UK to Greece ETIAS: island hopping, ferries and long summers
Athens, the islands and summer island-hopping make Greece one of the most-booked trips from the UK. Here is how ETIAS will apply, including longer island holidays.
Quick answer
ETIAS at a glance
- Status
- Not live yet
- Expected launch
- 2027
- Applications open
- Not yet
- Official fee
- Expected €20
- Validity
- 3 years or until passport expiry
- Stay limit
- 90 days in any 180-day period
- Official application route
- Official EU ETIAS website / app when live
- Private help
- ETIAS Pro may offer optional support when applications open
Does a British passport holder need ETIAS for Greece?
Yes. UK passport holders visit Greece as visa-exempt travellers, the group the new system applies to. Once enforced, an Athens weekend, a fortnight on Crete and a sailing week round the Ionian will each rely on the same authorisation.
When will UK travellers need ETIAS for Greece?
Not yet. Launch is expected in 2027, with the exact date still to be confirmed, with strict checks following around six months after launch, so holidays booked for before those dates go ahead as normal. Recheck the position before any later trip, since the start date has moved more than once.
Island hopping on a single ETIAS
Ferries between Greek islands are domestic, so once you have entered the country there are no further border checks between Paros, Naxos and Santorini. One authorisation covers the lot. What it cannot do is stretch the clock: every island day counts toward the 90 days you are allowed in any 180-day period, and a leisurely Greek summer eats through that quicker than most people expect.
Day trips to Turkey from Rhodes, Kos and Lesbos
Turkey is outside the Schengen area, which makes the short ferry hops to Marmaris, Bodrum or Ayvalık genuine international crossings. You exit Schengen on the way out and re-enter on the way back, and ETIAS is expected to allow unlimited entries during its validity, so the same one brings you home. Note the day-count quirk: a same-day return still counts as a Schengen day because you wake and sleep in Greece, while full days spent in Turkey do not. Travelling by cruise ship instead? The rules differ; see the ETIAS cruise guide.
Passport rules for a Greek summer
The standard Schengen dates apply at every Greek entry point: issued within the last 10 years on arrival, with 3 months spare beyond your departure from the zone. UK renewal demand spikes each spring, so deal with an ageing passport in the winter rather than in June. An ETIAS is expected to be locked to one passport for up to 3 years, and renewing the passport means applying again.
Planning Greek trips in the meantime
Carry on as normal and ignore anyone selling Greek ETIAS processing, because nothing can be processed yet. If your island holidays run long, start keeping a rough note of Schengen days now; the habit pays off later. The application itself is expected to cost €20, with under-18s and over-70s exempt from the fee.
Greece entry checklist for UK travellers
- A passport inside the 10-year issue rule, with 3 months to spare once the trip ends.
- One ETIAS per traveller from launch; inter-island ferries need nothing further.
- Flight and ferry bookings plus accommodation details.
- Your passport in hand for any Turkey day trip, in both directions.
- A note of Schengen days if your island summer is a long one.
Get the ETIAS launch alert for Greece trips
Get one email when ETIAS applications open. No passport details. No payment before launch.
Common questions
Do I need a separate ETIAS for each Greek island?
No. One ETIAS is expected to cover all of Greece and the wider Schengen area. Ferries between the islands are domestic journeys with no border checks in between.
Does a day trip to Turkey use up my ETIAS?
No. ETIAS is expected to allow unlimited entries while valid, so coming back from Bodrum or Marmaris on the same authorisation is fine. A same-day hop still counts as one Schengen day, though full days spent in Turkey do not count toward the 90/180 limit.
Can I spend the whole summer island hopping in Greece?
Only up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day window. ETIAS does not raise that ceiling, so a full May-to-September season is not possible as a visitor. Anything longer needs a national visa from Greece.
Do I need ETIAS arriving in Greece by ferry from Turkey?
Yes, once the system is mandatory. Docking from Turkey is a Schengen entry exactly like landing at Athens airport, so the same ETIAS and passport checks apply at the port.
Related pages
Be ready for ETIAS before your next trip to Greece
ETIAS is not live yet. Check whether you’re likely to need it and get one email when applications open.