Best Business Visa Lawyers in Thivais

About Business Visa Law in Thivais, Greece

Greece is part of the Schengen Area, so short-stay business travel to Thivais and the wider region is regulated by the EU Schengen rules. Most non-EU and non-EEA nationals who are not visa-exempt need a Uniform Schengen Visa, often called a type C visa, for business purposes. This visa generally permits stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period and allows travel throughout the Schengen Zone, including Greece. Typical business activities include attending meetings, negotiating contracts, participating in trade fairs, and short training that does not amount to productive employment in Greece.

For longer or more complex business activity, Greece issues national long-stay visas, called type D visas, under the Greek Migration Code. These include visas and corresponding residence permits for investors, company executives, intra-company transferees, startup founders, and other categories that may involve paid work in Greece. Separate residence options exist for investors under the Greek investment residence program often referred to as the Golden Visa, as well as for highly skilled workers and managers. Your correct path depends on the nature and duration of your business activity and your nationality.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

You may need a lawyer to determine the correct visa route. Business meetings for a few days may only require a Schengen business visa or even visa-free travel, while project work, paid employment in Greece, or company establishment usually require a type D visa and a residence permit. Getting this wrong can lead to refusals or entry denial at the border.

Document preparation is often complex. You may need an invitation letter from a Greek business, proof of corporate registration, contracts, detailed itineraries, proof of funds, and travel insurance. Many documents issued abroad must be legalized with an apostille or consular legalization and officially translated into Greek. A lawyer can coordinate legalization and certified translations so that your file meets Greek and EU standards.

A lawyer is valuable when timing is tight. Schengen processing usually takes around 15 calendar days, but it can be longer in busy seasons or if additional checks are needed. Type D visas and residence permits take longer and involve Greek authorities after you enter. Legal guidance helps sequence steps correctly and avoid status gaps.

If you have previous refusals, overstays, criminal record entries, or name mismatches, a lawyer can assess risks, prepare explanations, and suggest whether to reapply or appeal. Appeals against visa refusals and certain administrative decisions in Greece follow formal procedures and deadlines that lawyers handle routinely.

For investors and founders, legal support is often essential for company formation, tax numbers, banking compliance, source-of-funds documentation, notarial acts, and real estate due diligence. Greek investment thresholds and rules change from time to time, so counsel helps ensure you meet current requirements.

Local Laws Overview

Short-stay business travel follows the EU Visa Code, the Schengen Borders Code, and national instructions implemented by Greek consulates. The 90-180 day rule applies to all Schengen territory. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned exit date and usually must have at least 2 blank pages. If you require a visa, you apply in your country of residence to the Greek consulate or an authorized visa center. Biometric data are collected unless you are exempt or your fingerprints are already recorded in the EU Visa Information System within the last 59 months.

Permitted business visitor activities include attending meetings, conferences, trade fairs, and negotiations. Business visitors cannot perform local productive work for a Greek employer, take up local employment, or provide services that require a work authorization. Payment from a foreign employer is generally acceptable, but local payroll is not. If your activities exceed the business visitor scope, you will likely need a type D visa and a Greek residence permit that authorizes work.

Long-stay categories are governed by the Greek Migration Code and related ministerial decisions. Common business-related routes include executives and managers of Greek entities, intra-company transferees under EU rules, highly skilled professionals with specific qualifications, startup founders with evaluated business plans, and investors acquiring real estate or other qualifying assets. Golden Visa rules, including minimum investment thresholds and restrictions on short-term rentals or property size, have been updated in recent years. Thresholds and eligible assets can vary by location and may change, so verify current criteria before committing funds.

Evidence rules are strict. Documents issued abroad often require apostille or consular legalization and must be translated into Greek by certified translators or Greek lawyers. Consulates and Greek authorities can ask for proof of accommodation, round-trip bookings, travel insurance with a minimum of 30,000 euros in medical coverage valid across Schengen, proof of funds, an invitation letter that identifies the Greek host company and the purpose of the visit, and proof of business ties such as employment letters and company registration extracts.

If you enter Greece on a type D visa, you generally must apply for the relevant residence permit within a set period after entry, commonly within 30 days. Applications are filed with the competent Aliens and Immigration Directorate of the Decentralized Administration that covers the region where you will reside or conduct business, which includes the regional authority for Central Greece for persons based near Thivais. Appointments, biometrics, and additional documentation are required. While short-stay visitors do not register locally, they must carry proof of lawful stay and comply with Schengen travel limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Schengen business visa and a Greek type D business visa

A Schengen business visa type C is for short stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period for activities like meetings and conferences. A Greek type D visa is for long stays and leads to a residence permit that can authorize work, executive roles, founding a company, or investment. The correct category depends on what you plan to do and for how long.

Do I need a visa to attend meetings in Thivais if I hold a passport from a visa-exempt country

If your nationality is visa-exempt for Schengen short stays, you do not need a Schengen visa for business meetings up to 90 days in any 180-day period. You must still meet entry conditions, including proof of purpose, sufficient funds, accommodation, and travel insurance. Always check current visa-exempt lists before traveling.

Can I work for a Greek employer on a business visa

No. A business visitor may attend meetings, negotiate contracts, and visit sites, but cannot perform productive work for a Greek employer or be placed on Greek payroll. If you need to work in Greece, you should apply for the appropriate type D visa and residence permit that authorizes employment.

How long does a Schengen business visa take to process

Processing is commonly around 15 calendar days from the date the consulate accepts your application, but it can be up to 45 days during busy periods or if additional checks are needed. Apply early and provide complete, well-organized documentation.

What documents are typically required for a Schengen business visa for Greece

You will usually need a valid passport, completed application, recent photos, travel medical insurance with at least 30,000 euros coverage valid across Schengen, proof of accommodation and transport, proof of funds, an invitation letter from the Greek business partner with contact and company details, and proof of your employment or business status at home. Additional documents may be requested based on your case.

Can I convert a Schengen business visa to a residence permit after I arrive in Greece

Generally no. Conversion from a short-stay visa to a residence permit is not allowed in most cases. If you intend to live or work in Greece, you should obtain the appropriate type D visa before travel and then apply for your residence permit inside Greece within the legal timeframe.

Is multiple-entry allowed on a Schengen business visa

Yes, consulates can issue single-entry or multiple-entry visas. Multiple-entry visas are common for frequent business travelers who meet the criteria. You must still respect the 90-180 day rule and the purpose-of-stay limits.

Can I travel to other Schengen countries on a Greek business visa

Yes. A Uniform Schengen Visa allows travel throughout the Schengen Area during its validity, subject to the overall 90-180 day rule and the purpose-of-stay conditions. Your main destination or the country of first entry for your primary purpose should be Greece if you apply to a Greek consulate.

What happens if my visa is refused

You will receive a refusal notice with reasons and information on appeal rights and deadlines. You can appeal through the procedures specified by the Greek authorities or reapply with stronger evidence. A lawyer can advise on which path is more effective, prepare submissions, and address the refusal grounds.

What should investors and founders know about business immigration to Greece

Investors and founders usually proceed under type D visa categories tied to investment, executive roles, or innovative business activity, and then apply for residence permits. Rules for the Golden Visa and other business routes include minimum investment thresholds, documentation of lawful funds, and restrictions that may vary by region and asset type. Requirements change periodically, so obtain current legal advice before making commitments.

Additional Resources

Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs for consular and visa filing procedures and where to apply in your country of residence.

Ministry of Migration and Asylum for long-stay visas, residence permits, investor and business categories, and application portals.

Decentralized Administration Aliens and Immigration Directorates for in-country residence permit processing for the Central Greece region that covers areas near Thivais.

Hellenic Police immigration units for entry and stay compliance matters and Schengen entry checks.

Enterprise promotion agencies and investment bodies in Greece that publish guidance on establishing companies, investing, and regulatory steps for foreign investors.

Local chambers of commerce in the Boeotia and Central Greece region for business networking, trade fairs, and support services that can help substantiate the purpose of your visit.

Next Steps

Start by confirming whether you are visa-exempt for short-stay business travel to Schengen. If you need a visa, decide whether a short-stay business visa will cover your activities or if you require a long-stay type D visa and a residence permit. Clarify your planned activities, duration, and whether any work authorization is needed. Gather core documents, including an invitation letter from the Greek host, proof of accommodation and transport, travel medical insurance, proof of funds, and evidence of your employment or business. Arrange legalization and certified translations where required.

If you plan to invest, establish a company, or take an executive role in Greece, seek legal advice early. Counsel can map the correct category, confirm current thresholds or salary and qualification criteria, coordinate corporate formation, tax numbers, banking onboarding, and notarial steps, and prepare a compliant application strategy with realistic timelines. For Schengen visas, book an appointment at the Greek consulate or authorized visa center that has jurisdiction over your residence, submit a complete file, and track processing. For type D visas and residence permits, schedule post-arrival steps promptly to meet deadlines in Greece.

Keep copies of all submissions and approvals, monitor your 90-180 day calculations for Schengen travel, and carry documentation that supports the business purpose of your trip when crossing the border. If you receive a refusal or encounter complications, contact a qualified immigration lawyer who practices in Greece or collaborates with local counsel near Thivais to evaluate options, prepare appeals or reapplications, and protect your travel plans.