Passport requirements for Greek tourists on holiday, including the three-month rule

When planning a trip to Greece, whether for a summer or winter getaway, it’s important to consider several factors to ensure an enjoyable experience.

And before you go packing that bag, it’s essential to remember to check your passport before you leave. Failure to do so could result in denial of access, effectively ending your vacation before it begins.

In addition to passport checks, travelers to popular holiday destinations in Greece have been warned of potential natural hazards that could disrupt travel plans.

What is happening with the weather in Greece?

Extreme heat has increasingly affected parts of Europe in recent years, with climate change often cited as a significant factor. Greece’s capital Athens is currently experiencing the “earliest heat wave on record”, with residents and tourists bracing for scorching temperatures reaching 43C.

Elsewhere, the island of Rhodes was hit by a magnitude 4.8 earthquake late on Wednesday (June 12th), with Greek media reporting that it was also felt in Turkey.

According to meteorologists, the extreme heat is caused by warm air coming in from North Africa. Local authorities are now warning tourists and locals to remain vigilant, and Greece’s weather service EMY has issued an excessive heat warning.

So what are the passport rules for traveling to Greece?

The Foreign Office warns that if you plan to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or the Vatican, you must comply with Schengen passport requirements.

Your passport must be:

• issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check “date of issue”)
• valid at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check “expiry date”)

They warn that if your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to the expiry date. They add that you can contact the embassy of the country you are visiting if you believe your passport does not meet both requirements. They also suggest renewing your passport if necessary.

How can I renew my passport?

To renew your passport you will need:

• your old passport
• any valid passports you have from another country – send either a color photocopy of each page (including blank pages) or your physical passport

If you want to renew online it will cost you £88.50, but if you apply on paper it will cost £100. For an online application, you will need:

How long does it take to renew my passport?

According to gov.uk, you will usually receive your passport within three weeks. The processing time starts from the moment we receive your documents.

However, they warn: “It may take longer than three weeks if we need more information or need to interview you. We will tell you this within three weeks.”

You can renew your passport here.