Updated: 18 August 2026
Travellers do not currently need ETIAS to visit Greece. The European travel authorisation system is not yet operating, applications are not open and no valid ETIAS authorisation can currently be issued.
The European Union expects ETIAS to begin operating in the last quarter of 2026, but it has not announced a specific launch date. It says travellers will be informed several months before the system starts.
This matters because unofficial websites are already publishing application information and, in some cases, offering paid services. Anyone travelling to Greece now should not pay for an ETIAS application.
ETIAS for Greece at a glance
- Required now? No
- Applications open? No
- Expected launch: Last quarter of 2026, with the precise date still to be announced
- Official fee once launched: €20
- Validity: Three years or until the registered passport expires
- Official website: travel-europe.europa.eu/etias
In this guide
What is ETIAS?
ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System.
Once it starts, eligible visitors from visa-exempt countries will need to obtain an electronic travel authorisation before travelling to Greece or another participating European country for a short stay.
ETIAS is not a visa. It is a pre-travel authorisation for people who do not normally require a short-stay visa to enter the countries covered by the system.
An approved ETIAS will not give someone the right to live or work in Greece. It will apply to short visits of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period. Receiving authorisation will also not guarantee entry. Border authorities will continue to check whether each traveller meets the conditions for admission.
Is ETIAS required for Greece in 2026?
No, not at present.
As of 18 August 2026:
- ETIAS is not operating
- Applications are not open
- No ETIAS authorisation can currently be issued
- The exact launch date has not been announced
- Travellers do not need to pay an ETIAS fee
The EU currently expects ETIAS to start in the last quarter of 2026 and says the specific date will be announced several months in advance.
Travellers planning to visit Greece later in the year should check the official EU website again before departure. The timetable has changed several times, so information from travel blogs, social media posts and older news reports may no longer be accurate.
Who will need ETIAS for Greece?
Once ETIAS becomes operational, it will generally apply to people who meet all of the following conditions:
- They are not citizens of an EU or Schengen country
- They hold a passport from a country whose citizens can currently travel visa-free for a short stay
- They are visiting Greece or another participating country for no more than 90 days in a 180-day period
- They do not hold a visa, residence permit or other document that exempts them
This will include many travellers using passports issued by the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
ETIAS will cover short visits for purposes such as tourism, business, family visits, medical treatment and transit. Each eligible traveller will need an individual authorisation, including children.
Who will not need ETIAS?
ETIAS will not apply to everyone entering Greece. People who will generally not need it include:
- Citizens of EU countries
- Citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
- Travellers who require a Schengen visa
- Holders of certain valid residence permits or residence cards issued by participating European countries
- Holders of certain long-stay visas
- UK nationals and qualifying family members protected by the EU–UK Withdrawal Agreement when the relevant exemption applies
The rules depend on nationality, immigration status and the document being used for travel. Foreign residents of Greece should carry their valid passport and Greek residence document and check the official requirements that apply to their circumstances.
For an overview of short-stay visas, national visas and residence routes, see Xpat.gr’s guide to visa requirements for expats in Greece.
How much will ETIAS cost?
The official ETIAS application fee will be €20.
Applicants who are under 18 or over 70 will not have to pay the fee, although they will still need an ETIAS authorisation if the requirement applies to them. Certain qualifying family members of EU citizens may also be exempt from payment.
Commercial intermediaries may eventually be permitted to submit applications on behalf of travellers, but they may charge additional service fees. Applying through the official EU channel will avoid those extra charges.
How long will ETIAS remain valid?
An approved ETIAS authorisation will normally be valid for three years or until the passport used in the application expires, whichever happens first.
The authorisation will be linked electronically to that passport. Anyone receiving a new passport will need to obtain a new ETIAS authorisation.
How long will an application take?
Frontex expects most applications to be approved automatically within minutes. Some cases will require additional checks and may take longer.
Once ETIAS begins, travellers should apply in good time rather than leaving the application until the day of departure.
ETIAS and EES: what is the difference?
ETIAS is frequently confused with the EU’s Entry/Exit System, known as EES. They are separate systems.
| ETIAS | EES |
|---|---|
| A pre-travel authorisation | A border entry and exit recording system |
| Requires an online application once operational | Registration is connected with crossing an external border |
| Not operating as of 18 August 2026 | Fully operational since 10 April 2026 |
| Official fee: €20 | No application fee |
EES records eligible non-EU travellers entering and leaving participating European countries for a short stay. Depending on the traveller and border crossing, the system records travel-document information, entry and exit details, a facial image and fingerprints.
EES records eligible travellers at the border. ETIAS will authorise eligible visa-free travellers before the journey begins.
Be cautious of unofficial ETIAS websites
Unofficial ETIAS websites have appeared even though the application system is not yet operating.
Frontex has warned travellers to be cautious because an ETIAS application will involve sensitive personal information, including passport details and payment information.
No website can currently obtain a valid ETIAS authorisation for you.
When applications eventually open, the safest route will be the official European Union website:
What should travellers to Greece do now?
If you are travelling to Greece before ETIAS begins:
- Do not submit or pay for an ETIAS application.
- Check that your passport meets Greece’s entry requirements.
- Confirm whether the 90-days-in-180 rule applies to you.
- Carry your valid residence document if you live in Greece.
- Check the official EU ETIAS website again shortly before travelling.
For now, the answer is straightforward: ETIAS is coming, but travellers cannot apply for it yet and should not pay anyone offering to arrange it.
