Travelling to Greece This Summer Just Got Easier

Thinking about a small ship cruise to Greece? The last few years have brought longer queues, more paperwork, and now a brand new EU border system. But here’s some good news.

Greece has confirmed that British travellers are exempt from biometric registration under EES. This is the EU’s new digital border system, which came into force earlier this month. In practice, this means your entry experience into Greece will remain much the same as it was before EES was introduced.

EES is a new EU digital border scheme for non-EU visitors. It requires travellers to register biometric data (fingerprints and a photograph) at Schengen borders. It replaced the previous passport stamping system, though many travellers and operators had raised concerns about added delays at border points.

Greek authorities have confirmed that UK passport holders are exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points. This has since been reflected on the UK government’s official travel advice page, which states: “Greek authorities have indicated that they will not collect biometric data (fingerprints and photos) for UK travellers as part of EES.”

The Greek National Tourism Organisation has noted that the move is expected to reduce waiting times and ease congestion at airports.

For now, arriving into Greece as a British traveller should feel straightforward. It is worth noting that no official timeframe has been given for how long this exemption will remain in place. So, we recommend keeping an eye on the UK government’s Greece travel advice page for any updates before you travel.

Thinking about cruising in Greece this summer? Whether you’re still deciding which islands to explore or you’re ready to start planning, we’re here to help.

Find your next destination here.