National Long-Stay (Type D)Verified 2026-04-30Greece Long-Term National D Visa (>90 days) — Informational
The Greece Long-Term National D Visa allows entry and stay in Greece for more than 90 days — typically for employment, study, academic research, family reunification, or participation in cultural / scientific / religious events. Holders have an OBLIGATION to apply for a Greek residence permit immediately after entry to Greece. Apply via GVCW; the Embassy of Greece, New Delhi processes everything.
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SureshotVisa can assist with the India-side documentation and apostille (PCC + educational + civil documents) but the underlying employment / study / residency approval is initiated by the Greek sponsor (employer / university / family member). Type D visa-holders must apply for a residence permit in Greece immediately after arrival — that's a separate process handled by Greek migration authorities.
Greece — Apply via GVCW (NOT VFS Global)
Greece uses Global Visa Centre World — a different operator from VFS. Embassy of Greece, New Delhi processes every application.
One Greece Schengen visa unlocks all 29 Schengen countries during validity. As a full Schengen member, the visa standards mirror EU rules — but the application route is unique to Greece in India: only GVCW handles submissions, and only the Embassy in New Delhi decides outcomes.
GVCW (not VFS)
Greece partners with Global Visa Centre World — separate from the VFS network most Indians know.
Embassy New Delhi only
All decisions made at Embassy of Greece, Consular Section, New Delhi. Non-Delhi GVCW centres add ~5 days transit.
Approved insurance only
Travel insurance MUST be from a Greek-Embassy-approved Indian insurer (rule since 01/10/2013).
Photo size note: Greece needs 3.5 × 4 cm (35×40mm) — slightly different from the typical Schengen 35×45mm. Use a Greek-spec photo to avoid rejection.
Processing
Variable — depends on Greek-side approval (Family Reunification, Employment, Study)
Stay Duration
>90 days. Holder must apply for a residence permit in Greece immediately after entry. Renewable from within Greece based on the underlying permit.
Starting Fee
Confirm at the Embassy
Apply At
11 VFS centres
Special Instructions — Read Before Applying
These requirements apply to ALL Greece visa types. Violations mean your application will be rejected — read each one carefully.
- 1Type D applications cannot be initiated from India alone. The Greek sponsor / employer / university / family member triggers the underlying approval.
- 2Passport must be valid for at least 1.5 years (1 year and 6 months) from date of submission.
- 3Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) MUST be apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs, India — affixed with the MEA Apostille Sticker. Must be NOT older than 3 months at submission.
- 4ALL educational, personal, and commercial documents must be apostilled by MEA, Government of India.
- 5After arrival in Greece, holder must apply for a residence permit immediately — separate process via Greek migration.
- 6Sri Lanka and Nepal nationals must apply through GVCW Colombo or Kathmandu, not India centres.
Who Can Apply
- Indian nationals with confirmed Greek sponsor — employer, university, family member, or research institution
- Family reunification cases (spouse / child / dependent of Greek resident)
- Students enrolled in long Greek courses / programmes
- Employment visa holders with Greek labour authority approval
Not eligible under this visa:
- Anyone without a Greek sponsor or approval
- Short-term travellers (≤90 days) — apply for Type C instead
Fees (in INR)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Greece Long-Term National D visa fee | Confirm at the Embassy |
| MEA Apostille fee (per document) | ₹50 + service charge |
| GVCW service fee | Confirm at submission |
Long-Term D fees vary by sub-category and are not uniformly published. Confirm directly with the Embassy of Greece, New Delhi. Apostille fees are separate. After arrival, the Greek residence-permit fee applies separately and is paid in Greece.
Documents Required
Greek-Side Approval (REQUIRED FIRST)
- !Employer / university / family-sponsor approval from Greek authority
Triggered by the Greek-side sponsor. Without this, Type D entry visa cannot be issued. Specifics depend on sub-category (Family Reunification, Employment, Study).
Personal Documents (apostilled where applicable)
- !Schengen Visa Application Form
Fully completed and signed by the applicant.
- !Valid passport
Validity exceeding by 3 months the end date of the visa. At least 2 blank pages. Issued within the previous 10 years.
- !Clear photocopy of 1st (bio data) and last page of passport + all visa stamps
- ○Previous passport (if applicable)
- !1 recent passport-size photograph (3.5 x 4 cm)
Color, white background, facing forward, ICAO specifications. Note: 35x40mm — slightly different from typical Schengen 35x45mm.
- !Cover letter explaining details of visit
- !Passport with ≥1.5 year validity from submission date
Greece-specific Type D requirement (more stringent than Type C's 3-month rule).
- !Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) — apostilled by MEA
Affixed with MEA Apostille Sticker. Issued NOT more than 3 months before submission.
- !Apostilled birth certificate
- ○Apostilled marriage certificate (if applicable)
Educational Documents (apostilled, if study visa)
- ○Apostilled educational certificates
All certificates apostilled by MEA.
- ○Acceptance / admission letter from Greek institution
Sponsor / Purpose-Specific Documents
- ○Employment contract / job offer (Employment visa)
On Greek employer letterhead.
- ○Family relationship proof + Greek family member's residence proof (Family Reunification)
Travel & Accommodation
- !Proof of means of transport
Flight reservation of return / round ticket. If multi-Schengen trip: intra-Schengen flight, train, or car-rental proof.
- !Proof of lodging
Hotel reservations, holiday-home rental, or campus residence. Sponsorship/accommodation form from host if staying privately. If multi-state Schengen: lodging in EACH state.
- !Travel medical insurance — €30,000 minimum coverage
From Greek-Embassy-approved Indian insurer (post-01/10/2013). Covers repatriation + medical attention + emergency hospital. Diplomatic passport holders exempt.
Financial Documents
- !Original private bank statement — last 3 months
Duly stamped and signed by the bank.
- !Indian ITR for last 2 assessment years
Acknowledgement receipts.
- ○If employed — Last 3 months payslips + employment contract + employer's leave-approval letter
- ○If self-employed — Certificate of company registration
- ○If sponsored — Sponsor's national-form proof of accommodation/sponsorship + sponsor's bank/work/ITR
- ○If retired — Pension statements last 3 months + property/business income proof
! = mandatory · ○ = optional / if applicable
The journey.
9 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
Greek sponsor initiates the underlying permit
Your Greek employer / university / family member secures the relevant authorisation from Greek migration / labour authorities. This step happens entirely in Greece.
- 02
Receive Greek-side approval letter
Once approved, the Greek sponsor sends you the approval. This triggers the Indian-side paperwork.
- 03
Apostille all required documents (via MEA / VFS Attestation)
PCC, birth certificate, educational certificates, marriage certificate (where applicable) — all apostilled by MEA. PCC must be NOT older than 3 months at submission.
- 04
Confirm passport validity ≥1.5 years
Renew passport if needed before submission — Greece is strict on this.
- 05
Book GVCW appointment for Type D visa
Apply at GVCW (NOT VFS). Submit at GVCW Delhi when possible to avoid 5-day non-Delhi transit.
- 06
Submit at GVCW + pay fees
Attend in person with the Greek approval, all apostilled documents, passport with adequate validity, and INR fees. Diplomatic passport holders submit at the Embassy directly.
- 07
GVCW forwards to Embassy of Greece, New Delhi
GVCW Delhi forwards to Embassy. Non-Delhi GVCW centres add ~5 calendar days transit.
- 08
Wait for the decision
Type D timeline varies by sub-category. Once issued, the Type D entry visa is valid 90 days from issue — you must enter Greece within that window.
- 09
Apply for residence permit immediately on arrival in Greece
Type D holders MUST apply for a Greek residence permit at Greek migration authorities right after entry. Underlying permit (work / study / family) then takes effect.
What works
5 levers that flip a borderline case.
- Start MEA apostille paperwork the moment your Greek sponsor confirms — apostille turnarounds are 2–4 weeks.
- PCC validity is only 3 months at submission — time it carefully so it doesn't expire.
- Confirm passport ≥1.5 year validity BEFORE submission. Renew well in advance if needed.
- Family Reunification cases: get the Greek family member's residence permit copy attested in Greece if possible.
What kills cases
Top 3 refusal triggers we see.
- 1PCC expired (>3 months old) at submission
- 2Passport validity less than 1.5 years
- 3Educational documents not apostilled
Download Official Forms
Official forms are hosted by VFS Global — we don't host third-party forms ourselves, so you always get the latest version.
How to download from VFS:
- Click the form name below — opens VFS Switzerland page
- Select the visa category you're applying for (e.g. Tourist, Business, Student)
- Scroll down to the "Download Form" section at the bottom
- Click the PDF icon next to the form name → saves to your device
VFS Application Centres
Quiz not yet available for this visa type
We're actively building per-visa quizzes. For now, the best way to assess your eligibility for Greece Long-Term National D Visa (>90 days) — Informational is a free 1-on-1 consultation with our team.
Free · No obligation · Reply in minutesFrequently Asked Questions
How does the Greece Type D process work?+
Why does Greece require Apostille from MEA for PCC and educational docs?+
What's special about the passport requirement?+
Can SureshotVisa help with Greece Type D Long Stay?+
This page is for information only
SureshotVisa does not process this visa category. For other Greece visa types we can help with — Tourist, Visitor, Business, Student, or Family Reunification — see the related visa types below.
Other Greece Visa Types
Greece Tourist Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Apply for a Greece Tourist Visa (Schengen Type C) from India through GVCW (NOT VFS). Complete fees, document checklist, and processing guide for Indian travellers.
Greece Business Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Apply for a Greece Business Visa (Schengen Type C) from India through GVCW. For meetings, conferences, training, and business-related events. Apply via GVCW (not VFS).
Greece Visiting Family & Friends Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Greece Schengen visa for Indians visiting family or friends in Greece. Apply via GVCW (NOT VFS). Requires relationship proof and host invitation.
Greece Cultural Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Greece Schengen visa for Indians attending cultural events — performances, exhibitions, religious events, film crews. Apply via GVCW (not VFS).
Greece Sports Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Greece Schengen visa for Indians participating in sporting events in Greece. Apply via GVCW (not VFS). Requires event invitation + entry tickets / programmes.
Greece Official Delegation Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C) — Informational
Greece Schengen visa for members of official delegations. Initiated via the sending authority's note verbale. Submitted directly at the Embassy, not GVCW.
Greece Medical Treatment Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Greece Schengen visa for Indians travelling for medical treatment. Apply via GVCW. Requires Greek institution acceptance + pre-payment proof.
Greece Short-Term Study Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Greece Schengen visa for Indians attending short courses, research, or internships in Greece (≤90 days). Apply via GVCW (not VFS).
Source & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Greece website and Embassy of Greece. Last verified 2026-04-30. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.