This May Be of Interest To Visitors to Spain.

[John_Silver]

. The problem is that the vast majority of people do not meet the criteria, primarily financial.

….whereas with a tourist visa, the financial hoops are less onerous and more could pass through them…..

 

[Riggy]

I can only assume that the funds aspect is being handled with a light touch - I'm sure that the Daily Wail would be very exercised on the subject if someone had actually had a problem.

This is eactly what it is about as others have testified in this thread. It's a safety net for penniless undesirables entering the country.

 

[billskip]

This is eactly what it is about as others have testified in this thread. It's a safety net for penniless undesirables entering the country.

Also there doesnt seem any obligation to actually spend any money.
I remember years ago I had to have papers in my passport issued by the bank for the exchanged currency I was taking,also I had to spend a minimum each day and show receipts on exit.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

To my knowledge, all Schengen countries offer 6 month / long term visas. The problem is that the vast majority of people do not meet the criteria, primarily financial.

How do I get a 6 month visa for tourism purposes for Greece for example? What income or savings do I need?

 

[Ningaloo]

To my knowledge, all Schengen countries offer 6 month / long term visas. The problem is that the vast majority of people do not meet the criteria, primarily financial.

Can you provide a link for this for Italy please. Just tourist visa, not residency.
I don't believe any Mediterranean Schengen countries other than France offer this. I'm confident I can meet any financial requirements.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

How do I get a 6 month visa for tourism purposes for Greece for example? What income or savings do I need?

The best way is to contact the relevant Embassy, however, getting to talk to them on the phone or even making an appointment to visit, is almost impossible as all appointments are taken months ahead (in the case of the Greek embassy all appointments have been taken until Dec 2022 as people are queuing to get Greek passports if they have Greek ancestry and extended visas; I understand same thing applies for a number of other euro embassies). There is isolation and total chaos at present and there is only one man responsible for this. Going sailing to Europe for the permissible 3 months for some is enough but for others is impossible as it takes almost a month to sail to the Med to start with.
In terms of income and savings one has to prove that he has enough money or monthly income; I think the requirement is £40 per day for spent and proof of accommodation or additional money for hotel; so the total is in the region of minimum £100 per day, £3000 per month. Also, there is a need to have medical insurance cover. There is info on www.schengenvisainfo.com.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

There is info on www.schengenvisainfo.com.

That's just standard Schengen visa stuff which Brits don't need. I have not been able to find any visa on the Greek government website which allows tourism beyond the standard 90/180 which the French tourist visa allows.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

That's just standard Schengen visa stuff which Brits don't need. I have not been able to find any visa on the Greek government website which allows tourism beyond the standard 90/180 which the French tourist visa allows.

Applying for a Greece Schengen Visa in the UK - Greece Visa Information

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I don't believe any Mediterranean Schengen countries other than France offer this. I'm confident I can meet any financial requirements.

Neither do I. Residency is no good if you want to take a non EU VAT paid boat as residents can't use the Temporary Admission scheme.

 

[mjcoon]

I remember years ago I had to have papers in my passport issued by the bank for the exchanged currency I was taking,also I had to spend a minimum each day and show receipts on exit.

I remember that too, though I had not remembered it applied as late as 1979, as in photo. But although my 1980 passport still has the Exchange Control Act page, there aren't any entries!

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I remember that too, though I had not remembered it applied as late as 1979, as in photo. But although my 1980 passport still has the Exchange Control Act page, there aren't any entries!
View attachment 139501

Paradoxically, governments at that time placed a limit on the amount of currency that one could take out of a country, and perhaps still do.

 

[st599]

Applying for a Greece Schengen Visa in the UK - Greece Visa Information

The only tourist style visa on the Greek embassy website requires a letter from your family in Greece and is to allow a long visit.

 

[MoodySabre]

This was the Express so it must be official.

 

[st599]

Paradoxically, governments at that time placed a limit on the amount of currency that one could take out of a country, and perhaps still do.

Still have to declare if your group is carrying more than £10k.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Applying for a Greece Schengen Visa in the UK - Greece Visa Information

And that's still a standard Schengen 90/180 visa. It says on that page that anyone who wants to stay for more than 90 days needs to apply for residency, and not a Schengen visa. I'm still not convinced that it's possible to get a tourist visa for any countries other than Sweden or France without becoming a resident.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

And that's still a standard Schengen 90/180 visa. It says on that page that anyone who wants to stay for more than 90 days needs to apply for residency, and not a Schengen visa. I'm still not convinced that it's possible to get a tourist visa for any countries other than Sweden or France without becoming a resident.

If one is serious about staying in a Schengen country for more than 3 months they should contact the relevant embassy to make specific arrangements for an extended visa.

 

[mjcoon]

Paradoxically, governments at that time placed a limit on the amount of currency that one could take out of a country, and perhaps still do.

Ah, yes, true; nothing really to do with "penniless undesirables", except perhaps creating them!

 

[AngusMcDoon]

.

 

[st599]

If one is serious about staying in a Schengen country for more than 3 months they should contact the relevant embassy to make specific arrangements for an extended visa.

Indeed, but only if there's a suitable visa. If you want to go for tourist reasons, then most don't have a relevant visa.

 

[capnsensible]

It's what you voted for......