Embassy
Embassy of Germany, Athens
Athens
Karaoli & Dimitriou 3
Greece visa requirements for German citizens
German citizens can visit, live and work in Greece without a visa.
Passport
DEU
Germany
Going to
GRC
Greece
Free to visit, live and work
EU, Icelandic, Liechtenstein, Norwegian and Swiss citizens can enter with a passport or ID.
- Visa
- Not required
- Fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it.
Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
Note the maximum stay and count your days in Greece.
Ways into Greece
Your passport and travel documents decide whether you need a visa.
Visa not required For your passportEuropean visa-free entryEU, Icelandic, Liechtenstein, Norwegian and Swiss citizens can enter with a passport or ID.
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Bring a valid passport or national ID card.
- Show it when border staff ask.
Documents required
- Valid passport or national ID
- Longer stays have separate rules.
- Each child needs their own travel document.
Visa not requiredVisit with Schengen documentsPeople with another Schengen country's residence permit or long-stay visa can make short visits.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your document comes from a Schengen country.
- Bring your passport and valid visa or residence permit.
Documents required
- Passport
- Valid Schengen residence permit
- Or valid Schengen long-stay visa
- Visits to other Schengen countries count towards 90 days within any 180 days.
- A UK residence permit alone does not allow this visa-free visit.
Sources (26)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Hellenic Police
- National Coordination Center for Border Control, Immigration and Asylum
- Ministry of Migration and Asylum: residence categories and documents
- Greek foreign ministry: visas for foreign visitors
- Greek nationality and passport visa requirements
- Greek foreign ministry: Schengen visas
- Greek foreign ministry: national visas
- Greek foreign ministry: digital nomad visa
- Greek embassy in the United States: visas
- Greek embassy in the United Kingdom: visas
- Greek embassy in India: visas and application channels
- Greek foreign ministry: supporting documents by travel purpose
- Greek foreign ministry: island tourist visa scheme renewal
- European Commission: applying for a Schengen visa
- European Commission: Schengen visa questions
- European Commission: common airport transit nationality list
- European Commission: additional airport transit requirements
- European Commission: funds required at external borders, Greek section
- European Commission: student in Greece
- European Commission: employed worker in Greece
- European Commission: family member in Greece
- European Union Visa Code
- Regulation (EU) 2024/2495: Serbian biometric passport exemption
- Your Europe: travel documents for European Union citizens
- Official ETIAS portal: operational status and questions
- European Commission: Entry/Exit System and ETIAS
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Consulate general
Consulate General of Germany, Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Leoforos Megalou Alexandrou 33, 54641 Thessaloniki
Trips to Greece
Day-by-day itineraries by snuck, shaped around you.
Coming from Germany
- Plugs C FNo adapter
- MoneyEUR €Same as home
- Time+1h
- DrivingOn the rightSame as home
- LanguageGreek
- Emergency100 or 112 police166 or 112 ambulance
Planning your Greece trip
Best time to go: May–June and September–October have the most pleasant weather. Mid-July to mid-August is the hottest period, while November–February brings fewer tourists and lower prices but is not beach weather.
- Ancient ruins, churches and castlesGreece has classical temples and ruins alongside many medieval churches and castles.
- Cyclades IslandsThis island group is known for whitewashed homes and blue-domed churches.
- Ermoupolis and NafplionThese cities have Neoclassical buildings.
- CorfuSee pastel-coloured baroque homes and churches.
Scams to watch for in Greece
- Friendly stranger bar scamA friendly stranger approaches a traveller, usually a man alone at night, and suggests a bar. At the bar, women join them and order expensive drinks, often champagne. The traveller receives a huge bill. Men then appear to pressure or threaten him into paying. This is the most commonly reported major scam against travellers.
- Pickpocketing and theft in crowdsThieves take money or belongings from exposed pockets and bags in crowds. Metro doors are a particular concern, especially when a door seems broken or jammed and people bunch together. Theft is also reported in Faliraki, Kavos, Malia and Ios, though no specific method is described there.
- Counterfeit souvenirs and branded goodsVendors sell fake branded items and imitation goods. In Athens, pavement sellers also offer coins that may look antique but are likely reproductions. In Chersonissos, fake watches and other branded items sell for much less than genuine versions.
About Greece
Greece is a republic at the southern end of the Balkans, with a mainland and many islands.
- Capital
- Athens
- Money
- Euro (€)
- Languages
- Greek
- Time zone
- UTC+02:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +30
Other Europe passports
Going to Greece
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Greece with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do german citizens need a visa for Greece?
German citizens can visit, live and work in Greece without a visa.
Do greek citizens need a visa for Germany?
Greek citizens do not need a visa for Germany. Show your passport at the border.
Do other Europe passports get easier entry to Greece?
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Greece are easier for german citizens?
Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City, Cyprus Italy, and 3 more let german citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Greece?
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it. Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
What money is used in Greece?
Euro (€). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Greece?
Greek.
How strong is the Germany passport?
It ranks #6 and reaches 156 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck