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Entry requirements for Greece
Two systems, one of which exists. EES has been recording entries biometrically since April 2026. ETIAS has not launched, is not taking applications, and is being sold to travellers anyway.
Last verified 12 September 2026 · 1 day ago · checked by spec-import Every figure on this page was checked against its source on this date.
Short stays
Greece is in the EU and the Schengen Area. Nationals of the United States, Canada, the
United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and many other countries may
enter without a visa for up to Visa-free short stay allowance A rolling calculation, not a per-entry allowance. This is the single most misunderstood rule affecting repeat visitors and second-home owners. Schengen reference period Counted backwards from any given day, including the day itself.90 days — source and verification date
180 days — source and verification date
Nationals not on the visa-exempt list need a Schengen short-stay (type C) visa. Stays beyond 90 days require a national long-stay (type D) visa, which is a different application entirely and is the gateway to the residence routes.
The Entry/Exit System
There is nothing to do in advance. Registration happens at the border on arrival, the fee is €0, and there is no nationality-based exemption. What it means in practice is that your 90/180 count is now recorded automatically and accurately rather than reconstructed from smudged stamps — so a miscounted overstay is far more likely to be noticed.
Arriving by cruise ship or international ferry from outside the area means EES processing at the port of entry. Domestic ferries between Greek islands involve no further check, because you are already inside Schengen.
ETIAS
Status, checked 12 September 2026
Not operating. Applications are not open.
The launch has been postponed repeatedly and the most recent reporting points to a 2027 start. The European Commission has said the date will be announced several months in advance. We re-check this box before every publication, and it is designed to be updated the day that changes.
When it launches
ETIAS will be a pre-travel online authorisation for visa-exempt travellers, comparable to the US ESTA or the UK ETA. It is not a visa and it does not guarantee admission. The planned parameters as published:
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Fee , waived for applicants under 18 and over 70.
€20 — source and verification date
ETIAS fee, when it launches
VERIFY. Planned waiver for applicants under 18 and over 70.
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Validity , or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
3 years — source and verification date
ETIAS validity, when it launches
VERIFY. Three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
- Most decisions expected within minutes, some taking up to four days or longer if further documents are requested.
- Every traveller needs their own authorisation, including infants. A parent or guardian can apply on a minor's behalf.
- A planned enforcement ramp: roughly six months during which nobody is refused solely for lacking one, then roughly six more during which first-time arrivals stay exempt.
Every figure in that list is marked unverified in our dataset, because none of it is in force and the parameters could change before launch. That is also why this page is held as a draft.
Related
- 90/180 day counter
- The accommodation tax nobody mentions
- Emergency numbers
- If 90 days is not enough: residence routes
Questions people actually ask
Can I apply for an ETIAS now?
No. As at September 2026 ETIAS is not operating and applications are not open. Any website offering to process an ETIAS application for you today is taking money for something that does not exist. The European Commission has said the start date will be announced several months in advance, so there will be warning.
Do I need a visa for Greece?
Nationals of many countries — including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea — may enter without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180 days period. Nationals not on the visa-exempt list need a Schengen short-stay (type C) visa. Stays beyond 90 days require a national long-stay (type D) visa, which is an entirely different application.
What is EES and do I have to do anything?
Nothing in advance. The Entry/Exit System records your passport data, a facial image and fingerprints plus your entry and exit dates, replacing physical passport stamping for non-EU travellers. There is no application and the fee is €0. It happens at the border when you arrive. Expect the first crossing after registration to take longer than you are used to.
Is my nationality exempt from EES?
No. There is no nationality-based exemption. Occasional reports of certain nationalities being waved through reflect temporary, tactical easing at busy border points, not policy, and you should not plan around it.
What about arriving by ferry or cruise?
Arriving from outside the Schengen Area by cruise ship or international ferry means EES processing at the port of entry. Domestic island-hopping ferries inside Greece involve no further border check, because you are already inside the area.
Does island-hopping use up more of my 90 days?
Only in the sense that every day inside the Schengen Area counts, wherever you are. Moving between Greek islands does not create new entries or exits. What matters is the total days present, counted across the whole area.
What will ETIAS cost when it launches?
The published planned parameters are a fee of €20, waived for applicants under 18 and over 70, with validity of 3 years or until the passport expires. Most decisions are expected within minutes, with some taking up to four days or longer. Every traveller needs their own authorisation, including infants. We have marked all of this as unverified because none of it is in force and the parameters could change before launch.
Will there be a grace period?
The planned enforcement ramp is a six-month transitional period in which nobody is refused solely for lacking an ETIAS, then a further roughly six-month grace period during which first-time arrivals remain exempt. Full enforcement would therefore land about twelve months after launch. Planned, not in force.