If you have a visa-exempt passport (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan…), today you can enter Greece visa-free with a valid passport, for up to 90 days. Once ETIAS starts, you'll need to apply before you travel (€20). Greece may ask you to show €50 per day (minimum €300 for up to 5 days). Visa-required nationalities (India, China, South Africa…) need a Schengen visa.
What you need for Greece, by passport
| Your passport | Today | Once ETIAS starts |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan… | No visa Valid passport + EES registration | ETIAS required Online application, €20 |
| Visa required India, China, South Africa, Turkey, the Philippines… | Schengen visa | Schengen visa ETIAS doesn't apply |
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
Not sure which group you're in? Use the Do I need ETIAS? checker or see the official list of nationalities.
What border officers in Greece can ask for
Even without a visa, officers in Greece can check that you meet the Schengen entry conditions. Keep these handy, printed or on your phone:
- A valid passport. Valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Europe and issued within the last 10 years.
- Purpose and accommodation. Hotel booking, invitation letter or the address where you'll stay, plus anything that backs up your trip (tourism, business, family).
- A return or onward ticket. Proof that you'll leave before your 90 days are up.
- Travel insurance. Not mandatory if you travel visa-free, but strongly recommended, and you may be asked about it.
- Enough money: €50 per day (€25 for minors), with a minimum of €300 for stays of up to 5 days. (reference amount set by the country, European Commission, 08/06/2026)
Where your border check happens when you travel to Greece
Main international airports in Greece: Athens (ATH), Thessaloniki (SKG), Heraklion (HER).
If Greece is the first Schengen country on your trip, the passport check and EES registration happen at the airport where you land. If you connect through another Schengen hub (Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki…), the check happens there and your flight to Greece is treated as an internal Schengen flight.
Greece has an external Schengen land border with Albania, North Macedonia, Turkey. Crossing there means a full passport check and EES registration, just like at an airport.
The EES at airports and borders in Greece
In Greece, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is used at every external border crossing point, from Athens (ATH) to seaports and land crossings. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully live since 10 April 2026. The first time you enter, officers take 4 fingerprints and a photo (no fingerprints for children under 12) and record the date; Greece no longer stamps passports. On later trips your data is only verified.
Greece in depth: islands, ferries from Turkey and Mount Athos
All Greek islands are in Schengen, so ferries between Piraeus and Santorini, Crete or Rhodes are domestic trips. The exception is ferries from Turkey (for example Bodrum–Kos or Çeşme–Chios): they arrive at an external border, with passport checks and EES registration at the island port.
Greece's land borders with Albania, North Macedonia and Turkey are external Schengen borders. The border with Bulgaria became internal when Bulgaria joined Schengen fully in 2025.
If you plan to visit the monasteries of Mount Athos, you need a separate entry permit (diamonitirion) issued by the Pilgrims' Bureau, and it is only granted to men. Combining Greece with Cyprus? Remember that Cyprus counts its 90 days separately.
Good to know about Greece
- The Greek islands are in Schengen: arriving by ferry from Turkey means an external border check.
- If you combine Greece with Cyprus, remember Cyprus counts its 90 days separately.
How long you can stay
You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days in Greece add up with days in every other Schengen country, so a week in Greece after a month elsewhere leaves you around 53 days. Check your balance with the 90/180 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much money for 4 days in Greece?
For stays of up to 5 days, the minimum is €300 per person.
Do US citizens need a visa for Greece?
No. US citizens can visit Greece visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Today a valid passport is enough; once ETIAS launches, you will also need an approved ETIAS (€20) before you travel.
Do UK citizens need ETIAS for Greece?
Not yet, because ETIAS has not started. Once it launches, British passport holders will need ETIAS to visit Greece, unless they are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement as residents of an EU country.
Keep reading
Sources
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.