ESSAI & ACAI 2024

VISAs and General Information

Official website of the Greek National Tourism Organisation

VISA and Travel Documents

Greece, a member state of the European Union and part of the Schengen area, operates under a unified jurisdiction for international travel, facilitating seamless movement without border control within the area. The visa policy for the Schengen Area is established by the European Union. Non-EU, non-EEA, or non-Swiss citizens must possess a visa or be from a visa-exempt country to enter. In order to visit Greece you need to have the following travel documents:

ID card. In the case that your country of origin is a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, you may use your national ID to enter the country and you may stay for a three-month period. In these cases a passport is not necessary, although you will need it in a variety of other transactions, including currency exchange, shopping etc.
VISA. If your country is not a member of the Schengen Agreement, a visa is required for visiting Greece, applications can be made through the Greek Diplomatic Mission or Consular Post in their respective country. If unavailable, contacting any Schengen Area member state's Consular Post suffices. Notably, a visa issued by one Schengen member state is valid for all others, enabling travel across multiple countries within the area. For more details you can visit the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal. Should you require a letter of invitation or additional documentation for visa application, kindly utilize our contact form after payment of the registration fee.
Passport. If your country of origin is one of the following non-EU countries, your passport allows you to visit Greece and remain in the country for up to three months (90 days) within a six-month period: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Vatican, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, USA, Uruguay, Venezuela. Find out more on the official webpage of the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

When you complete your registration, you will be asked whether you need a VISA letter and then the letter will be sent to you.

Emergency Numbers

First Aid National Center (Ambulances): 166
SOS Doctors: 1016
European Emergency Number: 112
Poisoning Phone Center: 210 77 93 777
Fire Authority: 199
Police: 100
Tourist Police: 1571

Useful Information

Please review this information while planning your trip to Greece!

Health and Safety

If your country of origin is an EU member-state make sure you are a holder of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or any other legal EU document issued by your nation’s social security agency. If you are a Schengen Area citizen or resident, see more info on the EHIC here. If your country of origin is not an EU member-state, make sure you have consulted your social security agency for information before travelling.

Currency

Greece is a Member-State of the European Union and uses its uniform currency – the Euro. Currency exchange rates are clearly displayed in every bank that accepts currency exchange, while credit card holders may acquire money from the ATMs of the collaborating banks. Euros can also be exchanged for notes of other foreign currencies at exchange offices that are situated at the airport and city center. A passport is required when exchanging currencies.

Electric Devices

Electric power voltage in Greece is 230V/50Hz and the plugs are F type. To avoid the danger of short circuit, make sure to have in your suitcase the necessary transformers/adaptors for your electronic devices or make sure that this will be provided by the relevant socket.

Consumer Protection

During your stay in Greece, as a consumer you are protected throughout your transactions by the Greek legislation. In case of omission or infringement of the above, you can call to Tourist Police in 1571 (24/7 in operation). In the event you need to file a complaint, you may contact with the Hellenic Ministry of Tourism via email (communication with hotmail.com email addresses is temporarily impossible due to safety policies of the service provider).