Greece ETIAS
Situated on the southern summit of the Balkan Peninsula, Greece, whose official name is Hellenic Republic, is one of the most notorious countries in the world for its unique cultural heritage.
Greece ETIAS: main facts
Greece to become recipient of the ETIAS System starting from 2025
ETIAS necessary to enter Greece for visitors from 60 Visa Waiver Countries
ETIAS allows for a combined stay in European Union/Schengen Area not to exceed 90 days in 6 months and only for either leisure, business, transit or medical treatment
ETIAS holder’s passport must have 3 months of remaining validity since the days they plan to leave from Europe.
Greece in European ancient and modern history
Situated on the southern summit of the Balkan Peninsula, Greece, whose official name is Hellenic Republic, is one of the most notorious countries in the world for its unique cultural heritage.
Considered by historians as the birthplace of democracy, the word democracy itself comes indeed from ancient Greek language, Greece is a now a thriving nation whose touristic industry is only one among many important and profitable sectors.
Its commitment as a nation towards the creation of better and more democratic Europe created the solid ground upon which Greece was able to join the European Union year 1981. Since early year 2000 Greece also entered the so-called Schengen Area eliminating all border and custom controls for people and goods movements between its territory and those belonging to other fellow Member Countries.Greece and ETIAS Visa Waiver
Being part of the 29 current Schengen area members the Hellenic Republic too will start applying the ETIAS protocol towards incoming visitors coming from outside the European Union and holding a passport from any of the 60 eligible Visa Waiver Countries.
The need for one more document to be obtained so as enter Greece and the EU / Schengen Area for Visa Waiver citizens is not meant to create any obstacle since the application process for the new Visa Waiver named ETIAS has been confirmed to be a fast and swift procedure. Also, it is expected that an overwhelming majority of applications will receive a positive feedback while on the other end reducing drastically the cases of border rejections.
On this aspect the ETIAS System will allow incoming passenger to Greece to enjoy for faster and more secure border control checks upon arrival in Europe. As mentioned above the ETIAS application process has been outlined so as to be intuitive and easy to approach while it should not require more than 10 minutes per person.Greece ETIAS application form details
All applicants are required to fill out a short form to candidate for ETIAS.
The form will ask for datas such as:- Full name and surname
- Surname at birth
- Date and place of birth
- Birth Country
- Passport number
- Passport’s authority and place of issue
- Passport’s issue and expiry date
- Contact details
- First country of intended stay in ETIAS Area
- Eligibility questions
It is important to highlight that each single traveler will need to have an ETIAS of his/her own; such provision also include minors and elders that are therefore required to have an individual valid passport.
The Visa Waiver, when approved, will be sent to the e-mail of the applicant in most cases within 72 hours.
Starting from the issue date ETIAS Visa Waiver to Greece will than have a validity of 3 years or until the applicant’s passport expiry date (if that is less than 3 years away).Travelling to Greece
ETIAS is valid to enter Greece regardless of the point of origin of the journey and is accepted to cross all borders to non-Schengen countries including therefore air, land and sea borders alike.
When arriving at the EU border ETIAS holders might always be asked for further documents to prove the reason for their trip and to attest they do not plan to overstay in the ETIAS Area.
Such documents might include:- Return ticket to the country of origin or onwards ticket to a non-ETIAS country
- Proof of sufficient funds
- Health travel insurance
Each and every travel to Greece or other ETIAS Countries that is taken on a Visa Waiver must always comply with the general limitations of purpose and permanence as listed above in the basic facts. For further details on ETIAS eligibility criteria click here.
Anyone who is wishing to stay longer than the prescribed time or else to study or work in an ETIAS country are therefore not considered eligible for ETIAS and are hence required to apply for a specific Consular Visa.
Even though it is not compatible with long term study programs in the EU / Schengen Area ETIAS Visa Waiver can be used for short term study programs (such as corporate training classes or a language courses) if the traveler is a National one of the 60 Visa Waiver eligible countries and if the stay in the ETIAS countries area will not exceed the aforementioned threshold of 90 out of every 180 days.On Greece’s neighboring Countries
Voyagers willing to explore more of Europe’s touristic beauties and business opportunities must remember that ETIAS is only necessary and valid for journeys to the 34 Countries that are current future or de facto Members of the Schengen Area hence excluding the Republic of Ireland who is an European Union Member Nation but is not linked to the border free travel area.
While an ETIAS will for most visitors be required to enter the Hellenic Republic from 2023 it is also important to highlight that the nearby countries of Albania, North Macedonia and Turkey are not part of either the European Union or the Schengen Area and therefore access to their territories is subject to local immigration rules that might also imply the obligation to have a valid Consular Visa.