The variety of cuisines in Greece is so broad that people plan entire trips around just food. But even if you are not after olive-dressed salads and pita bread, there is a lot to do in this country. You can explore its beautiful culture, interact with its friendly locals, visit its historical sites, lay by the stunning beaches, hike up the hills, discover some of the world’s most renowned philosophers, and bask in the warm weather. The sheer number of things to do is enough to help you plan a trip that would last months in this beautiful country. But before you can picture yourself sipping coffee in a cute cafe by the beach, let’s review all the Greece entry requirements you should meet.
Visa Requirements
Greece has so many activities that it ranks high as a versatile location with something for everyone, including solo travelers and families. But must you have a visa to delve into all that it offers? Greece visa requirements fall into two categories, as follows:
1. No Visa Required
US citizens traveling for 90 or fewer days for tourism or business visits do not need a visa. However, you must present the following documents on arrival:
- A valid passport.
- A return or onward travel ticket.
- Evidence of enough funds to cover your stay.
- Proof of accommodation.
Based on this information, immigration officers determine whether you should enter visa-free. Please note that visa-free travel is unavailable for people with official or diplomatic passports. In such cases, you must apply for a visa.
2. Visa Required
Anyone traveling for more than 90 days or for reasons unrelated to business or tourism must get a visa per the Greece entry requirements. Below are the visa categories to consider:
- Family Reunification: This long-stay visa allows you to visit your relatives who are Greek residents or citizens, e.g., a child visiting a parent. This visa also applies to people seeking marriage or adoption in the country.
- Employment: Anyone visiting Greece for business or work opportunities should get this visa. Examples include investors, highly qualified workers, and property investors.
- Student: If you wish to pursue education in Greece, this permit is the way to go. It also applies to volunteers, people undergoing training, military school students, researchers, and scholars.
Since these visa categories have different subcategories, it’s best to understand the Greece entry requirements per your travel purpose and duration. But in general, the following documents are mandatory:
- A valid passport.
- Two recent passport photos.
- A round or onward travel ticket.
- Evidence of enough funds to cover your stay.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Health insurance.
- Supporting documentation. For example, family reunification applicants must provide a family status certificate to prove their relationship with the Greek citizen or resident.
Travel Visa Pro handles visa applications to Greece and can help you understand Greece visa requirements for your travel needs. Moreover, we expedite visa applications, enabling you to get a Greece visa for U.S citizens in just a few days to weeks.
Passport Validity
You must have a passport to identify yourself when entering and leaving Greece. Below are the Greece entry requirements your passport must meet to be eligible for travel:
- It must have at least six months of validity. You might need more validity if you have an onward destination or are seeking a long-stay visa. It is important to check your passport expiration date and ensure it meets this validity requirement. If it does not, renewing it is the best way to address this gap.
- It must have one blank visa page per stamp, not including the endorsement pages. If you have an onward destination, your pages should be enough to cover the stamp requirements in the next country. If not, you should renew your passport to get additional pages.
- It must be in good condition. Over years of use, your passport will suffer wear and tear, including slight bends and discoloration. However, this damage should not be extensive, e.g., watermarks and tears. In such cases, you must replace your passport by applying for a new one.
- It should not have been reported lost or stolen. Traveling on such a passport can result in being turned away on arrival, as this is at the discretion of Greek immigration and not the US Embassy.
Having a passport that falls short of these requirements to enter Greece can hamper your trip. If you need a new passport, talk to the TVP team about your travel needs, and we will get you a new one in just a few days!
Health Requirements and Vaccination
Greece has not imposed any vaccination requirements on US citizens traveling to the country. However, the CDC recommends that travelers get some shots before arriving in the country.
1. Vaccine Recommendations
While the requirements to enter Greece do not include vaccinations, US travelers should consider getting the following jabs:
- COVID-19 – applies to all travelers.
- Hepatitis A – for travelers who will visit rural areas or enjoy street food.
- Hepatitis B – for unvaccinated travelers.
- Measles – all travelers should get the MMR vaccine.
- Rabies– this applies to people who will interact with wildlife, e.g., animal handlers.
Additionally, the CDC recommends staying up to date with all routine vaccinations. Thus, it is important to discuss your travel plans with your doctor and determine the best course of action based on your current health stats.
2. Prevention Recommendations
Greece is home to some infectious diseases that spread through rodents, bug bites, and contaminated soil, water, and air. These include the following:
- Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever
- Hantavirus
- Leishmaniasis
- Leptospirosis
- Tickborne Encephalitis
- Tuberculosis (TB)
Since these diseases do not have vaccines, travelers should protect themselves by consuming clean water and food, avoiding sick people and crowds, wearing insect repellent, and practicing hygiene.
COVID-19 Entry Protocols
As COVID-19 restrictions have eased worldwide, US citizens have been traveling a lot more. But have these measures been reduced in Greece? Let’s take a look at what is in store for you:
- Vaccination – you do not need proof of vaccination to get past customs.
- Testing—Vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers do not need to undergo testing before leaving the US or upon arrival in Greece.
- Quarantine: You do not need to isolate yourself from other people upon arrival or after testing positive for COVID-19.
- Masks—Wearing masks is optional in most places, except in some healthcare settings, where you must cover your face.
- Social distancing: Indoor and outdoor public spaces are open for use, and social distancing is not required.
While these Greece COVID entry requirements are no longer in place, it’s always advisable to protect yourself and others by following these set health and safety guidelines:
- Get vaccinated against COVID-19 and get booster shots where applicable.
- Practice hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and sanitizing in public.
- Avoid people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or show related symptoms.
- Maintain social distancing when in crowded areas and wear masks in healthcare settings.
It’s also advisable to get travel insurance to help you cover your medical expenses if you contract the virus.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not mandatory per the Greece entry requirements. However, an insurance policy comes with the benefits below:
- It covers your medical costs: Suppose you need to seek treatment for injuries or illnesses when traveling. Travel insurance helps you seek these services in quality healthcare settings at no additional cost.
- It helps you get emergency evacuations: If you must return to the US, your travel insurance should cover the related costs to ensure you get home safely to seek urgent medical care.
- It covers losses and thefts: Traveling involves many moving parts. As such, losing items or getting robbed can happen. Travel insurance meets these costs and helps you replace lost and stolen items.
- It protects you from delays and cancellations: Losing money on pre-booked flights and accommodation can happen when delays and cancellations occur. A good travel insurance policy helps you rebook such items to avoid inconveniences and losses.
- It covers accidental death and dismemberment: Nobody hopes to get injured during a trip. But if this should occur, your travel insurance can enable your beneficiaries to cover the related costs.
Travel insurance helps you secure your trip investment. TVP is here to help you find the plan that best suits your travel plans so you can tour Greece with peace of mind.
Entry for Business and Work
Greece has many thriving industries and is thus perfect for US citizens who wish to invest in the country or seek employment. Below are the requirements to meet to qualify for a business or work visa:
- A valid passport.
- Two recent passport photos.
- A return or onward travel ticket.
- Evidence of enough funds to cover your stay.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Health insurance.
- Supporting documentation – this depends on the subcategory under the visa type. For example, people seeking an employment visa must have a valid labor contract showing their salary and employment terms. They should also include their educational qualifications, experiences, certifications, licenses, and references.
Since Greece entry requirements are not standard and depend on the subcategory under the employment visa type, TVP offers in-depth consultations to help you understand what you need. We also have a simple website system that allows you to apply for Greece visa online and get it in just a few days!
Special Entry Considerations
Most people can travel to Greece with identification documents and paperwork supporting their travel plans. But for the following groups of travelers, more documentation may be necessary:
- Minors: Unaccompanied minors should present a birth certificate showing their parents’ names and a notarized letter of consent from their legal parents or guardians. Those traveling with one legal parent or guardian should have a notarized letter of consent from the absent parent.
- Pregnant Women: Most airlines will allow you to fly up to the 32nd gestation week. After this, you must present a fit-to-fly form from your doctor, showing you have been cleared for travel.
If you fall into these categories, it’s best to address these legal and medical concerns before leaving the country to avoid getting held back at the airport.
Documentation and Checklist
Enough documentation allows you to get past customs. Here is a simple checklist of the Greece entry requirements to meet; choose what applies to you:
- A valid passport.
- A visa (or documentation that supports a visa-free visit).
- A return or onward travel ticket.
- Evidence of enough funds.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Health or travel insurance.
- A birth certificate.
- A notarized letter of consent.
- A fit-to-fly form.
People on long-stay visas should have supporting documentation to process a permit in Greece.
The requirements to enter Greece hinge on your travel purpose and duration. Once you compile documents that match these needs, you will have what it takes to plan a fun and successful trip to this beautiful destination!
