Visa-free travels for Greece passport holders
As of April 2024, Greece passport holders can visit 171 countries without a visa, including all European countries. To visit the USA, Canada, and Australia, the Greeks obtain an electronic travel authorisation.
The Greece Golden Visa can be the first step for foreigners to obtain a passport. This Visa is also an alternative to a Schengen one.
Let’s look at the main destinations to travel visa-free if you get a Greek passport.
Knows all the directions Greeks can travel without a visa
3 types of countries for travellers with a Greek passport
We can divide all countries into four types, depending on entry conditions for Greek citizens: visa-free countries, visa-on-arrival countries, and electronic travel authorisation countries.
Visa-free countries — 114. Greece passport holders can visit these countries without a visa at all.
In the Schengen Area, they have freedom of movement and are granted a 90-day stay every 180 days. The Greeks often do not need an ID or passport to enter Schengen countries. The same travel rules apply to Greek residents with Golden Visas.
Conditions for non-Schengen Area countries can differ: at least you must take a passport to visit them.
Visa-on-arrival countries — 29. In this case, Greek citizens get visas at the destination country airport or online through an official website. This type of visa requires paying a fee: its amount varies from country to country, but it is usually less than a fee for a visa received through a consulate.
Electronic travel authorisation countries, or eTA countries — 28. This type is almost the same as a visa on arrival — you fill out the questionnaire online and activate the entry permission when crossing the country’s border.
Please note that the Greece visa-free countries list and entry requirements are constantly changing due to geopolitical changes, international relations, and agreements between countries.
All the countries available visa-free to Greece passport holders
Most popular destinations for travel from Greece
Despite a wide range of available destinations, Greek citizens mostly prefer visiting the nearest European countries. In 2022, 5 million Greeks travelled abroad.
The most popular destinations for outbound tourism from Greece are:
Albania,
Turkey,
Italy,
Bulgaria,
the United Kingdom,
Cyprus,
France,
Germany,
Spain,
the Netherlands.
The highest international travel payments in 2022 were in Italy — about 196 million euros, followed by Germany and the United Kingdom with 194 million and 177 million euros, respectively.
USA entry. Greek citizens can enter the USA with eTA or ESTA — an electronic visa. The process of obtaining this visa is called “mail-in”. For application, you need to register with Global Support Service: the entire procedure is described on the US Embassy website.
UK entry. For travel to the United Kingdom, you do not need a visa, in spite of Brexit. The allowed period of stay is 180 days.
Individual cost calculation of the residence permit in Greece
How to get a Greek Passport
You can get a Greek passport even if you aren’t ethnic Greek. For example, you can get it if you marry a Greek citizen. But there is one more way if you have no wedding plans: you can obtain a passport through a Golden Visa and naturalisation.
About 6 months
Obtain a residence permit by investment
Make €250,000+ contribution to the country’s economy.
Make €250,000+ contribution to the country’s economy.
In 5 years
Apply for permanent residence
You are eligible if you have lived in Greece for five consecutive years and maintain the investment.
You are eligible if you have lived in Greece for five consecutive years and maintain the investment.
In 2 years
Apply for citizenship
You can get citizenship by naturalisation for a 7-year permanent living in Greece. Moreover, you must pass an exam and prove your knowledge of Greek at a B1 level.
You can get citizenship by naturalisation for a 7-year permanent living in Greece. Moreover, you must pass an exam and prove your knowledge of Greek at a B1 level.
Greece Golden Visa Program and its benefits for investors
The Greece residence permit program, or the Golden Visa program, allows you to take a first step on your pathway to citizenship. The main idea of this program is simple: you get an RP in Greece in return for your contribution to the country’s economy.
The minimum investment amount is €250,000, and the decision waiting period is 3 months. Under this residence program, you can buy a property in Greece, rent a hotel or tourist residence, purchase a land plot for construction or agriculture, get a timeshare, inherit or get as a gift real estate, buy securities or open a bank deposit.
The most popular option is buying real estate: it allows participation with minimal investments, and the property can be sold in 5 years — after obtaining permanent residency.
Immediately after receiving a residence permit, you get travel freedom in Europe — you can visit all 27 Schengen countries without a visa:
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
One more benefit of the Greece residence permit: if you become a tax resident, you can expect tax optimisation.
Instead of a conclusion
In 2023, the Greek passport allows travelling to 171 countries visa-free.
You can get a Greek passport through naturalisation; obtaining a residence permit is the first step toward citizenship.
Greece residence permit can be acquired by investing €250,000 or more in the country’s economy. This program is also called "Golden Visa". The most popular investment option is purchasing real estate.
You can get into the Greece Golden Visa program with legal assistance from Immigrant Invest.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for citizenship and residence by investment programs in the EU, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Middle East. Take advantage of our global 15-year expertise — schedule a meeting with our investment programs experts.
Practical Guide
Will you obtain a residence permit in Greece?
Frequently asked questions
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