometric information on a prior trip to the Schengen area, you will not have to re-submit it unless five years have passed since you last did so.
    • Pay your Greece Visa fees for citizens of Saudi Arabia.
      • Please note that Schengen visa fees for most applicants are 80 EUR. If you are a Saudi student or diplomat, or you fall into another special category of applicant, you may not have to pay anything. For more info on Greece visa fees for citizens of Saudi Arabia, click here.
  • Please note that almost all applicants have to go in-person to finalize their Schengen visa application. While Saudis who travel frequently to Greece and have already submitted their biometrics may be able to avoid having to interview, Greece reserves the right to ask all applicants to appear in-person. 
• 9. Await your decision 
  • Most Saudi Schengen applicants to Greece will receive their visa in two weeks (or notification of their rejection within that period). However, if more time is needed to process your documents, it could take one month (or even up to 60 days) for you to receive a response back regarding your application. 
  • If you are rejected for a Greek Schengen visa from Saudi, you may appeal by going through this general process.

For more information about travel restrictions to Greece and other essential information about applying for a Greek Schengen visa, contact us here.