Entry Procedures

Greece is part of the Schengen Area. Many nationalities can visit visa-free for short tourism stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, but this depends on your nationality and rules can change. The EU also plans to introduce ETIAS pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers. Always confirm the current requirements for your passport with an official source before you travel.

For Schengen entry, non-EU passports generally need to be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure and issued within the previous 10 years. EU and EEA nationals can travel with a valid passport or national ID card. Check that your passport is undamaged and has blank pages. Rules vary by nationality, so confirm the exact conditions officially before you travel.

Border officers may ask non-EU visitors for proof of onward or return travel, accommodation bookings, sufficient funds and travel insurance. Having these ready speeds up entry. Keep printed or digital copies of your hotel reservation, return ticket and insurance. Requirements are usually light for tourists, but be prepared to show your plans if asked.

If you enter or leave the EU carrying cash of 10,000 euros or more, or the equivalent in other currencies, you must declare it to customs. This includes banknotes, coins and easily convertible instruments such as cheques. Travel within the Schengen Area is not usually checked, but keep proof of the source of large sums. Declaring is free; failing to declare can lead to fines.

For non-EU arrivals, duty-free allowances apply to tobacco, alcohol and gifts up to set value limits; typical limits are 200 cigarettes and one litre of spirits per adult. Travellers coming from another EU country move goods freely for personal use. Keep receipts for valuable electronics. Exceeding allowances means declaring goods and paying duty, so check current limits before you fly.

Carry personal medication in original packaging with a copy of your prescription, ideally in English. Some medicines that are routine at home, especially strong painkillers and certain psychotropics, may be controlled in Greece, so check before you travel and bring a doctor's letter. Pharmacies are widespread and well stocked, marked by a green cross, and pharmacists can advise on common ailments.

No special vaccinations are required to enter Greece for most travellers. Health authorities suggest being up to date on routine vaccines such as MMR, tetanus and seasonal flu, and some recommend hepatitis A depending on your plans. There is no malaria risk for typical tourism. Check the latest advice from your doctor or a travel clinic well before departure.

On arrival from outside the Schengen Area, follow signs to passport control, where officers check your passport and may ask brief questions about your stay. EU, EEA and Swiss nationals use dedicated lanes. Flights arriving from within Schengen usually have no passport check. A new EU Entry/Exit System is being rolled out, which may add fingerprint and photo steps for non-EU visitors, so allow extra time.

Arrive at the airport with time to spare in the busy summer season, and if you are island-hopping, note that ferries leave from Piraeus and other ports rather than the airport. Keep digital and paper copies of bookings, carry a little cash for small islands and kiosks, and download offline maps. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, and a few Greek greetings are always appreciated.