GoGreece Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

Greece is a member of the Schengen Agreement. Chinese mainland residents holding private passports are required to obtain visas in advance when traveling to Greece. The consular areas of the Greek Embassy in China are Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei Province, Shanxi Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Liaoning Province, Jilin Province, Heilongjiang Province, Henan Province, Chongqing City, Sichuan Province, Xizang Autonomous Region, Shaanxi Province, Gansu Province, Qinghai Province, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Shandong Province. The consular areas of the Greek Consulate General in Shanghai are Shanghai, Shandong Province, Jiangsu Province, Anhui Province, Zhejiang Province and Jiangxi Province. The consular areas of the Greek Consulate General in Guangzhou are Guangdong Province, Fujian Province, Hainan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Private ordinary passport holders can apply for visas at the nearest visa application center in the corresponding consular area of their registered residence or permanent residence. Chinese citizens holding Hong Kong or Macau SAR passports are eligible for visa free entry into Greece, with a stay period of three months. Please refer to the address of the visa center: https://cn-gr.gvcworld.eu/cn/xuan-ze-ni-de-wei-zhi-bei-jing-ling-qu-nei-de-qian-zheng-shen-qing-zhong-xin

The Embassy in Greece reminds all third country investors and buyers of Greek real estate who obtain a residence application confirmation letter on the front line of entry into Greece must apply for a Schengen visa for their first entry into Greece. If a person traveling to Greece has a Greek entry and exit record after January 1, 2022, they can enter Greece with a valid residence application confirmation letter. Please carefully check and ensure that you hold a valid visa or residence permit before boarding your flight to Greece, in order to avoid unnecessary losses to your itinerary and ticket.

Chinese citizens entering Greece are generally not allowed to apply for visa extensions by local authorities. If there are indeed urgent situations such as urgent medical treatment, litigation, etc. that require an extended stay, an online application should be submitted 20 working days before the visa expires（ https://www.gov.gr/en/ipiresies/polites-kai-kathemerinoteta/polites-allon-kraton/paratase-khronou-brakheias-diamones-allodapon-upekoon-trites-khoras ）The preliminary review results will be notified to the applicant via SMS. To apply for visa extension, it is necessary to ensure a minimum of 50 euros per person per day for living expenses. For detailed information, please visit the provincial police stations directly or send an email to dps-portal@astynomia.gr consulting service

Customs epidemic prevention and control

If carrying cash exceeding 10000 euros (or equivalent in other currencies), it should be declared. Failure to declare in accordance with regulations or insufficient declaration may result in administrative fines or seizure of all undeclared cash. Non EU citizens are allowed to import tobacco and alcohol into Greece tax-free, with a limit of 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco; 4 liters of wine and 16 liters of beer, plus 1 liter of high proof alcohol (above 22 degrees) or 1 liter of unmodified alcohol (above 80 degrees) or 2 liters of wine (below 22 degrees). In addition, the restrictions on exporting antiques from Greece are very strict, and one must hold an approval document issued by the relevant management department of the Greek Ministry of Culture.

Individuals entering for immigration purposes should apply for a Class D long-term visa from the Greek embassy or consulate abroad, and submit a residence application to the municipal agency in their place of residence before the visa expires upon entry. The main types of residency in Greece include: employee residency, investment residency, special residency (such as study, vocational training, scholar exchange, adult children of resident diplomats, etc.), family reunion residency, long-term residency, etc.

Residency and Naturalization

Adults who have been legally residing in Greece for more than 7 years or have children who have been married to Greek citizens and have resided in Greece for more than 3 years, have no criminal record in the past 10 years, speak Greek, and provide documents of participation in Greek economic and social life, can apply for citizenship. After submitting the naturalization application, the naturalization committee will determine whether the conditions for naturalization are met. If the application is rejected, it can only be resubmitted after one year.  

In April 2013, the Greek government launched the "Buy a House and Get a Residence" policy for non EU citizens in order to attract foreign investment and stimulate the real estate market. The specific content is: If a non EU resident owns or plans to own real estate worth no less than 250000 euros in Greece, or has signed a lease contract for a hotel style apartment or vacation apartment for at least 10 years, with a total rent of no less than 250000 euros, they can apply for a 5-year Greek residence permit together with their spouse and underage children. After 5 years, as long as the buyer still owns or continues to lease the property, the residence permit can be extended for another 5 years with no limit on the number of updates. Buyers holding this type of residence permit can stay in other Schengen countries for up to 3 months every 6 months. But neither the buyer nor their spouse or children are allowed to work in Greece, nor can they apply for Greek citizenship. They can enjoy public education, but not public healthcare. In August 2023, the Greek government implemented a new policy, officially doubling the investment threshold for certain areas such as central, northern, southern Athens, Thessaloniki, and Santorini from 250000 euros to 500000 euros. Starting from September 1, 2024, the new Greek Golden Visa policy will officially come into effect, with the government setting three different investment thresholds of 800000 euros, 400000 euros, and 250000 euros based on region and property type.

Greece's risk level is blue (low risk)

public security

Greece is one of the countries with relatively good public security in Europe, with few criminal offenses and friendly people towards Chinese people. Theft is very common in tourist areas, especially in the vicinity of tourist attractions such as Constitution Square, Monastiraki Square, Concorde Square, and Acropolis in the center of Athens, as well as public places such as buses, subways, and airports. Tourists must pay attention to protecting their property and documents, and carry their bags in front of them when taking public transportation. Thief gangs often commit crimes in groups, systematically distracting tourists' attention. Please do not put all valuable items together, keep the bags storing valuable items out of sight, store documents and cash separately, and try to carry as little cash as possible. Please prepare several photos and copies of identification documents for future reference.

Strikes, protests, and demonstrations have occurred in Greece, mainly in the Constitution Square, Omonia Square, Embassy District, Aristotle Square in Thessaloniki, and around various universities in the center of Athens. The above activities usually occur on May 1st, November 17th, and December 6th. Tourists are advised to avoid sensitive dates when making travel plans. If there are protests or demonstrations, please stay away from the crowds and keep a low profile.

In addition, the local speed is fast, there are many motorcycles, and the roads are curved, narrow, and have many one-way streets. Tourists should pay attention to traffic safety.

natural disaster

Greece is prone to multiple earthquakes, but the magnitude is not high. Tourists do not need to panic, but should understand basic earthquake prevention and first aid knowledge.  

Greece experiences heavy rainfall and storms during the transition between spring and summer, with frequent flooding in the central and mountainous regions. Summer is hot and dry with frequent strong winds, and forest fires occur every year. In addition to strengthening safety awareness, tourists should also avoid activities that may cause fires. In recent years, Greece has experienced frequent winter snow disasters. Tourists are advised to pay attention to cold and anti slip measures, and avoid driving or taking public transportation as much as possible under adverse weather conditions.

For disaster warning and specific protection guidelines, please refer to the website of the Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Defense: https://civilprotection.gov.gr/ Extreme weather and fire incidents will be alerted through mobile phones.

FDA

The food hygiene situation in Greece is good, but the water quality is relatively hard, especially on islands. It is recommended to drink bottled water.

Urgent Help

Emergency rescue: 112

Police station: 100

Tourist police 24-hour service hotline: 1571

Fire alarm: 199

Ambulance: 166

First aid: 1056

Consular Protection Hotline of the Embassy in Greece: 0030-2160336690

air traffic

China International Airlines and Juneyao Airlines have opened direct flights between Beijing and Athens, as well as Shanghai and Athens. Air China Athens Airport phone number 0030-2107220630, Juneyao Airlines customer service phone number 0086-21-95520. Passengers can take airport buses, light rail, or taxis to and from Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport in Athens. The cost of taking a taxi from the airport to the city center is approximately 45 euros. The airport website is http://www.aia.gr The 24-hour hotline is 210-3530000. The largest airline in Greece is Aegean Airlines.  

The domestic routes of Greek airlines extend radially from Athens to nearly 30 cities, the Aegean Sea, and the Ionian Islands. Geographically speaking, Athens is located in the center of Greece, and it takes about an hour to fly anywhere.

land transport

Greek vehicles drive on the right, with a well-developed road network and short distances between major cities. There are railway connections between major cities. There are car rental companies in various parts of Greece, but renters need to hold a driver's license from an EU country or a relevant EU recognized country (such as the United States, Canada, etc.). Chinese tourists who do not have a permanent residence in Greece and have traveled for less than 6 months can drive with a Chinese driver's license and a Greek or English translation translated by a qualified domestic translation agency.

water communication

Greece has numerous islands throughout its territory, and one can cruise around each island by boat. There are several ports near Athens, the largest of which is Piraeus Port, where you can take ferries to destinations such as Crete, Rhodes, and the Cyclades Islands. The operating routes of Greek ships may vary depending on the season. During the peak tourist season from June to September, inhabited islands are visited by at least one boat per week. Popular tourist island, with several ferries departing from Athens every day. October to April is the off-season for tourism, with a significant reduction in the number of routes and flights. Ship tickets can be obtained at https://www.ferriesingreece.com/ Purchase on websites or at port ticket counters and various travel agencies.

Urban transportation

There are public transportation options such as buses and subways in Athens, and tickets can be purchased at subway stations and designated ticket counters. After boarding, it is necessary to promptly obtain a ticket, otherwise a fine of 60 times the ticket price may be imposed. The urban public transportation management agency is OASA, and the mobile application OASA Telematics can be downloaded to view bus stops and real-time movements. The bus service hotline is 185.

major city

Athens

The capital of Greece, Athens, is located in the southeast of Greece, surrounded by mountains on three sides and extending southwest towards the Bay of St. Menelaus in the Aegean Sea. The city of Athens (including its suburbs and the port of Piraeus) has a population of over 3.8 million and is the political, economic, and cultural center of Greece. The city was built in the 8th century BC and has a history of 5000 years. According to Greek mythology, the name of Athens is derived from its patron goddess, Athena, the goddess of wisdom. The 5th century BC entered a period of political, cultural, and artistic prosperity, giving rise to a group of famous philosophers, historians, sculptors, and playwrights. After the 2nd century BC, it was under foreign rule for a long time. It was designated as the capital in 1834. There are many ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine monuments in the city.

Thessaloniki

The second largest city in Greece and the gateway to northern Greece, it is not only an excellent port but also a center for industry, commerce, politics, culture, and education, with a population of approximately 800000. Thessaloniki was once the second largest city after Constantinople during the Byzantine era (around the mid-4th century to the 15th century), with several well preserved Byzantine ruins within the city.

Commodity prices

Greece has sufficient supply of daily necessities, but the price level is relatively high. Greece uses the euro, and the exchange rate with the Chinese yuan is currently around 1: 7.85. Specialties include olive oil and various olive oil products, marble, cheese, yogurt, honey, seafood, frankincense, saffron, kiwifruit, anise wine, wine, etc. The main banks in Greece are National Bank, Alpha Bank, Piraeus Bank, etc. Most regular stores can use China's UnionPay card, VISA card, MASTER card, and some stores accept payment from Alipay.  

Except for the old town of Plaka in the city center, most Greek shops are closed on Sundays. The usual business hours on weekdays are: Monday and Wednesday: 9:00-15:00 for shops and 8:00-21:00 for supermarkets; Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: Store 9:00-15:00, 17:00-21:00, Supermarket 8:00-21:00, Saturday: Store 10:00-20:00, Supermarket 8:00-20:00.

Insurance Medical

Greek hospitals are divided into public and private types. Public hospitals offer free medical treatment, but the number of patients seeking treatment is relatively large and time-consuming. Private hospitals have higher service quality, but are more expensive. Outpatient services are usually provided in the morning, and only emergency rooms are open in the afternoon. Only duty hospitals and pharmacies are open on weekends. Please confirm the address in advance before seeking medical treatment to avoid delaying the condition. There is no pharmacy within the hospital.

The medical conditions on popular Greek tourist islands are poor. If you are injured or seriously ill while playing on the island, you must immediately transfer to big cities such as Athens for diagnosis and treatment.

Greek pharmacies can be seen everywhere, usually with green cross signs outside the store. Pharmacies usually provide drugs according to prescriptions, and the supply of drugs is sufficient. Tourists who bring their own drugs should pay attention to checking the drug labels, as the use of drugs containing cocaine is prohibited in Greece.

On duty hospital query: https://www.vrisko.gr/en/hospital-duties

On duty pharmacy inquiry: https://www.vrisko.gr/en/pharmacy-duties/

Customs taboos

Greeks often perform a handshake gesture when meeting guests in social situations, and a face to face gesture between familiar friends and relatives. Respect and give priority to elderly people.  

97.6% of Greeks believe in Eastern Orthodoxy, 1.3% believe in Muslims, 0.4% believe in Catholicism, and 0.1% believe in Protestantism. The worship ceremonies of various religions are protected by law, but they must not violate public order and moral norms. When visiting a church or monastery, one must dress appropriately. Regardless of gender, entering a church with bare shoulders and knees is considered disrespectful and blasphemous to God.  

Raise your head slightly upwards to deny. Open your fingers and palm to express insult to others. Taboos include "13", "Friday", and black cats.

Communications Power

The international telephone area code for Greece is 0030. Greece implements a real name system for mobile phone calls. If tourists want to purchase a SIM card for their mobile phone, they need to bring their passport to physical stores of telecommunications companies such as COSMOTE, VODAFON, or GERMANOS to purchase it, but they can also purchase a recharge card at newsstands. Large shopping malls, hotels, and cafes offer free Wi Fi.

The voltage in Greece is 220V, the frequency is 50Hz, and the power plug is a circular dual hole European standard socket. If using Chinese appliances, a conversion plug must be carried.

contact information

Greek directory inquiry hotline: 11880

Athens International Airport 24-hour hotline: 0030-210-3530000

Athens Public Transport Authority OASA Service Hotline: 111852102200999

Tourist police: one thousand five hundred and seventy-one

（4） Popular tourist cities' police stations, tourist service centers, and contact information

1、 Athens TOURISM POLICE DEPARTMENT ATHENS

Duty phone number: 1571, 2103222230

Address Dragatsaniou 4, Plateia Klafthmonos, Athens 10559 (Office hours: 7:30-22:00)

2、 Thessaloniki TOURISM POLICE DEPARTMENT THESSALONIKI

Duty phone number: 23105548712310554874

Address: Aristotelous 18, 54623, Thessaloniki

3、 Santorini TOURISM POLICE DEPARTMENT SANTORINI

Duty phone number: 22286022649, 2286027017 

Address: Karterados, Thira, 84700, Kyklades

4、 Crete Island Iraklion TOURISM POLICE DEPARTMENT IRAKLEIO (CRETE)

Duty phone number: 2810274040, two billion eight hundred and ten million two hundred and seventy-four thousand and forty-six

Address: Agiou Artemiou 1, N. Alikarnassos, 71601, Irakleio

5、 Harnia, Crete TOURISM POLICE DEPARTMENT CHANIA (CRETE)

Duty phone number: 2821025930

Address: Irakleiou Aveneu 23, 73100, Chania

6、 Mikonos TOURISM POLICE DEPARTMENT MYKONOS

Phone: 2289022482

Address: Airport Area, 84600, Mykonos

7、 Rhode Island TOURISM POLICE DEPARTMENT RHODES

Phone: 2241027423, two billion two hundred and forty-one million twenty-three thousand three hundred and twenty-nine

Address: Karpathou 1, 85100, Rhodes

8、 Zakynthos TOURISM POLICE DEPARTMENT ZAKYNTHOS

Phone: 2695024482, 2695024483， two billion six hundred and ninety-five million twenty-four thousand four hundred and eighty-four

Address: Lomvardou 62, 29100, Zakynthos

8、 POLICE DEPARTMENT CORFU

Phone: 2661029169, 2661029168

Address: Ioulias Andreadi 1, Kerkira 49100, Corfu