The Embassy of Greece in Beijing has formally announced that all Schengen visa applications falling under its consular jurisdiction must once again be submitted through six dedicated Visa Application Centers (VACs) in Beijing, Shenyang, Jinan, Chongqing, Chengdu and Xi’an. The network re-commences full operations from 24 February 2026, ending a two-year period during which applicants had to appear directly at the embassy due to pandemic-related staffing constraints and systems upgrades. For China-based business travellers, the change restores the “single-window” model that existed pre-pandemic: outsourced VACs collect fingerprints, fees and documentation, while short-listing files for embassy interview only when necessary. According to the Greek mission, appointment capacity will initially return to 80 percent of 2019 levels and scale up before the July–August peak. Importantly, applicants with travel planned within 15 days will receive priority slots, a new service tier that responds to complaints from Chinese tour operators about last-minute meeting invitations and cruise embarkations.
![Greece Re-opens Beijing Visa Application Centers, Streamlining Schengen Access for Chinese Travelers]()
For travelers who want professional assistance throughout this process, VisaHQ’s China portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) can manage everything from VAC appointment scheduling to document pre-screening and secure courier return of passports. Their experienced team covers Greece and all other Schengen countries, streamlining compliance for HR departments and individual applicants alike.
Corporates sending staff to EU headquarters will benefit in two ways. First, processing times are expected to fall back to the five-to-seven working-day norm, compared with up to three weeks last quarter. Second, the VACs can now courier passports to an applicant’s home or office anywhere in mainland China—critical for executives based outside Beijing. Human-resource managers should update internal mobility guidelines immediately and budget for the revised VAC service charges (RMB 235 handling fee plus RMB 105 logistics fee). The reopening also signals renewed momentum in Greece–China tourism cooperation. Greece has supported Beijing’s unilateral 30-day visa-free policy for EU nationals, and officials hinted that they are working on a reciprocal arrangement once Schengen rules allow. Travel analysts expect demand to spike for Piraeus port calls on China-origin cruise itineraries and for direct Athens flights operated by Air China and Juneyao Airlines. Practical tip: Companies should ensure staff create an account on the GVC World online portal before booking appointments; walk-ins are not accepted. Applicants must also present proof of inclusion in China’s Social Insurance System or a six-month bank statement to evidence ties. Those holding multi-year multiple-entry Schengen visas issued before 2020 may apply for renewal by mail without biometrics if prints are on file within 59 months.
For travelers who want professional assistance throughout this process, VisaHQ’s China portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) can manage everything from VAC appointment scheduling to document pre-screening and secure courier return of passports. Their experienced team covers Greece and all other Schengen countries, streamlining compliance for HR departments and individual applicants alike.
Corporates sending staff to EU headquarters will benefit in two ways. First, processing times are expected to fall back to the five-to-seven working-day norm, compared with up to three weeks last quarter. Second, the VACs can now courier passports to an applicant’s home or office anywhere in mainland China—critical for executives based outside Beijing. Human-resource managers should update internal mobility guidelines immediately and budget for the revised VAC service charges (RMB 235 handling fee plus RMB 105 logistics fee). The reopening also signals renewed momentum in Greece–China tourism cooperation. Greece has supported Beijing’s unilateral 30-day visa-free policy for EU nationals, and officials hinted that they are working on a reciprocal arrangement once Schengen rules allow. Travel analysts expect demand to spike for Piraeus port calls on China-origin cruise itineraries and for direct Athens flights operated by Air China and Juneyao Airlines. Practical tip: Companies should ensure staff create an account on the GVC World online portal before booking appointments; walk-ins are not accepted. Applicants must also present proof of inclusion in China’s Social Insurance System or a six-month bank statement to evidence ties. Those holding multi-year multiple-entry Schengen visas issued before 2020 may apply for renewal by mail without biometrics if prints are on file within 59 months.
