Greece Entry Requirements: Checklist for Villa Groups

Greece entry requirements depend on the passport each guest holds. Travellers with US, UK, Australian and UAE passports can visit Greece without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, while Saudi passport holders need a Schengen visa. Everyone needs a passport issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after they leave.

That sounds simple until you are organising a villa for twelve people from four countries. One guest's passport turns out to be eleven years old. Another needs a visa and has left it too late. A third lands into a long queue at the new biometric border check and misses the boat transfer. This checklist is for the person organising the group. It sets out what each passport needs, what changed with Europe's new border system, and what to check months before you fly.

Rules change. Everything below comes from official government or EU sources, checked in October 2026, and each guest should confirm their own requirements with the official source before travelling.

What are the Greece entry requirements by passport?

Greece is part of the Schengen area, so the common EU short-stay rules apply. Here is how they apply to the passports we see most often.

If anyone in your group holds a different passport, check the EU's official visa list before you do anything else. And remember that the 90 days count across all Schengen countries together, not per country. A guest who spent six weeks in Italy in spring has fewer days left for Greece in summer.

What passport validity does Greece require?

Two rules apply to every non-EU visitor, and the first catches more people than any visa rule:

• Issued within the last 10 years on the day you arrive.
• Valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.

GOV.UK notes that some older British passports, renewed before October 2018, may carry extra months that push the issue date past 10 years. Check the issue date, not only the expiry date.

Children need their own passports, and a visa where one is required.

What is the Entry/Exit System and how does it affect arrival?

The EU's Entry/Exit System, known as EES, replaces passport stamps with a digital record for non-EU visitors. According to the European Commission, it started on 12 October 2025 and became fully operational on 10 April 2026.

What it means in practice:

• First entry: you may be asked to give fingerprints and a facial photo at the border. It is free. Children aged 11 or younger are not fingerprinted, but may be photographed.
• Later visits: within 3 years, a fingerprint or photo check is usually enough.
• Where it happens: at your first Schengen airport. If you fly direct to Mykonos from outside Schengen, you clear the border in Mykonos. If you connect through Athens from outside Schengen, you clear it in Athens, and the onward flight to Mykonos is domestic.
• Queues: the Australian government's Smartraveller site warns that some European airports have seen border delays of up to 4 to 6 hours. Timing varies by airport, day and season.

GOV.UK also says Greek authorities have told them they will not collect biometric data from UK travellers, but that UK visitors should follow instructions at the border. Check the latest GOV.UK advice before you fly.

The practical step for a group: leave a generous gap between landing and anything with a fixed time, such as a connecting flight, a boat or a dinner booking. First-time EES registration is the moment that takes longest.

[MARIO: On a busy summer Saturday, how long do guests usually wait at passport control in Mykonos and Athens, and does our driver track the flight and wait?]

Do US, UK and Australian travellers need ETIAS for Greece?

Not yet. ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation for visa-free visitors, similar in idea to the US ESTA. It is not a visa. As of October 2026 it was not in operation and travellers could not apply.

• The EU has said ETIAS is planned to start in the last quarter of 2026, with the exact date announced several months before launch. [CHECK: confirm on the official ETIAS site whether a start date has been published before this article goes live.]
• Once it starts, it will be required for visa-free travellers, including those from the US, UK, Australia and the UAE.
• It will be valid for up to 3 years, or until the passport used to apply expires, whichever comes first.
• The fee has been reported as €20, with exemptions for some travellers, including under-18s and over-70s. 

The key advice is simple. When ETIAS starts, apply only through the official EU website. The EU itself warns that some intermediaries charge more than the official fee. If a guest renews their passport, they will need a new ETIAS.

What do Saudi travellers need to visit Greece?

Saudi passport holders need a Schengen short-stay visa. The official EU rules:

• Apply at the consulate of the country where you will spend the most time, so Greece for a Greek villa holiday, or its visa service centre.
• Timing: no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 days before the trip. Normal processing is 15 days, and it can be extended to 45.
• Fee: €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12, plus any service centre fee.
• Insurance: travel medical insurance covering emergency treatment, hospital and repatriation. [CHECK: confirm the minimum cover amount with the Greek consulate.]
• Multiple-entry visas: under a 2024 European Commission decision, Saudi nationals resident in Saudi Arabia who meet the entry conditions are issued multiple-entry visas valid for 5 years, unless the passport expires sooner. That makes later trips much simpler.

For a summer villa trip, the safest plan is to book the villa, then apply as soon as the 6-month window opens. A late June trip means applying from late December or January.

[MARIO: For Saudi guests, can the team provide a booking confirmation letter for the visa application, and how far ahead do you suggest they apply?]

What should the group organiser check, and when?

Use this timeline for a summer villa trip.

Border guards may ask visitors to show a return or onward ticket, proof of where they are staying, and that they have enough money for the stay. A booking confirmation from the villa is useful to carry.

[MARIO: What guest details does our team need before arrival, and by what date?]

What usually goes wrong, and how do you avoid it?

• An old passport. The 10-year issue rule surprises people more than any other. Check issue dates first.
• A visa started too late. Summer appointments at visa centres fill up. Apply early.
• Mixed passports in one group. Do not assume everyone follows the same rules as the organiser.
• Tight connections. First-time EES registration can be slow. Avoid short connections from Athens to Mykonos.
• Unofficial websites. EES is free. When ETIAS starts, use only the official EU website.

Quick answers

Do Americans need a visa for Greece?

No. US citizens can visit Greece for tourism without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you leave. ETIAS is not yet required, but the EU plans to introduce it, so check the official site before you travel.

Do UAE citizens need a visa for Greece?

No. Holders of UAE passports can visit the Schengen area, including Greece, without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, according to the EU Delegation to the UAE. Once ETIAS starts, UAE visitors will need it. Confirm with official sources before travelling.

Can Saudi citizens get a multiple-entry Schengen visa?

Yes. Under a 2024 European Commission decision, Saudi nationals living in Saudi Arabia who meet the entry conditions receive multiple-entry Schengen visas valid for 5 years, or until three months before the passport expires. Apply through the Greek consulate or its visa centre.

Is ETIAS required for Greece now?

Not as of October 2026. The EU says ETIAS is planned for the last quarter of 2026 and will announce the exact date in advance. When it starts, visa-free travellers will need it. Apply only on the official EU website, never through resellers.

What is the 90/180 rule?

Visa-free visitors can stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. Days in all Schengen countries count together. Overstaying can lead to fines and future entry bans, so count earlier trips before booking a long summer stay.

Planning your summer villa stay

Once everyone's documents are in order, the rest is the enjoyable part. If you are still deciding when to travel, our guide on when to book a luxury villa in Mykonos explains the timing, our first-time Mykonos questions guide covers transport and daily life in a villa, and our Mykonos airport transfer guide explains the options once you are through passport control. When you are ready, send a request and our team will find the right villa.