Hello there:) I know its been a while since I last updated, in this post I'm going to share about my Greece Visa Application which I've promised before. As some of you might have known this coming October I'm going to visit Greece, Santorini and Athens to be exact. Its like a dream come true to finally visit this country because it has been on my wishlist for the longest time. I've always believed what I could dream or hope for will finally come true some day but it has never crossed my mind that God is able to make my dream come true so quickly. Some might say it was luck but I say I'm just blessed by His overflowing Grace.
Now to the point of this post which is about the visa application, I don't know about you guys but for me visa application is always something that makes my heart beat a little faster. I always have this odd, uncomfortable feeling when it comes to visa application, you know all the terrifying ideas of rejection just never cease to exit my mind especially when the information available online is very little regarding Greece visa application thus making me worry even more. However it's just me being me, I try not to focus so much on it and just go with the flow. The good news is this time I'll be traveling together with a group in a tour sponsored by Heavenly Blush Company after wining their Greek Secret Trip competition. Usually when it comes to visa application if you have a credible sponsor your visa is most likely to be excepted but since this is my first time going to an EU Schengen region so I still feel uneasy about it at first but yeah long story short my visa is accepted and now I'm preparing my luggage for my trip which is coming up real soon (if you're reading this most likely I'm on the plane to Greece now that was the initial plan but somehow things don't turn out that way so now I'm back in town already). Okay enough of the ranting :) let's move on to the important things you need to prepare when you're planning to get a Greece visa too.
A uniform Schengen visa allows the holder a stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, and it is valid within the territory of the following countries:
Greece, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland (Schengen Area)
Before my visa application I did a little research online regarding the things I need to prepare for my Greece visa application for Indonesian passport holder but the information I got was very little. However if you check their embassy website you'll find a whole page regarding the documents you need to prepare such as:
To apply for a visa you shall submit:
1. Visa application form completed and signed. You may complete your application form in the following languages (Greek or English).
2. Passport, with at least two blank pages. The passport shall have been issued within the previous ten years. The passport shall be valid for at least three months after the intended date of your departure from the Schengen area or, in the case of multiple trips, until the date on which you plan to depart after your final stay. Do include your previous passport if any.
3. A recent photograph 3,5 x 4,5cm white background, 80% face, newest, nice and clear
4. Foto copy KTP, KK, Birth certificate and Marriage certificate for those who are married.
5. For school age children do include certificate from school and student ID.
6. Sponsor letter from work place/ office you are working explaining clearly about your name, passport number, position, purpose of visit, and information on costs. [ Being a content creator I consider myself a freelance thus for freelancer like myself I do create a sponsor letter explaining everything needed but asked my parents to sign the letter because it's not possible for us to write and sign our own sponsor letter]
7. Personal account / savings account for the last 3 months and legalize from bank
8. Attend interview at the Greece Embassy for biometric purpose. Fingerprints. The applicant’s fingerprints shall be collected if they have not been registered in the VIS within the previous 59 months, during a previous lodging of a Schengen visa application. Certain categories of applicants are exempt from this obligation.
9. Visa fee of 60 EUROS
10. Travel medical insurance confirmation of minimum 30,000 € coverage within Greece and the entire Schengen area (This is what I heard was required but since all the expenses of my trip is covered I don't really know the details about this matter but you could possibly as the embassy more details on it.)
10. Travel medical insurance confirmation of minimum 30,000 € coverage within Greece and the entire Schengen area (This is what I heard was required but since all the expenses of my trip is covered I don't really know the details about this matter but you could possibly as the embassy more details on it.)
Although this time all my expenses are covered by Heavenly blush company but we're obliged to comply and fulfill all the requirements above for the visa application. After weeks of uncertainty when we'll get our interview scheduled finally on Tuesday, 28 Aug 2018 I secured my interview slot. Wondering how it would turn out I came 30 mins earlier before my interview appointment just to avoid being late. A day before the interview I have a lot in mind wondering how things would turn out because to be honest that was my first time having to take up an interview for my visa application but yeah, feeling excited and anxious on one side once its time for my interview I just went with the flow. Do you know what all the scenarios that pop in my head about the interview was shattered and it wasn't as scary as I thought, the process was super quick. I hardly remember the interviewer asking anything in particular, all she asked was how long I'm planning to stay and then we continued with the biometric. It took about 10-15 mins and I'm done !! Worrying indeed do you no good, so don't worry too much people... I asked how long will the process for my visa application be approved she said the process take up to 14 days so right after finishing my interview all I have to do left is wait for news whether my visa is accepted or not. Right on 7 Sept 2018 I got the news that my visa is approved !!! So my whole process only take up 8 working days :)
Another insight I heard from those who are also applying their Greece visa is that you'll need to have a clear itinerary, airplane tickets and hotel too during your stay. These information must be given when applying your visa. Hope this post is helpful for those who'd like to apply a Schengen visa for Greece. After all the process of butterflies in my tummy finally I can step foot into a nation I've been wanting to visit. Can't wait to explore and tick it off the my bucket list. For those reading this and in about to apply your Schengen visa I wish you tons of luck and I personally feel if you're someone you travel often and has the amount needed in your bank account to finance your whole trip your visa application will most probably be approved. Thank you for reading!
Love, Stevie
