Practical Timelines in Greece: real experience from chats

Applications submitted in June for travel in August or September are feasible, but require patience. Status updates may appear after 50-60 days, with passport return following shortly after. While prior Schengen visas can be helpful, processing times can still fluctuate. Currently, visas are often issued for the specific travel dates with a short validity corridor (approximately one month).

A submission date of June 10th with visa issuance for a July 6th departure is positive. While VIP service doesn't speed up processing, a complete and well-documented application is key. Mentioning long travel distances from Russia and a desire to see two countries in a cover letter, while prioritizing Greece, can be beneficial. Sufficient funds (e.g., 300,000 RUB), bank transaction history, confirmed bookings, and paid tickets are crucial.

For example, a visa submitted on June 30th was issued with an entry date of July 10th and collected on July 14th, valid for 13 days with a 13-day corridor. A multi-country itinerary including Greece, Italy, and France was approved.

The visas issued corresponded to the travel dates, and the applicants had clean passport records.