When does a Golden Visa start legally covering our stay in Greece?

If I enter Greece on a Schengen visa and then apply for a Golden Visa, does that application give me the right to overstay the Schengen visa’s duration? Will me and my family fall out of status and become illegal by the time the process is completed if we’re on a 30-day visa only?

Answers

On September 06, 2022 Mary Tsiganou answered:

The immigration authorities receiving the application will issue a confirmation that the application has been submitted, provided that all the necessary documentation has been submitted with the application. This confirmation (Blue Card) is valid for one year and it constitutes an evidencing document until the residence permit is issued. Under this document, you are legal in the country, no need for a valid Schengen Visa. The applicant and his family members are not affected by the duration of the processing time of their application, from the moment the application is submitted to the relevant authorities until the issuing of a decision by the Secretary General of the Decentralized Authority regarding their residence permit. (The estimated period won’t usually exceed one month.)

Magazine Sign Up

Sign up to receive a free copy of our industry leading global immigration magazine

Become a Verified Member

Join our the global immigration community

join for free

Programs by Country

Europe
Caribbean
Asia
MENA
Australasia
North America