Entry/Exit Requirements

Greece is a party to the Schengen Agreement.  U.S. citizens may enter Greece for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa.  Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay.  We recommend that your passport be valid for at least six months whenever you travel abroad to avoid unintended travel disruptions.  You need sufficient funds and a return airline ticket. For additional details about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our Schengen Fact Sheet.

If you are traveling with a U.S. official or diplomatic passport, you MUST obtain a Schengen visa prior to arrival. Travelers arriving with official or diplomatic passports without visas will not be allowed to enter the country.

Visit the website of the Embassy of Greece in Washington, D.C. for the most current visa information.  If you need additional information about entry requirements, including visas for employment or study in Greece, you can contact the Embassy of Greece at 2217 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W, Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 939-1300, fax (202) 939-1324, email gremb.was@mfa.gr; or any of the Greek Consulates and Consulates General in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tampa. 

Individuals traveling to Greece on official military orders are advised to review the guidance in the Department of Defense Foreign Clearance Guide.    

If you are a U.S. citizen born in the Republic of Macedonia, please note that, per an August 2012 directive, Greek Immigration Officers at all ports of entry (land, air, and sea) will not place entry stamps in passports listing the traveler’s place of birth as Macedonia or the Republic of Macedonia, but should recognize the validity of the travel document. These travelers are required to complete a short form on which the entry stamp will be placed and which the traveler should keep with their passport for the duration of their stay in Greece and present upon departure. In July 2013, the Embassy was informed of several deportations resulting from the inconsistent application of the above directive. Any traveler who is denied entry into Greece should request to be provided with the appropriate documentation from Greek authorities, including an official document titled “Refusal of Entry at the Border” (issued in English and Greek) stating the reason that they were denied entry. If you are a U.S. passport holder denied entry under these circumstances, please contact the American Citizen Services Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Athens at +30-210-720-2490.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Greece.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website.  For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.