Passport Details and Travel History in Greece: real experience from chats
Short answer
Ensure your internal passport is valid upon submission, though it may be replaced afterward if the foreign passport with the visa remains unchanged. For Greek visa applications, provide copies of visas and entry/exit stamps from the last three years along with all filled pages of your current valid passport.
From real experience
For Schengen visa applications, a valid internal passport is generally required at the time of submission.
It is often possible to replace your internal passport after the visa application is submitted and travel with a new internal passport along with your existing foreign passport that contains the visa. Ensure your internal passport is valid when you submit your application. If its expiry date has passed, your application may be rejected. Keep a copy of your old internal passport for potential future reference, especially if personal data has changed.
✓ 1 report from chats
When applying for a new visa, it may be beneficial to provide copies of previously held visas and entry stamps from an expired passport, especially if they are from the country of application (e.g., Greek visas for a Greek visa application).
While not always mandatory, visa application centers may request or accept these copies as supplementary documentation to demonstrate a history of legal travel. It is recommended to check the specific requirements of the visa application center, but having copies of relevant pages from an expired passport can be a prudent measure.
✓ 1 report from chats
While Greece currently accepts 5-year validity passports for Schengen visa applications, potential issues may arise at the border due to the new EES (Entry/Exit System).
Some travelers have reported successful entry with these passports, but it is not guaranteed. It is advisable to consider using a newer passport if possible to mitigate potential entry complications.
✓ 1 report from chats
For Greek Schengen visa applications, only copies of visas and entry/exit stamps for the last 3 years are required.
Photocopies of older artifacts in previous passports are not necessary. However, all filled pages of the current valid passport must be photocopied.
✓ 1 report from chats
Biometrics (fingerprints and facial photos) are always collected for visa applications, even if a person has obtained visas multiple times.