Millions of UK holidaymakers jet off to Greece each year, with the country renowned for its iconic blue and white architecture, rich culture, cuisine and more. Greece ranks among the most sought-after destinations for package breaks, and countless people are anticipated to enjoy some sunshine there this summer.
As with travelling to any location, it’s important for those planning a Greek getaway to be properly informed before departure. This is particularly vital now, following Brexit, as many new regulations have been introduced in recent years.
For instance, anyone travelling on a British passport could previously enter Greece without needing their document stamped, and could remain for any length of time. Now though, UK travellers can now only visit Greece, or any other part of the Schengen Area, for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period.
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Your passport must also have a “date of issue” less than 10 years before the date you arrive, and an “expiry date” at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. Foreign Office guidance warns that breaking the rules when visiting Greece, or other Schengen nations such as Spain, France, and Italy, could result in you being hit with a lengthy ban.
Part of its guidance for Greece states: “If you’re travelling to other Schengen countries as well, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day visa-free limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.
“If you overstay the 90-day visa-free limit, you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years.”
The Schengen area includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
