Overview of Visa for Greece and Customs Information

IMMIGRATION AND VISAS

Passport Requirements:

All travelers need a passport, with the exception of the following:

1. Citizens of Greece with:

1.1. Temporary or urgent passports for returning to Greece;

1.2. A document published by any other state that demonstrates identity.

2. Travellers who have a National ID Card given to:

2.1. People of Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Malta, Sweden, Monaco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Belgium, Romania, San Marino, Slovak Republic, or Switzerland; however, cards that are torn at the edges are not valid;

2.2. Citizens of Germany with a national identification card; cards broken at the ends, however, are not legitimate.

3. Travellers with travel documents and residency permits issued to recognized refugees by the Member States of the European Economic Region or Switzerland, and individuals without nationality or citizenship.

4. Travellers with certificates given in compliance with the Geneva Convention of 1951 or the New York Convention of 1954 for refugees and individuals without nationality or citizenship.

5. Travellers with ‘identiteitsbewijs’ (proof of identity) given to Belgian children under the age of 12.

6. Laissez-Passer travelers were released by the United Nations.

7. Travelers given by the European Union or the European Economic Region with a ‘Laissez-Passersser.’

8. Laissez-Passer travelers issued by or issued by the 1990 Dublin Convention to the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Group or the European Atomic Energy Group.

9. Travellers with a Seaman Book, except for those documents released by Cambodia, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Laos, provided they fly on business.

10. ‘Kinderausweis’ passengers, a German identification document, was given to children aged 15 or younger. For children younger than ten years of age, there is no requirement for the document to include a picture of the infant.

11. Travelers with travel documents given to permanent residents of Kosovo by the United Nations Provisional Administration Mission in Kosovo.

Document Validity:

Passports and alternative documents, or any of them, must be valid for a duration not less than three months from the date of the visit envisaged.

a. There is unrestricted acceptance of expired passports or substitute documents issued to residents of Greece.

b. Expired passports issued to residents of Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland for a period not exceeding five years are accepted.

c. Passports have expired for no more than one year, and national ‘Personalausweis’ ID cards given to German citizens are accepted.

d. ‘Kinderausweis.’ a German identification certificate is given to children aged 15 years or younger that is valid on entry, enables citizens of Germany to join.

e. Citizens of the other member countries of the European Economic Area are entitled to enter with passports valid on arrival.

f. Citizens of other member countries of the European Economic Area or Switzerland are permitted to join alternative documents valid on arrival with a passport.

g. Travel documents that are valid on arrival are authorized for residents of Greece to enter.

Additional information:

1. Students living in a Member State of the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland and traveling as part of a school community from within the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, apart from their nationality, do not need a passport, provided that:

– Their names are indicated on a school stamped ‘List of Travellers’;

– A student photo must be included in the ‘Directory of Travellers’; and

– One of the teachers at that school accompanies the school group;

This kind of ‘List of Travelers’ is not provided by all European Union member countries. Furthermore, the exemption would NOT extend to the ‘List of Travellers’, which is only stamped without images by the school.

2. With their old-style passports, citizens of Greece living abroad for business or tourism will be able to return to Greece. Greek people living abroad will also be able to reach Greece with their old-style passports, but before returning to their country of origin, they will have to apply for a new style passport in Greece.

3. Norwegian ‘Fremmedpass’ (blue) or ‘Reisbevis’ passports (red) are not accepted.

4. Travel documents issued by the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are not approved unless they are accompanied by a separate, special visa form.

5. There is no recognition of travel documents released by a part of Cyprus not governed by the Government of Cyprus.

6. Old Yugoslav passports bearing the renewal stamp bearing the name Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) shall not be recognized.

7. Travellers with a ‘Laissez Passer’ issued under JAI 43 of the European Union by the Greek Government may leave Greece but are not permitted to re-enter with the same paper.

8. Citizens of Israel would be refused entry if they have a travel document, whether blue or orange, in lieu of a passport.

9. As long as the document includes a permanent re-entry permit for Israel, foreign citizens of Israel with a blue-colored or brown-colored travel document are permitted to enter.

10. Greece does not accept passports issued to citizens of Kosovo, who are residents of other Schengen member countries that have recognized the Republic of Kosovo.

Warnings:

The Schengen Agreement, designed to lift immigration limits on travel within all the territories of the signatory member countries, became effective on 26 March 2000. This led to the emergence of a ‘Schengen area’ known as a borderless zone. Consequently, residents of the signatories of that agreement can travel between the countries referred to above without having their papers checked.

Before arrival: Travellers are kindly asked to contact Greece’s nearest delegate.

Visa Exemptions:

A visa must be carried by all travelers except for the following:

1. Citizens of Greece.

2. Nationals of Austria, Sweden, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland.

3. ‘British Resident’ or ‘British National (Overseas)’ is endorsed by travelers with British passports.

4. Travelers who stay for tourism for no more than three months, given they are people of Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, St. Kitts-Nevis, Australia, Bahamas, Vatican City, Barbados, Brazil, Seychelles, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Andorra, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

5. Travellers with licensed British passports:

-‘British Overseas Territories Citizen ‘with the label’ right of residence ‘issued by the United Kingdom; or –‘British Subject’ with the label ‘right of residence’ issued by the United Kingdom.

6. Travelers staying for no more than three months have passports issued by Hong Kong (China Special Administrative Region) and Macao (China Special Administrative Region) and are traveling for tourism.

7. Travelers who stay for tourism for no more than three months if they have standard passports and are residents of the United States of America:

8. Travelers staying for no more than 90 days are nationals of the United Arab Emirates, given that they have diplomatic, service, or special passports.

9. Travelers staying for a duration not exceeding 90 days provided they have diplomatic, official, or service passports issued by Albania, Morocco, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Philippines, Republic of Montenegro, Peru, South Africa, Republic of Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, and Zimbabwe.

10. Travelers who remain for no more than 90 days are residents of Algeria or Bolivia if they have diplomatic or service passports.

11. Travelers with a special identification card provided by the Greek authorities to Albanian people of Greek descent.

12. Diplomatic passports issued by Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Republic of Moldova, Pakistan, Russia, and Ukraine have been issued to travelers staying for no more than 90 days.

13. Travellers with international identification cards given by the Greek authorities to foreigners of Greek descent.

14. Travellers with a residency permit issued by one of the Schengen States or by Monaco.

15. Travelers given by the European Union with a ‘Laissez-Passer.’

16.  Travelers, irrespective of their nationality, remain for no longer than 90 days, given that they have a long-term residency permit granted by a Member State of the European Union.

17.   ‘Laissez Passer’ travelers released by the United Nations.

18. Travellers, irrespective of their nationality, shall remain for a period not exceeding 90 days provided that they have a ‘family member’ residence permit granted by the Member States of the European Economic Area.

19. Travelers are residing in Liechtenstein for no more than five days, irrespective of their nationality, and keeping proof of their residency, given that they are in transit through the Schengen country.

TWOV (Transit Without Visa):

1. Travellers begin their journey to the third county without leaving the airport, provided that they arrive and depart for NON-Schengen countries, bring onward tickets with confirmed reservations, and keep all the required documentation for their next journey. This does not refer, however, to:

1.1. People of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Angola, Congo (Kinshasa), Eritrea, Ghana, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, India, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Sudan, Iran, Syria, and Turkey, Who need a pre-arrival Visa Transit Airport, except if they:

1.1.1. Have a permit for residence given by Andorra, Romania, Bulgaria, Canada, Republic of Ireland, Japan, San Marino, Cyprus, the United States of America, or the United Kingdom;

1.1.2. Have diplomatic or service passports and can use the facilities of TWOV;

1.2. For people without nationality or citizenship or refugees, TWOV does not apply.

2. Within the transit area at Athens airport, no hotel accommodation is available.

Additional information:

1. Upon arrival, the admission of visa-free people is considered. Travelers must stick to the rules laid down in Article 5.1. (items a., c., d., e.) of the Schengen Agreement and are solely liable for any justification whatsoever for their failure to join Greece. In such a situation, the carrier should only draw the attention of the passengers to the fact that they must have sufficient cash, return or onward tickets and the documentation required to permit entry into the Schengen area. Getting return or onward tickets is also recommended.

2. All travelers wishing to extend their stay must immediately register before the expiry of the visa or before the expiry of the visa-free stay period with the International Police Department or the Security Police Department.

3. Entry can be refused to travelers with no clear means of assistance. Travelers are expected to pay a minimum of EUR 50 for each day of stay, and a minimum of EUR 300 for stays not longer than five days. For kids, the sums are reduced by 50 percent. It is also recommended that for their next journey, travelers should have onward or return tickets and all required documentation.

* Exceptions:

3.1. European Economic Area people and people of Switzerland.

4. Transport carriers carrying passengers to Greece without complying with the rules of an entry shall be wholly responsible for the transport of passengers to Greece:

– An immediate return of travelers to their country of departure;

— Extra charges for travelers, such as detention costs;

5. Medical travel insurance is required for travelers who need a visa to enter Greece.

6. Students living in a member country of the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland and traveling as part of a school group from within the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, apart from their nationality, do not need a visa, given that their names are stamped on a ‘List of Travellers’ by the school and that the school group is accompanied by one of the teachers at that school.

NB

Every student must bring his / her own travel document and proof of place of residence if the ‘List of Travellers’ is only stamped by the school and is neither validated by the relevant authority nor contains pictures of the students.

Warnings:

Travelers who do not comply with the rules on entry or transit as provided for in Greek Law No. 3386 of August 2005 shall be subject to the following penalties:

– Fines for the transporting carrier or its representative for brining travelers with improper documents; travelers who have no right to enter Greece; or travelers who are deprived of entry; or facilitate entry to Greece of such travelers. The fines per traveler range between EUR 5,000 and EUR 20,000; and

– The airport authority shall impose fines on airlines or travel agencies; such fines shall be between EUR 5 000 and EUR 30 000 per passenger in the event that the carrier has proven to be lax in taking the required steps to ensure that departing passengers on board its flights to Greece comply with the rules of entry.

– A list of foreign travelers onboard must be delivered to the airport police on the arrival of the plane, whether by the carrier or its representative. For charter or unplanned flights coming from other countries, the same rule applies.

CUSTOMS AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Import regulations:

1. Travellers arriving with goods purchased only for personal use within the European Union are permitted to import:

a. 800 cigarettes; 400 cigarillos; 200 cigars; one kilogram of pipe or cigarette tobacco; travelers aged 17 years and over are allowed;

b. Travelers aged 17 years and older are licensed 10 liters of alcoholic beverages over 22 percent; 20 liters of alcoholic beverages under 22 percent; 90 liters of wine but a limit of 60 liters of sparkling wine; 110 liters of beer.

c. There are no restrictions on perfumes;

d. There are no limits on medicines, given they are imported strictly for personal use.

2. Travelers coming from countries outside the European Union, including the Aland Islands, the Canary Islands, the Channel Islands, and other related areas, are entitled to import:

a. 200 cigarettes; 100 cigarillos each weighing no more than three grams; 50 cigars; 250 grams of smoking tobacco; or a proportional mixture of these items are licensed to travelers aged 17 years and older.

b. One liter of alcoholic beverages above 22 percent volume is licensed to travelers aged 17 years and over; non-denatured ethyl alcohol with more than 80 percent volume; 2 liters of alcoholic beverages or wine-based aperitifs or related beverages of less than 22% by volume; sparkling wines or liqueur wines; or a proportional mixture of these products, in excess to four liters of still wine; and 16 liters of beer;

c. Medicines for personal use only;

d. Other goods up to a total value of EUR 430 per adult traveler or EUR 150 per traveler below the age of 15 years are approved for air travelers.

3. Imported gold, gold-plated items, or other precious metals must be reported upon arrival at the customs office.

4. Forbidden Goods:

Animal products not originating in the Member States of the European Union, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino or Switzerland cannot be imported into the Member States of the European Union, with the exception of small quantities of animal products originating in Andorra, the Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and small quantities of specific products originating in other countries. 

4.1. For further details, please check the website of the European Union: http://europa.eu/

Export regulations:

1. Travellers are allowed free export of windsurf boards and bicycles used for personal entertainment or Personal electronic devices, provided that, on arrival, they are registered in the passport. If such products are not exported, travelers are expected to pay import duty upon departure.

2. NB

Travelers are absolutely prohibited from carrying out Greece’s antiques and works of art. A special permit must be obtained from the export department concerned at the Ministry of Culture for the shipment of such items out of the country.

Pets:

1. Prior to any shipment, the carrier must be notified.

2. The special rule (EC no. 998 of 2003) and Regulation (EU) 576/2013 shall refer to cats and dogs. Birds are subject to Decision (EC) No. 25/200; please contact the Ministry of Agriculture: www.minagric.gr

Baggage Clearance regulations:

1. For travelers arriving from a member country of the European Union, their baggage should be cleared at the final destination airport.

2. Travellers arriving from a Member State of the Non-European Union and continuing on a domestic flight within Greece are expected to clear their baggage at the first point of departure from Greece. For domestic flights, passengers must change their check-in luggage unless the domestic connecting flights are to Chania, Corfu, Heraklion, Rhodes, or Thessaloniki, Where you can pick the luggage at the final destination.

3. The luggage of transiting travelers should be cleared outside Greece at the final destination, as long as it is labeled at that destination.

Airport tax:

Passenger Terminal Service Fee imposed on all passengers leaving Greece at the time of the issue of their tickets or at the departure airport in Greece.

Currency Import regulations:

For travelers arriving from or traveling to a country within the European Union, there are no limits on importing local currency (Euro-EUR) and foreign currencies. As far as travelers coming directly from or commuting to a country outside the European Union are concerned, import quantities of more than EUR 10 000 or equivalent in another currency must be recorded, including drafts of bankers and cheques of any sort.

Currency Export regulations:

A maximum sum of EUR 2,000 in cash can be carried by nationals of Greece.

Additional information on regulations:

It is duty-free to import windsurfing boards and bicycles; each traveler is allowed one piece if he/she uses it for personal amusement and re-exports it on departure.

Arms and Ammunition regulations:

Travelers carrying weapons and ammunition to or from Greece must notify the carrier prior to their arrival or departure. In addition, all guns and ammunition have to be reported for registration by the police and for issuance of a special police license so as to clear customs.