Passport, ID card and visas: a guide for travellers from Greece

Documents are the least romantic part of any trip, and the only one that can stop you at the airport. This guide is deliberately general: rules differ from country to country, depend on the nationality of your passport and can be updated at short notice. Use it as a reminder and always check the official sources before you travel.

ID card or passport?

For travel within the European Union and the Schengen area, an identity card or a valid passport is normally enough. For other destinations you generally need a passport, and many countries ask that it is still valid for at least 6 months after your return date. Some also ask for blank pages for stamps. Check the expiry date months ahead: renewing a document takes time.

• Every traveller, children and infants included, needs a document of their own.
• The name on the booking and on the flight ticket must match exactly the document you travel with.
• Minors travelling without one of their parents may need extra documents: find out in good time.

Visas: there is no rule for everyone

Whether you need a visa, and of what kind, depends on the destination, the nationality of your passport, and the length and purpose of the stay. Some countries do not ask for one for short stays, others require an electronic authorisation (e-visa) that you apply for online before departure, and others issue it on arrival or through a consulate. Processing times can range from a few days to several weeks, so do not leave it to the last minute.

• Fill in online forms with great care: a mistake in a name or a date can cause problems at the border.
• On trips that cross several countries, each one has its own rules; even some stopovers may have them.
• Keep a copy of the authorisation, both on your phone and printed.

Another nationality?

The rules follow the passport you travel with, not the country where you live. If you live in Greece with a non-Greek passport, or hold dual citizenship, tell us when you book: we will be able to guide you better.

Checklist before departure

• Expiry dates of passport and ID card, with plenty of margin.
• Entry requirements, on the official website of your country's foreign ministry and of the authorities of the destination country.
• Any visas or electronic authorisations, applied for in good time.
• A digital and a paper copy of your documents, kept apart from the originals.
• Documents and tickets in your hand luggage, never in the suitcase.
• Any change of name (for example after a marriage) reported to the agency straight away.

How we help

After you book, we send you up-to-date guidance for your passport and help with any e-visa. For trips that cross several countries, such as our escorted trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, we point out what to check for each one. It is important to check the official information too, because rules can change even after you have booked.