UK tourists in Greece warned new entry rule 'starts next month'

UK tourists in Greece warned new entry rule 'starts next month'
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Greece travellers ave been warned over a new rule means they will have to do two things to enter country. Travellers to Greece and the EU will soon face new biometric checks requiring facial recognition and fingerprint scans for entry.

From November 2024, the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will start for all non-EU nationals, including British nationals, travelling in or out of the Schengen area. The Schengen area is made up of 29 European countries, 25 of which are EU Member States.

Dawn Morwood, director of Cheap Deals Away UK, explained: “Passengers will now have to look into a camera that scans their faces and place their index finger on a scanning screen. Although it may seem strange initially, this will soon become the norm for international travellers.”

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The EES is a digital border system which registers non-EU visitors travelling into the Schengen area instead of stamping their passports. You will need to have your fingerprints and your photo taken when entering the Schengen area. If you enter the Schengen area through Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or St Pancras International, your fingerprints and photo will be taken before you leave the UK. You will also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo on exit.

You may experience longer queues at borders when the new system starts. “If airlines offer the ability to upload your passport details in advance, make sure to do it a few days early to avoid issues,” she added. Morwood added: "Soon after, you’ll be on the beach or sipping a nice drink, with these biometric checks far from your mind."

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccines, see TravelHealthPro’s Greece guide. There are strict rules about goods that can be brought into and taken out of Greece. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions such as powdered baby milk, baby food and special foods or pet feed required for medical reasons.