This section provides comprehensive information about the Schengen visa for foreign nationals who wish to travel to Greece and thereby enter the Schengen Area. Here, you can find details on visa requirements based on the country of origin, a list of Greek or foreign authorities responsible for issuing visas outside Greece, and the overall visa application process. Additionally, explanations about different types of Schengen visas, the legal and institutional framework of the Schengen Area (including regulations on Schengen border control), and operational guidelines related to Schengen visa issuance are provided.
Schengen Acquis
The Schengen Acquis consists of a set of laws and policies under the European Union framework, designed to eliminate internal border controls within the Schengen Area while enforcing stricter supervision at its external borders.
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area allows free travel among 26 European countries, covering a population of over 400 million. Among them, 22 are EU member states, including Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden. Additionally, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are also part of this area.
With the removal of internal border controls, these countries:
- No longer have border checkpoints at their shared borders.
- Apply a unified and coordinated supervision at their external borders (borders with non-Schengen countries).
As a result, EU citizens and third-country nationals can travel freely within this area, facing border controls only upon entry or exit from the Schengen Zone.
In contrast, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania, despite being EU members, have not yet joined the Schengen Area. Therefore, flights from these countries to a Schengen destination are considered international flights and are subject to border checks.
New Visa Information System (VIS)
The Visa Information System (VIS) is a shared database among Schengen countries designed for exchanging visa-related information. This system is a cornerstone of the EU’s common visa policy and plays a crucial role in enhancing security, facilitating travel, and improving visa-related processes.
VIS has been implemented to simplify the visa application process, facilitate border controls, and enhance security. It enables the rapid exchange of information among member states, prevents abuses such as "visa shopping," and helps identify cases of fraud and security threats.