A practical guide to moving, living, working & traveling in Greece, plus tips and narratives from an American in Athens
July 25, 2007 at 07:22
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Photo from thaivisarun.com
Whether you are a non-EU citizen with a Schengen or national visa for Greece, you are expected to:
a) leave the country before it expires;
b) secure a visa extension under special circumstances, if you are staying temporarily as a tourist or business traveler (directions below); or
c) apply for the proper Greek permit within 30 days of arrival or apply for Greek citizenship if you are staying permanently.
A non-EU citizen with plans to immigrate and/or be resident in Greece (stay past 90 days) should not be looking at this post. The proper post is, “How non-EU citizens can move, live and work in Greece.” This also applies if you are a non-EU citizen of Greek origin/descent without dual citizenship with the EU.
This article is updated regularly to reflect new laws & regulations. And I encourage everyone to be patient in reading this article and its comments, as they offer answers/suggestions to common questions and a full explanation not available anywhere else.
* Article last updated July 31, 2010
Visas
There are only two classes of visas currently being issued by Greece. It’s important to know which one you have to understand its privileges and possible penalties.
Schengen
American, Australian, Canadian and other non-EU citizens from countries in which Greece and other Schengen countries signed a “visa waiver” agreement can stay up to 90 days within the Schengen zone in any 180-day period as a tourist. See “Schengen countries” if you do not know what they are.
Be aware that the countdown starts from the date of entry to the Schengen zone, which is marked by a stamp in your passport, or a scan and record kept by the computer and/or Schengen Information System (SIS) in the absence of a stamp. For example, if you entered through France 20 days prior coming to Athens, the 90 days starts from that date, not the date you arrived in Greece. Further, it is not an EU visa (there’s no such thing); it is a Schengen visa.
Dual citizens of any country with two passports are not entitled to twice the time, and it has nothing to do with the person to whom you are married. It only matters which passport you used to enter the country; if you try to enter with one passport and exit with another, passport control will question why you have no entry/exit stamp or why it doesn’t show in the computer and get the truth out of you.
* Overstaying in the Schengen region does not have a one-size-fits-all set of rules. Each country has unique fines, penalties and enforcement standards, and some do not allow visa extensions. If you are exiting a Schengen country other than Greece, you are free to read the remainder this article for informational purposes, but you should really stop here and consult authorities in the country concerned.
National
A national visa is good only for Greece and no other country. Whether it is a visa for tourist, student or work purposes, there are none with validity past 90 days.
* There is no such thing as an “overstaying visa.” Overstaying is something you do, not a type of visa. All visas are either national or Schengen, and then fall into different classes denoted by a letter (i.e., A, D).
How to apply for a visa extension in Greece
If you plan to stay longer than the expiration date of your Schengen or national visa while in Greece as a tourist, student or temporary business consultant, it is wise to apply for a visa extension at the Alien’s Bureau Office or police station nearest to your legal or temporary residence here. The location varies according to municipality, and you will be sent away if you go to the wrong one. Please note that this is a visa extension and not a “temporary residence permit,” as the American Embassy in Athens has incorrectly stated. There’s no such thing.
Visa extensions are normally granted under special extenuating circumstances, such as being in the hospital, having a serious car accident or a relative passing away. Visa extensions are not granted because of ignorance regarding visas and permits, careless planning, unexpectedly falling in love, taking illegal work and just because you want to travel more.
1. Apply between 7 to 25 days in advance of your visa’s expiration
2. Fill out the one-page Greek/English/French visa extension form provided to you by the alien’s bureau or police station (Greece does not typically offer any forms online)
3. Provide any supporting evidence for needing an extension to the person in charge, who will give you a verbal answer
If you are approved, you will need to provide:
1. Four (4) passport-size color photos
2. Proof of residence while in Greece (i.e. Letter from the person with whom you’re staying, hotel bill, statement of facts); the person in charge will request what is specifically needed for your case.
3. Proof of minimum financial means, which is a bank statement showing you have at least 450 euros/month or 15 euros/day for the length of your extension. Note the phrase ‘at least’ means they could ask for proof of a greater amount.
4. Two (2) copies of the entry stamp to the Schengen zone or visa sticker in your passport (Should you not have a stamp, authorities may bar you from applying unless a printout from the Schengen computer can assist)
5. A passport that is valid for the period in which you are requesting an extension (i.e. If you’re asking for a 3-month extension, your passport must be valid for at least 3 months)
6. A flat fee of 464 euros, whether your extension is a minimum of one (1) day or a maximum of six (6) months (incorrectly reported as 364 euros by the Athens News); six (6) month extensions are granted for special extenuating circumstances
The Alien’s Bureau or police station will give you a paper to put in your passport to show authorities when exiting Greece to avoid being stopped and fined.
The word ‘extension’ implies there is something valid to prolong, which means this is no longer the case if your visa has already expired.
* Special thanks to KEB, a reader who provided first-hand experience on securing an extension.
What if I’m denied an extension?
If you have the possibility to visit another station within your municipality, a different person may give you a different answer. However, there is no guarantee and you will be sent away if you cannot prove legal or temporary residence within the jurisdiction of the police station in which you are requesting an extension.
Should you be denied an extension, you are expected to leave Greece and the Schengen zone before the original visa expires, as scheduled.
Frequently asked questions
This section was compiled based on common predicaments and questions posed by commentators.
I have a Greek boyfriend, how do I extend my visa?
It makes no difference if your boyfriend/girlfriend is a Greek/EU citizen. An extension is normally only granted for compelling reasons, such as being in the hospital. As I detailed above, you must also show financial means and a place of residence. No one cares if you fell in love and don’t want to leave; it has nothing to do with the law.
If I get engaged to a Greek, can I extend my visa and stay past 90 days?
Being engaged to a Greek/EU citizen is treated as if you’re still single. It does not entitle you to further rights or a Greek residence/work permit. You must be married and apply for a permit before the expiration of your visa or go home.
Even in the rare case a police station allows you a visa extension, you still cannot stay indefinitely; you still need a permit to stay in Greece as stated in “How non-EU citizens can move, live and work in Greece.” In fact, the longer you stay in Greece, the longer you must delay returning to Greece according to Schengen rules of “90 days within any 180-day period.”
* Some EU countries grant additional rights to engaged partners or fiance(e)s. Greece does not.
Can I get a visa extension to get married?
Depends. If you had already scheduled a date at the mayor’s office/city hall to get married during the validity of your visa and there was an unforeseen event — such as the prospective groom/bride being in a serious accident or the municipality failing to provide the necessary papers or keeps rescheduling your date after you had turned in the proper documents — there may be reason to extend it.
If you need an extension because of your own poor planning, ignorance and procrastination, or you and your fiance(e) decided to get married so one of you could get a permit to stay/live/work in Greece, then authorities will likely deny an extension. The ‘why’ should be obvious.
If I overstayed my visa, and my Greek fiance and I get married in another country and come back, is that OK?
No, because it doesn’t change the fact you violated the law of maximum 90 days stay within any 180-day period. When you apply for a permit as the non-EU spouse of a Greek citizen to stay in Greece legally, authorities will see you don’t have a valid visa and deny you from applying. If you somehow make it past that hurdle (which you shouldn’t), the eight-member panel will catch this during your interview and deny issuance of your permit.
Can I get a permit or get married if I overstay my visa or am an illegal resident?
No. Once your visa (student, work, tourist, Schengen) has expired, you enter an illegal status and are therefore ineligible to be hired legally, apply for a residence/work permit, conduct official transactions and get married. Why? In short, because you must be legal to do something legal.
Application for a residence/work permit requires you be in a legitimate status, as does applying for a marriage license. If you somehow slip through the cracks, higher authorities will eventually deny your permit or can have it revoked at any time. Likewise, if your marriage is suspicious, a board of eight people will make that determination during the interview process, withhold issuing your permit and request that you leave the country, and upon leaving you will be fined and possibly blacklisted.
Why doesn’t the Embassy/Consulate intervene on my behalf?
The embassy/consulate is a diplomatic mission that serves citizens and non-citizens regarding issues with the homeland, not the host country of Greece where it is a guest. Therefore, it cannot override a host country’s rules and regulations, nor help or intervene when a citizen has broken local laws. Visitors to this country are responsible for their actions, and ignorance is not a legitimate defense.
What about overstaying student and work visas?
Student and work visas are visas that have classifications and entry limitations. Generally:
– Work visas on the whole cannot be renewed, converted or extended because they are for temporary stays (conference, consultation) or must be exchanged for a work permit before expiration.
– Student visas on the whole are restricted to one entry and are for temporary stays (semester abroad) or must be exchanged for a residence permit before expiration.
The correct visa and length of validity should have been sorted back in your homeland before arrival in accordance and adherence to the plan in place. There should be no need for an extension or reason for overstay. Period.
Greece is more strict with overstays
The majority of Schengen countries are lenient with certain tourists when it comes to staying longer than the 90 days because it is good for the economy, but Greece is strict and has no tolerance because it is the gateway for 75 percent of the EU’s total illegal border crossings. Enforcement of the 90-day Schengen rule has been well documented in travel articles and guides, such as the Lonely Planet and Rough Guides. The EU border-monitoring agency Frontex will open its first European regional office in Athens, Greece as of October 2010 to fight alongside local authorities.
In the past: It used to be that one could get around the 90-day rule and renew a visa by crossing any country’s border and re-entering, but those days ended March 26, 2000 when Greece — a member of the common area since 1992 — began implementing Schengen.
Today: Crossing to a non-Schengen, non-EU country and re-entering is pointless with the current law in place. Attempting it will accomplish nothing, even if border patrol does not enforce the law and turn you away.
There are no tricks to extending, resetting or renewing a visa. Anyone who tells you they went over the border to a non-EU, non-Schengen country to renew or reset their visa for another 90 days anytime after March 26, 2000 is ill-informed and accomplished nothing but wasting time and money. If they didn’t get in trouble, it’s because they got lucky and encountered equally ignorant Greek authorities, not because the crossing actually worked or because border control is stricter today.
What is the law?
Schengen allows a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period in the entire Schengen zone. It doesn’t matter if it’s a continuous 90 days or 30 days this month, 30 days two months from now and another 30 days four months from now.
– For example, if you have already been in the Schengen zone for 90 days, it means you need to get out and stay out for 90 days before coming back.
– For example, if you arrived in the Schengen zone on May 1, used 60 days, exited for 30 days to the Czech Republic , and came back to Schengen, you still have only 30 days left of your 90 days maximum. The only way the Schengen clock resets to the entire 90 days is when your 180 days expires end of November.
Anyone who tells you it is 180 days in the Schengen zone or 90 days per Schengen country doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
* Special thanks to Frank, who provided first-hand experience to revise this section.
The best advice
I find the best advice is:
a) Be sensible, plan ahead, educate yourself before departing your homeland, get the right visa and don’t even think about overstaying
or
b) If you are planning to stay in Greece past the validity of any visa offered and find no legal way to secure a work/residence permit, go ahead and overstay as long as you wish without exiting, consciously accept the consequences and pay the fine when you leave.
There’s nothing more to add.
Overstaying without an visa extension
Anyone who stays beyond a visa’s validity without an extension and without a residence/work permit is “illegal,” subject to interrogation by airport officials, and must pay a fine upon exiting. Those caught working illegally or engaging in criminal activity in addition to being illegal are subject to deportation. Minors under the age of 18 accompanied by an adult are not fined, as they are considered an innocent party to their parents’ irresponsible decisions.
If you cannot or choose not to pay the fine of 600 to 1,300 euros, officials will stamp your passport with the outstanding amount and a code number, which will be referenced in a computer each time you cross a border. You will likely be questioned at border crossings and can be barred from entering other Schengen countries.
Paying the fine at a later date clears your outstanding balance, however the mark (red, black, purple or whatever they have on hand) in your passport remains until its next renewal. It is possible you will still be questioned, as your travel record remains in the computer for a long time no matter what passport you use, because new passports are cross referenced with former ones. (Note: I was questioned in Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Italy, in addition to being pulled out of line and temporarily detained in Greece, each time I crossed even though my fine was paid years before and I presented the original receipt every single time).
If you have a layover and are exiting via another Schengen country on your flight home, it is possible that Greece will allow you to pass without penalty and assume the layover Schengen country will deal with you. This could work in your favor if authorities in that country ignore the overstay; but it could also work against you in that authorities may bar you from entering or assess you a penalty greater than what Greece may have. (* Special nod to Brady for contributing part of this info).
There have been claims that those who overstay a visa “can never come back to Greece,” but there is no written law to support this statement.
Is there a grace period for Schengen?
A lot of rumors on the Internet and forums have people believing there is a 10, 14 or 21 day grace period. It’s not true. There is no documented legal grace period.
What if I don’t have a stamp in my passport?
Passports are scanned by border control upon entering and exiting a country, though most people are not paying attention when it happens. Therefore, it really doesn’t matter what stamps you have or don’t have in your passport.
If the country is connected to the Schengen Information System (SIS) — I don’t know which are or aren’t, and status could change at any time — your passport will be scanned as it was when you entered, and anyone in violation of a visa will be automatically flagged. Authorities know exactly how many days you have, even if you don’t.
If the country is not connected to the Schengen computer, border patrol can question you, ask for proof of entry and (s)he can very easily do the math…or ask nothing and let you pass.
How is an overstay fine or penalty calculated?
Whether or not you’re even looked at or how much you’re fined (600-1300 euros) is purely the discretion of the person passing judgment; it doesn’t matter how long ago you passed the deadline. The American Embassy in Athens and other articles written by people who do not live in Greece wrongly state that the penalty assessed is determined by the length of overstay. How do I know they’re wrong? I know people who overstayed one day and were fined 600 euros, and people who overstayed four months and were fined exactly the same thing.
The immigration official can decide to do something…or not. If you’re let go, nothing is recorded in the computer or your passport, and you should be grateful and be on your way. If you’re not let go, he will enter you in the computer and assess a fine. You will then have the choice of paying the fine or not.
– If you pay, you will still be entered in the computer but your passport won’t be marked and there is no risk of being blacklisted.
– If you do not pay, the fine stays with you and your computer record until you do, and you risk being blacklisted for up to five (5) years. If you try and enter the Schengen zone before the blacklist period expires, whoever you get upon entering the Schengen zone will again have the choice of letting you pay the fine and allow you passage, or turn you away. If you’re turned away, you’ll be responsible for any lost flight and hotel reservations, plus the cost of transporting yourself to another country or back home.
Well-to-do tourists are usually not bothered. Crackdowns are more likely for repeat violators of visas, scruffy tourists and backpackers, football hooligans, people pretending to be tourists but are trying to flee their country and work illegally, etc. Greek authorities are also seeking to crack down on Americans, Australians, Canadians and other non-EU citizens who come to Greece each summer to work illegally and party, as they account for the greatest number of year-round overstays. This reflects badly on our countries.
Can I pay my overstay fine/penalty in another EU or Schengen country?
No, you must pay your fine/penalty in the country where it happened. Otherwise, it won’t be cleared. If you overstayed in Greece, had a penalty assessed in Greece and didn’t pay, the only way it can be recorded as satisfied is if you or someone you appoint pays that fine and is given a receipt by Greek authorities. You can also pay the fine at any Greek embassy or Greek consulate worldwide.
Keep the payment receipt for as long as you hold this “marked” passport or longer, until there is a pattern of people not requesting to see it.
I cannot pay 1200 euros. Is there a way to get my fine reduced?
No.
Do they accept credit cards or only cash?
Cash is king in Greece, and everyone I know paid cash. However, that’s not to say they don’t have a swipe machine to process credit and debit cards. If they don’t have one, you’ll be permitted to visit an ATM/cash machine or call someone.
In the Athens airport, passengers in danger of being fined are detained in an office near passport control. That means it’s very easy to cross over to the ‘non-passenger’ side of the terminal to find a currency exchange, bank, cash machine or friend/relative.
Deportation
A mark in your passport and paying a fine does not mean you have been deported. Deportation usually occurs after police have detained you, you go to a Greek court of justice and legal judgment has been officially rendered. Laws state that those who are deported by police or a court of justice cannot return for a minimum of three (3) years. I also read in the Government Gazette that the deportation fine is 1500 euros.
* Note that the EU has drafted a law stating that anyone caught working illegally in the EU can be jailed for up to 18 months before deportation. It’s scheduled to take effect in 2010.
Important note
The rules and regulations that govern applying for an extension and the penalties for overstaying a visa are different for every Schengen country. It is wrong to think that all Schengen countries are the same.
Many of the facts relayed in this article do apply to other Schengen countries. However, you must check with authorities in the country of concern if you are not living, working or studying in Greece and not planning to exit Schengen via Greece.
Alien’s Bureaus
Athens
173 Alexandras Avenue
(210) 646-8103
(210) 770-5711
(210) 641-1746
Elefsina
18 Iroon Polytechneiou
(210) 554-7427
Elliniko
Proin Anatolikos Aerolimenas Athinon
(210) 960-1341
Glyfada
23 Karaiskaki
(210) 960-1341
(210) 962-7068
Kolonos
99 Antigonis
(210) 510-2833
Lavrio
3 Damoukara
(2210) 922-5265
Maroussi
73 D. Gounari
(210) 802-4808
Pallini
14 Athanasiou Diakou
(210) 603-2982
(210) 603-2980
Piraeus
37 Iroon Polytechniou
(210) 412-2501
(210) 412-8607
(210) 417-4592
Tavros
24 Petrou Ralli
(210) 340-5828/829/888
Hours 8:00-14:00
Thessaloniki
25 Tsimiski
(2310) 521.067
(2310) 510.829
Additional phone number from the Kathimerini: (210) 750-5711/17
(List is incomplete)
Police stations
In many non-urban areas, the local police station serves as the Alien’s Bureau.
Call ‘11888′ or ‘1500′ within Greece to inquire and find the location nearest you. If you are outside Greece, you are likely not in need of a visa extension and should call the Greek Consulate of your homeland to address any related inquiries.
* Note: Police and bureau staff are not guaranteed to speak English, so it may be necessary to bring a Greek-speaking companion or show additional patience with the process.
Sources
- Greek Consulate in Washington DC
- Ministry of Justice, Greece
- Friends now working at Eleftheriou Venizelou Airport and local police stations
- Friend who worked for the Alien’s Bureau on Alexandras in 2003
- Personal experience; experiences of Americans and Canadians from 1997-2009
- Specific experiences of non-EU citizens KEB and Frank, August-November 2007
- Article from Athens News, for comparison purposes only
Related posts
“Non-EU travelers need 50 euros a day”
“Summer jobs in Greece FAQ”
“How Americans/non-EU citizens can move, live and work in Greece”
http://bit.ly/GRoverstaying
Permalink
Ann wrote @ July 25th, 2007 at 14:23
I overstayed my visa a couple of years ago, had to pay the fine (over 500 euros, if I remember correctly) but no one has ever questioned it since I got back into Greece (with a little “rosfeti” in addition to the fine, I must add, since I was coming from a non-Schengen country).
jvanover wrote @ August 8th, 2007 at 15:54
What do you think about a cruise to Greece vs. flying there and staying? And which cities would you recommend us visit?
Grace wrote @ August 23rd, 2007 at 23:08
Hi, I just got back from the Greek consulate in LA. She informed me that I cannot stay in Greece for longer than 90 days. And after expiration of the 90 days, I have to be out of the country for another 90 days before I can return. Are you saying that as long as I leave before the original 90 day expiration and return with a new stamp, I can stay for another 90 days? I was further informed that a violation of the visa rules would result in a 1000 Euro fine per day! Is that correct? I am a US citizen who was planning on taking a year long sabbatical in Greece and now it looks like I can’t (despite having given up my apartment, job, etc.
R.D wrote @ August 30th, 2007 at 18:53
Well, after reading through these posts I’m quite concerned what may happen to me.
I lived in Greece from 1992 to 2002 with my family and obtained a residency permit in 2001 from local authorities(somehow…) when they noticed I did’nt have one. Lucky for me then.
I recently returned to Greece from Canada after a 5 year absence to spend time with my mother who has Greek citizenship. It occurred to me I should have a residency permit again to stay, so 2 weeks before my 3 month visa expired I went to local authorities to begin applying for residency.
They held onto the paperwork untill my visa expired and sent it to our local town hall saying they could’nt complete the residency permit. End of conversation. Now noone will help me, the police are saying I have to pay over 1300 euros to extend my visa for a month and they won’t do it anyway. I have decided to try getting Greek citizenship, but we are going around in circles with this visa expiration business.
I cannot leave for 6 months and come back right now as I got rid of my apartment in Canada and my home is in Greece.
Has anyone had to deal with this kind of situation?
Rob.D wrote @ September 2nd, 2007 at 21:08
Wow, thanks Kat for your post. We went to the naturalization(?) offine here and they said since I arrived in Greece originally in 1992 and my mother was written in the books in the town hall in our village in 1993, I have always had the option to be Greek. And so with my Mothers pile of paperwork and my birth certificate I’m going tomorrow to start the application for citizenship.I spoke to the commander of the armed forces on our island and I can get a paper from my embassy that states I will be completing my military service in Canada (possible because of NATO). So as long as I keep a low profile here like you said untill I get my citizenship I should be fine, provided I use my new Greek passport when I leave the country?
Whew. After being here for the easy years when things could be done without any major concequences, I find myself coming here being oblivious to modern procedures when in my own country, Canada, I would never dream of not going through the proper lines and procedures to get something this important done. A lesson for anyone who ever gets into this situation, including myself.
I’ll post again when I know exactly what’s going to happen.
Thanks again so much for taking the time.
PIC wrote @ September 4th, 2007 at 17:06
Just a question: If you leave greece and depart to the states (via Germany) I don’t believe you pass thru passport control, and thus no one will know long you were in Greece.
When I went to the states last year (via Germany), I don’t remember entering a passport control area until I got to Germany.
I can’t see the Germans enforcing a Greek 90 day rule or is this a EU 90 day rule?
George wrote @ September 4th, 2007 at 17:36
PIC – Its part of the schengen law.
i have overstayed the 90 days that you are allowed under the rules. I will only be overstaying by 12 days (total 104). I broke my leg 5 weeks ago and was in no state to travel. My parents are both born in Greece and have Greek citizenship as well. I rang the police service at Athens International Airport, and was advised as my parents are Greek, that automatically makes me to be considered a Greek Citizen (same situation applies with military service). So i can now leave with no problem.
George wrote @ September 5th, 2007 at 09:34
I have rung 4 different alien bureau and the police from the Airport in Athens, i have no problem with overstaying the 90 days as i am of Greek parents. I have also been advised by me consulate in Australia, that i will not be subject to the 30 day rule, as i have not been registered in Greece. You can not obtain a “poistopioitiko monimou to exoterikou”, unless you have been registered.
Your thoughts?
becky wrote @ October 26th, 2007 at 12:16
I am a Canadian 18 year helping a family with their quadruplets. I have not yet passed my 90 day visa. although im not quite sure what the meaning is – is it the stamp i got in athens? As it wasn’t an official visa as it were.
Im am desparate to stay an extend my visa/stamp and i will obviously not outstay the 90 days but i do want to apply for the extension. My question really is what are examples of special circumstances. I guess the fact that im helping with all the babies as the single mum cna’t cope doesn’t quite cut the mustard? Any advice would be gratefully recieved any extension would help .
–
I got your advice, but anyway im upbeat and postiive something good will happen. I don’t need to go through all that work. Thanks anyway.
—
I got my extension with no problem at all, I was expecting alot of trouble. The police officer told me what an upbeat young lady I am.
frank wrote @ November 13th, 2007 at 09:23
I just want to clarify the Schengen rule. 90 days out of 180 means just that. Take any period of 180 days, say Jan 1 through Jun 30. If you spend more than 90 days in Schengen during that period, then you violate the rule. Now move the window to Feb 1 through Jul 30. Same 90 out of 180 applies.
Bottom line: crossing the border to a non-Schengen country and then re-entering isn’t going to help if you are at the 90 day limit. The only thing that will help is to leave Schengen and STAY OUT for a full 90 days.
For those people who need to be in Greece for a long period of time, say 180 days from Jan 1 through Jun 30, then you need to spend at least 90 of those days (say Mar 1 through May 30) in Turkey or some other non-Schengen country.
BTW Greece is the only Schengen country which is actively enforcing this rule and assessing fines on tourists from America and other developed countries (other than “tourists” who got into trouble with the police for some other reason) . Evidently, the other Schengen countries are more concerned than Greece about disrupting the flow of tourist dollars.
And yes, yes, I know the United States is even more difficult than Greece about overstaying tourist visas. Evidently the United States (which has the biggest trade deficit in the history of the world) feels it has even less need than Greece for foreign exchange.
Karen wrote @ November 21st, 2007 at 11:04
Just a question in reference to the paying of one-time fines for overstaying the 90-day Schengen Visa.
Im about to exit France on an Australian passport after overstaying and one of your posters ‘Frank’ briefly mentioned in this thread that:
BTW Greece is the only Schengen country which is actively enforcing this rule and assessing fines on tourists from America and other developed countries (other than “tourists” who got into trouble with the police for some other reason).
How does Frank know that Greece is the only country actively enforcing the fine? Im asking out of curiousity, as I’m obviously hoping that France is not!
Do you know if the amount of the fine (600-1300euros) is assessed based on length of overstay or something more arbitrary (such as the mood of the immigration official on the day)?
Ive been having great trouble finding anything at all on the net about the fines/penalties, so any advice you could give would be much appreciated.
Cheers, Karen
Debra wrote @ December 7th, 2007 at 22:08
This is a story of being ignorant of this 90 day rule within the Schengen countries…and Greece. My son has been traveling in the Schengen countries since August 07. He left Greece a couple of days ago to go to Istanbul. It was upon departure that he was shocked to hear this rule of 90 days…and the Greek guard demanded that he pay a fine. My son thought this was was all made up and he thought he heard 6000 euros !! My son did not have that kind of money. I think he misheard, it was probably 600. He did not pay. Anyways his passport was stamped by the Greeks upon departure and the info was noted in the Greek computer system. He says the stamp is purpl-ish blue , a rectangular stamp on the front page, , all in Greek and half smudged, dates illegible. The dilemna is that he will be flying to the Basel/Mulhound/Freiberg airport in a few days , landing, we believe , on the Swiss side. What I have been able to ascertain, through talking to the Swiss and Belgium consulates, is that it is an arbitrary situation as to whether the immigration officer will even look at the Canadian passport, it is possible that he will be waved through… If he does get stopped it is still arbritary whether they will act on it…. however if they do act on it he will be detained in the ariport and they will assist him in finding a flight out..to the UK or Canada. In speaking to the Belgium consulate, she was shocked at this info about the Greeks fining people. she said that in Belgium they issue a paper requesting that you leave within a week, and they will check within a month. Only in criminal cases do they escort yo to airport. The Swiss consulate was also shocked at the fine. He said they would not expect payment as they are not part of the Schengen countries, and the Belgium consulate said they do not fine people. so that is our experience so far and we will see what actually happens when he gets to Switzerland. I will post you, if your readers are interested.
appreciated finding this info on your website. /And would welcome any feedback. cheers.
Ina wrote @ December 30th, 2007 at 01:17
Hi Kat you seem to know a lot about this stuff,
Do you know if its possible to get a multiple entry visa for students studying abroad in greece?
Brad wrote @ January 3rd, 2008 at 19:03
Wondered what your wisdom is on the following timely visa puzzle:
Five months ago, an American has her passport stamped entering Europe via Copenhagen, and then, same day, gets stamped exiting Schengen via German land border to Poland.
Now, 5 months later, after inadvertantly overstaying 3 month tourist visa in Poland, she has return flight to USA via Copenhagen but is concerned about overstay penalties.
With recent Schengen changes, seems she can get back up to Copenhagen by land without encountering passport control. But how will Copenhagen customs treat this passport?
Will they view it as being stamped exited Schengen long ago (before Poland became Schengen) and hence as not overstaying normal Schengen 3 month visa and therefore as “legal”, or will they view it as failing to leave the (now expanded) Schengen region before the allowed 3 months ended and hence as “illegal’? And if “illegal” then what penalties to expect?
Thanks for any feedback on this matter…
FMS wrote @ January 4th, 2008 at 23:53
Brad: there is an article in Migration NewsSheet [a professional journal] of January 2008 stating that, until now, Americans in Poland were all allowed to renew their visas indefinitely, simply by travelling to a nearby country and applying for another Polish visa from the consulate there. But now that Poland is in Schengen, this option is ruled out.
My guess is that for a very short period of time, people travelling out of Poland will be treated with some flexibility, since the change is so recent. I doubt that there are any rules on this though, so you are at the mercy of each border guard. It would be better to apply for a Schengen visa from another country, in order to pass through Copenhagen and get back to the USA. Alternatively, there are transit-only visas available: I doubt that Americans ever use them though: they are designed for “difficult” poor countries’ nationals.
Note from Kat: Excellent note Martin, however as I understand, Brad’s friend has avoided or plans to avoid Polish border control, thus her whereabouts cannot be established. But as I’ve repeated many, many times (and you repeated again), border guards may or may not care.
Phillip wrote @ January 7th, 2008 at 01:10
Last October, my Canadian friend was briefly detained at the Frankfurt airport because she stayed in Santorini for 9 months on a tourist visa, so when she exited the EU via Frankfurt, they had some big questions for her. I don’t remember if she had to pay a fine, but she was banned from the EU for six months (not that that really affected her…she wasn’t planning to return until this spring), and it was quite a stressful experience. So, never overstay a visa!
Gary wrote @ March 8th, 2008 at 08:41
Kat, you must nearly go crazy having to repeat yourself so often, over and over, again. At risk of making you any crazier, I would just like to ask for brief clarification of what I understand you to have written several times, in a few different tones. Kat, I am a US citizen sitting here in the US. My daughter is headed from here to Santorini in early April. She fully plans on staying there, in a nice studio apartment at a nice resort, for six (6) months. She heads back to the US on September 30, 2008. As you, and the Greek Consulate’s office in Atlanta, Georgia, have pointed out, as a US citizen she does not need a Schengen visa to enter Greece, just her US passport. Now, if I am hearing you correctly, and I am reasonably sure I am, assuming she keeps out of trouble while there, that when she attempts to leave Greece, through Athens, to London, to the USA, she will more than likely be questioned about her 90 day overstay. When she has no good explanation to give them (keeping in mind she is 23 y.o., a well spoken college grad, well dressed, even attractive, and appears to be fairly well off financially), they will probably scold her and present her with a fine of 600 to 1300 Euro. When she then apologizes for her transgression and quickly offers to pay her fine, and does so, they will let her pass through (without any bad mark in her passport), and she will be on her way home. Correct? She will also, likely, have no problem in London, either, when she changes planes. Correct again? One interesting point I want to make; when I asked the Greek gentleman, at the Atlanta based, Greek Consulate, what he would advise, since I knew she was premeditating six (6) months, and I told him exactly that, he suggested she simply stay the six months and pay her fine on the way out. He even suggested she contact the local authorities, upon arrival in Greece, and ask them what the fine will be. 
)) Kat, could I please get your clarification of, or agreement with, what I think I understand to be the case, and perhaps your reaction to the advice from the Consulate? Thank you, Gary
peachy wrote @ April 17th, 2008 at 14:59
I need to ask a question what do you mean by airport authorities in the Greek airport? I am Canadian and I am flying directly from Greece to Canada is there some sort of border control in the airport when I am flying directly to Canada or just the usual border control that I have to go through in Canada? I have been flying back and forth to Greece for some few years now and I only have ever gone through Schipol and there is where I met border control.. so in a nutshell am I to meet with the same border control as in Schipol here in Athens Greece?
Angie wrote @ April 30th, 2008 at 13:38
Ok, so here’s my situation:
My 90 day student visa expired yesterday. My classes, however, are not finished for another 2 weeks. When I first applied for the visa in the US (my home country) I was told by the consulate that I could not get a visa for longer than 90 days (something about their system not being updated) and that I would have to apply for an extension when the time came. I didn’t think 2 weeks was a big deal and didn’t plan on extending, until now, after reading this page. My question is: is there anything I can do now? Since I have entered illegal status, am I even allowed to apply for an extension? (In the article you said no, but could the fact that my semester isn’t finished yet change anything?) If I do go to apply for an extension, will they see that I am illegal and deport me?
Yikes!
P.S. What a valuable website, for everything…I wish I found it sooner!
Britt wrote @ May 4th, 2008 at 20:46
I am a student studying on Paros Island for three months. I arrived in Paris Feb. 27 and will be leaving on June 2. This means I am on day 68 of 97 days in Greece.
I was somewhat aware of the regulations before I got here, but didn’t have enough time to get a student visa since the process takes quite some time. I have been traveling in The Netherlands and Italy as well, which I know are both part of the agreement, but an not time has my passport ever been stamped. I entered the E.U. through Paris (as my first stop from Boston) and arrived in Greece 8 days later, but was never stamped at any time. There is no record of my arrival within my passport, and I don’t believe it was ever scanned upon entry.
Should I be concerned? When I leave on June 1, I am flying to Amsterdam first, not directly to the states, so I am staying in the Shengen. Will I be questioned in Greece before I leave? And how would I go about trying to get an extension for 90+ days if I do not have a stamp letting the authorities know when I arrived here? Your guidelines say that would be necessary.
Thanks so much for all this information. Hopefully it will help me figure out my return home.
Aimee wrote @ May 13th, 2008 at 01:25
All the information posted on this site has been highly appreciated and I would like to thank you in advance for any suggestions you can give me.
My situation is the following:
I am a canadian ctiizen and have been living within the European Union (between spain and italy) for quite some time now. ( I have been living illegally for three years and have only been able to do so since finding a route where officals do not stamp my passport when I leave..) I have no visa or permit and have not returned to canada since last august 07. (Therefore the last stamp I have was on re-entering spain in august 07.)
My parents are coming to visit me this coming june and we have planned a trip through Greece and Turkey. I am starting to stress out about going to Turkey because I know I am at risk of not being able to return back into the european union or be overly fined for my long overstay. My questions are 1) Will I have to pass through border control leaving Greece by Ferry boat to Turkey (or just as Im hoping, pass border control only when entering Turkey)? 2) Can Greek officals ban me from entering the Shengen zone again after leaving, or just fine me?
Any answers or suggestions will be more than helpfull
…besides the obvious suggestion of getting legal residency in the european union…which im working on 
Thanks, Aimee
Angie wrote @ May 18th, 2008 at 07:54
Hi again, Kat. Firstly thank you for responding to my last post. Secondly, I have another question, this time a bit more urgent. I’ve just broken my front tooth in half and need to go to the dentist a.s.a.p. to have it repaired, and will probably require a root canal as well. In the meantime, since my student visa expired, my status is illegal! What does this mean? Will I still be able to get help from a dentist? Also, any advice on how to go about doing so? Assuming the answer is positive, with no insurance and illegal status will it cost me an arm and a leg?
I’m sorry to bother you with this, but I really feel helpless/scared at the moment. Any advice or information you can offer me is greatly welcomed and appreciated.
Tina wrote @ June 9th, 2008 at 09:59
My boyfriend has dual citizenship American and Greek. He went to Greece and extended his ticket which went over 30 days. He was detained at the airport and told he had military obligations and needed to serve another 60 days.
3 years ago he left Greece and was supposed to have gone back and finish within 6 months. He ended up staying in US for 2 1/2 years. He obviously made a huge mistake by extending his ticket and now is stuck there until August when they will serve him his papers. He is not able to leave until he serves his 60 days.
He is starting school at the end of June and is desperately trying to think of ways to get out of there. I did some research and came upon your site which was very helpful. But I still have some questions.
Can he take a boat to Italy and then leave from there with his American passport without a problem? Or will his name show up in the computer system in Italy, if so what happens then? Do they send him back to Greece? Will it make a difference if he leaves from a non Schengen country? Will he even make it out of Greece?
I understand what he did was dumb on all counts and I dont think he should do anything stupid which most likely would land him in jail. I just want to know if there is any way for him to get out without getting in trouble.
I look forward to your reply.
Rebecca wrote @ June 13th, 2008 at 06:20
In three days, I’ll go to Greece for an international exchange project- being part of a children camp team. I’ll spend 66 days in that camp. My schengen visa can be used within these three months, but the duration of stay is allowed 30 days only. (The travel agency did the wrong application) I plan stay 4 days in Rome before I go back (non-Schengen country).
Is it better to apply visa extension than overstaying? And the extention really costs 456 euros?
Kate wrote @ June 17th, 2008 at 20:37
Hi, I am an American student currently working/studying in Denmark. I have a student residence permit that extends from May 5th until August 15th, but I am planning on finishing early on August 1st and spending a week on Kalymnos Island. I would fly out of Athens back to LAX around August 10th or 11th, but I was wondering if I would get hassled by the Greek border patrol for leaving Greece to go to the States instead of Denmark? Does a residence permit in one country in Schengen allow you to travel within Schengen within the time denoted on the permit? I wasn’t concerned about it until I read the postings above and now I’m a bit nervous and wondering if I should cancel my flight to Greece and spend some time in Italy instead?
Sadly, the question doesn’t end there. My boyfriend is also travelling with me and we’re very afraid about his overstay. His 90th day from the day we arrived in Copenhagen in August 6th. Doesn’t seem like a big deal right? Just a few days over, but there is a problem. He was on a climbing tour without a visa in Spain earlier this year for about 5-6 weeks. He came back to the US but was only back in the country for 70 days, not 90. So I guess all of this information is going to pop up on the Greek computer and we’re going to be in a heap of trouble because we are backpackers (sort of – we don’t look like it – and our backpacks will be checked in the terminal).
I can still cancel the trip to Greece and book something else for the two of us. What would you do? He is currently in the South of France and had no problems leaving Denmark and the French customs officials didn’t hassle him either. Should we play it safe and go elsewhere and come back to Greece six months from now to avoid being slapped with a fine? I insisted that he come on this trip, so I would gladly pay the fine. However, I don’t really carry that much cash on my person. How do you go about paying these people if you are (worst case scenario) caught and slapped with an enormous fine? Can you charge it or is it a chack/bank transfer? I don’t want to look like an ass asking a border patrol officer if he’ll swipe my Visa card, but 1300 euros is approximately $2015 and that’s more than I keep in my checking account when I travel. I would have to put it on a credit card. I’m scared about this trip now and it looks like backing out and scheduling something else would be in our best interest. Any thoughts?
By the way, this site is great. I had no idea what it would be like to go to Greece!
Thanks!
Sheila wrote @ June 19th, 2008 at 00:33
Bless you! As others also affirm, this is an incomparable website. Thank you!
Just a quickie- i understand all policies, visas, non-visas, extensions etc. but nowhere did I see any kind of reference to any sort of grace period. I too, like the Paros gal studied there for the three month period, but ended up being 10 days over, due to the program not being finished. I was uninformed and found myself interrogated for a few brief moments on the way back through Munich. I met someone very special 
and have been planning for years to go back and reunite with him. The finances have finally proved to make it feesable…but now, down the line, i remembered that incident. I began investigating and came across some resources that said there is a 10 day grace period to leave the country after the 90 days are up, without “being in trouble” or even subject to fine.
I TOTALLY understand your case-sensitive rationale here, which i’ll cross my fingers for! But just wondering if you know of any official documentation of a grace period being allowed when fine cannot be enforced? I know, a long shot…as it looks on here many have suffered from just the day over scenario. Shoot! Any info on the topic?
Thanks a million!
FABULOUS site!
1st time in my 25 years here in Greece that I’ve seen such an informative and well presented package of crucial information.
BRAVO….
Sarah wrote @ July 17th, 2008 at 02:17
Hi Kat
First, I just want to say that this has been BY FAR the most accurate and useful site dealing with legalities in Greece that I have encountered.
I would also like to add some of my experiences so that they could help others. I overstayed by 11 days when I was studying (without a visa) so I urge all prospective students to go through the process and get one! Since I was flying directly to the US (a non Schengen country obviously) I was stopped at customs and taken into an office. When I told them I didn’t have the money, they stamped my passport and wrote something on the stamp in Greek.
I only returned home for about 6 weeks between semesters and returned to Greece through Germany this time. When I went through customs (with my Greek student visa) they looked at my passport briefly, stamped me, and let me go on my way. I don’t know if they scanned it or not, but since everything on my overstay stamp from Greece was in Greek, I really don’t know how they would know what it meant. Since I was already in the EU, I didn’t have to go through customs in Greece and figured (stupidly) that I was in the clear. I finished my second semester, and spent a summer on the islands. Since my student visa was a year long, I wasn’t too worried when I went to leave Greece for England, and then to America. But I had to go through customs in Greece again because the UK still does border checks. The guy looked at my overstay stamp and asked if I had paid the fine in Germany. I automatically lied and said yes and he stamped my passport and let me go through.
I stayed in America for the next 10 months finishing my degree and then decided to go back to Greece after graduation. Again, I went through London, and when I arrived in Greece I was asked about the stamp. I said I paid it in Germany. The man shook his head and said it was impossible that I could have paid it in Germany since the country I had overstayed in was Greece. He told me I must have been taken advantage of in Germany and I was forced to pay 587.93 euro. before they let me into the country. Thank goodness I had prepared for this just in case. Can you only pay an overstay fine in the country that you are originally fined in? I didn’t think so, but this guy said it was so. hmm.
Well, I didn’t give up my dream of living in Greece and stayed another year. I was fully prepared that I may get fined again. But I figured I would lessen odds if I didn’t have to go through customs in Greece, so I went through Italy. The guy barely raised an eyebrow and stamped me through. I was so relieved.
Here’s some words of advice:
1. Get your student visa AHEAD of time. Not surprisingly, many students aren’t able to get their visas processed because the embassies usually take more time than expected. Since there are so many documents needed, start the process as early as possible and make sure your school knows what they are talking about. Your school should give you the list of all of the required documents and how to get them.
2. If you know you are going to overstay in Greece, then avoid going through customs there. This means exiting Greece to another Schengen country before a non-Schengen country. But obviously this is not a guarantee by any means!
3. I am not so sure there is a Grace period, I was stamped for an overstay of 11 days! Just know that ahead of time!
4. Be prepared. After I had my passport stamped, I knew that there was a possibility of being fined so I always made sure I had at least 1,000 euros on me when flying in and out of the country. That sounds extreme, but if you KNOW that you are breaking the law and may get caught, then you have to accept the consequences.
And I do have a quick question: I am getting a new passport while here in America. Does anyone know if they will still be able to see my entries and exits via computer on my new blank passport? And if I was not given an overstay stamp for this last period of time, can they force me to pay one when I re-enter with a new passport? (through Italy again.)
I know that you can never fully predict what may happen, just checking if anyone has had a similar experience to this one.
Thanks!
Iva wrote @ July 27th, 2008 at 20:55
Hi Kat……..
i am both a croatian and canadian citizen currently residing in croatia, My boyfriend is a croatian citizen and a pro windsurfer. For the past 4 yrs he has been working in greece at a windsurf station and is very much loved by returning guests, customers and locals in the small cretan village he spends 6 months of every yr in. This is his livelihood and what he lives off for the next 6 mo of the yr. He at no point was aware that he was allowed a maximum stay of 90 days within the country and for the past 4 yrs no border police (or any kind of police for that matter) ever made problems (he always took a ferry from greece to ancona and drove through to croatia). This yr, he decided, was his last yr working in greece but his boss now has become afraid the so called board police will catch him this yr, haul him off to jail and revoke his work licence in essence closing the windsurf station. My boyfriend has recently hurt himself and obtained a note from a greek physician stating that he did not recommend my boyfriend travel back to croatia. The police in sitia (crete) denied this request but stated that if he pay 600 euros a month he will be allowed to stay in the country !?! I have done alot of research and no where have i seen info such as this. They have said he can stay until the end of october if he pays 600 euros a month….so i am at this point completely confused. I have read what you have written above and it seems this is a fine and not an invitation to stay longer in the country.
My questions are as follows: can u pay to overstay in greece (600 euros a month) ? Does my boyfriend have any other options rather than leaving since the season only lasts until the end of october and then we would return to croatia? If border police of a country stamp your passport does that mean the passport is not scanned and entered into the schengen computer system and vise versa?And lastly but most importantly, what are the consequences for employers employing individuals from a non-eu country that are currently there illegally?
Four yeras he has had luck and has not been caught based on the simple fact that he had no idea he was doing something illegal and the border police at the ferries and borders did not bother checking when he entered (he has had no exit stamps for the past 4 yrs). My boyfriend is not a criminal, his record is clean, and he simply would like to spend a final yr doing what he loves. We do not intend on living there so if there is anything that he can do based on the fact that he is an established windsurfer it would be greatly appreciated if you could get back to me as soon as you get a chance.
We have met some amazing people and love the country but getting accurate info in greece is like pulling teeth. Ask a simple question you get 10 different answers…….
thank you in advance for your time.
Dina wrote @ July 28th, 2008 at 06:18
I am non-EU & non-America citizen, but I am married to the Greek national and planning soon to travel to Greece. Our marriage had been legalised in Greece, and I am expecting to travel to Greece in late September. The problem is I cannot find anywhere online the documents I have to collect to apply for visa and for how long this visa may last. Would you be able to advise me on this matter?
Josif wrote @ July 28th, 2008 at 13:34
I would like to ask you people some questions if possible?
I got a visa overstay fee of above 500 euros a couple of years ago.
1- Does this fee increases with time?
2- Is this fee automatically cleared after 5 years?
3- Can I pay at the airport if my fine was issued at a border crossing?
Thank you,
Josif
Brian wrote @ August 6th, 2008 at 11:31
Hmmm.
Heres my story. I am married to a Greek and at one time held a work visa. We came to visit Nov. 2006. While here, we began to renew the permit since we were staying past three months. All the rules had changed. It didn’t look like I would have all the proper paperwork in time, so we tried the old “leave the country and re-enter routine” (I was not up to date on the Schengen facts. I had done this back in 97 and went to Albania “alone”. Yes I went to Albania in 97 another story.). So we returned from Bulgaria and I assumed I was good for another three months.
We took care of the permit papers, where I was then issued a document that would allow me to work until I was approved or denied.
Well, when I went to leave via the airport, I did not have this document with me since I figure my sphragitha (stamp) was ok. I got pulled into the office and was told I had a problem. At this point I was so sick of the bureaucracy and distrust (I have decided that more so-called socialistic a society is, the more distrusting they are of the public. This may not be true, but it is my current thought). I said no, you have a problem, my plane leaves in one hour what are you going to do your right hand does not know how to talk to its left hand. I was told to not talk this way to the officer as it was rude. I didn’t care; I wanted to leave and never come back. I said this is BS (this really upset them – look, I figure if they didn’t let me on the plane, all my in laws had to do was bring my paper showing I was legal and there was nothing they could do) They kept trying to pressure me; they wanted me to pay a fine right then. I opened my wallet which had 100 bucks and 25 euro and said I have no money. My kids are Illegal too, then are you going to fine them or put them in jail? They said no kids do not get fined.
They let me on the plane, and in my immature anger I said I will never come to Greece again. Well here I am today in Athens having had returned to live here. I had lost my passport and got a new one. I wondered when I entered if there system would catch the difference. It did but I also had my permit paper with me and was able to prove to them that it was issued prior to my fine being issued and did not need to pay. I am still waiting for my permit to be approved; however I have a paper showing that I declared my new passport number and that the approval is still pending.
fox wrote @ August 14th, 2008 at 15:24
thanks for this. i really appreciate the time and energy you give to your replies and your up-front advice without sugar-coating it. if you have a sec, here’s the situation:
i’m an american. i’ve overstayed due to my boss not getting me the work visa arranged as promised. i now know i should not have come here on that promise, but i’m here now. i’ve worked here some time, waiting for this to go into place. now i’m a bit stuck and over the 3 months. i expect to be fined (worst case) and that’s ok. but if they make me return to the states, is it a minimum of 90 days to stay there before returning to greece?
i’ve got a trip planned to leave out of athens in a little over 90 days. so i’d need to return after 90 days but don’t have much time more than that to wait in the states.
thank you again for your candidness
APP wrote @ September 14th, 2008 at 12:35
I think I need your suggestion.
Before came to Greece, I got a D VISA (+1 transit SCHENGEN) for 3 months as an exchange student that means I can not travel in other European countries.
Now I am in Greece.
But I am very thirsty to travel in other places and my plan is that I will go to Italy or German by airline or boats before the visa expires and stay there for about 5 days and then directly fly back to Asia, my own countries.
Here I want to ask two questions:
1) Wether polices will check my passport when I come to Italy and German and what abut the penalty?
2) If it is legal for me to stay in German for 5 days before I come back to my own countries. Actually, my passport had the German custom entry stamp because I came to Greece through transferring in German airport.
Thank you very much!
Navin wrote @ September 20th, 2008 at 23:03
One thing that I think some of the folks here are getting mixed up is the Schengen Visa and its applicability to individual countries. Everyone can go their own way. Belgium, for example, may even give you one after you’ve moved there (under certain conditions), while the Czechs may let you get one next door in Germany. The whole question is whether or not a country wants you to get it before you enter, or will give you one after you enter and then back-date it. Doesn’t look like Greece does.
If you’re going to be in the EU (Continent) for longer than three months, it may be best to enquire about a 90+ visa at several Schengen member consulates. I’d be curious if the Germans are “better” about issuing it than the Greeks for US citizens.
I’ve got the EU Perm Res card, but I’ve still been waved aside in Germany and given a lecture on the whole 90 days thing. (Which I pointed out as being nice, but unnecessary. I can stay as long as I want, given the right paperwork. Greece isn’t on my list, but I’d be curious about the conditions of those coming from other EU countries to Greece with this card.)
J wrote @ September 24th, 2008 at 16:57
Wow, thanks so very much for such a terrific website. Clear, concise…love it!
I would so appreciate some help! My story: well, what a ride I’ve had in Greece! Currently I am doing some volunteer work in Greece, and have been in the EU for a total of about 40 days. While living on Kos, my passport (Australian) was either lost or stolen – I cut it off using the on-line Australian service, applied for a new one, and attempted to report it to the police on Kos (who asked for a bribe! Naturally, I didn’t complete the process & it was never reported to the Greek authorities!).
I returned to Athens a week later and collected my new passport from the Australian embassy. The passport has the place of issue as London, and is dated as the date of issue, mid September 08. Of course, it is free of stamps. When I first entered Greece from Egypt, I joined the EU line (actually by accident!). The man was chatting to his friend, and stamped my passport entry without even glancing at me. This was the passport which was subsequently stolen/lost. Therefore, there appears to be no record of me entering the country, as there was no electronic system that the passport was scanned through etc, just this one stamp.
Currently, I am in Athens and would love to stay on here, having met a Greek man, (of course!) & am adoring my volunteer work.
What do you think my chances are at beating the system? (I know that you, very wisely, do not encourage it, but i would just like your opinion!). Since I have no stamps…only the issue date of my new Australian passport in London, I could effectively say I arrived in Greece from London just a few days ago (I left London for Paris earlier in the year, and I wasn’t stamped on exit, only on re-entry).
I understand that this is a unique situation – do you have any thoughts? Thank-you so very much in advance!
I am attempting to sort this out while I am still legal!
Kind regards
Paul wrote @ September 26th, 2008 at 16:33
First time poster long time follower.
I have overstayed by a few months my passport. I have been trying to get my citizenship since before the passport expired and am still in the process. KEP has submitted paperwork for me to get my Mitro Arenon and i am registered here in greece and of greek parents. I called the AM embassy today and said IF they check i might have to pay 1200 euro which i cant afford. Would you advise me taking all my papers as proof that ive started the process or even to try and get a letter from KEP or a lawyer stating such?
Sophia wrote @ October 9th, 2008 at 22:34
I overstayed my student visa by over 30 days and when I tried to leave passport control detained me. I told them my parents are Greek citizens and they said okay and then I was fine. I don’t think Greek police really cares.
slix wrote @ October 9th, 2008 at 23:09
thanks for your guidance on your site which has been very helpful and probably saved us much hassle, tho some inevitably remains.
i’m a brit about to marry an Aussie who has right to remain in UK but no UK passport. I think what we need to do is get a first filing permit when we come back from honeymoon. Could you email me the info in the password protected link “Regular residence work permit for an american or other non-eu family member of a greek or eu citizen “please?
FYI we miscounted the 90 days and my fiancee left with 115 days on the clock. it was mentioned but no more than that, thank goodness. i have asked around for a lawyer but without success. if you can recommend any we’d be grateful.
many thanks
slix
Madeline wrote @ October 16th, 2008 at 06:59
This is filled with so many answers to questions I’ve had, and I can’t thank you enough for putting together such valuable information. I overstayed by about 30 days (without a visa) and since I didn’t pay on the spot (of course now I wish I had) I have a 1200 euro fine. I apologize if you’ve heard all this a million times, and this might seem like an obvious question, but I’ll admit the whole situation is intimidating to me. What exactly would happen upon arrival at passport control in Athens? Would I pay right there with a credit card and then be let go? Have you heard of many people getting turned away without being given the option to pay the fine? The unpredictability is just so scary. Also, if my destination were a different Schengen country, I’m assuming I’d have to fly through Greece and pay the fine before flying to the other country? Thank you again Kat.
Alicia wrote @ October 28th, 2008 at 08:21
Hi,
So my situation is this: I’m in Italy for just under 90 days (68) going to a satellite campus of my university. I want to travel for about a month after this throughout the Schengen region and the UK. I’ve talked to people who have previously gone through this program and travelled after and none of them were ever given any fines for over staying the 90 days. Most of them were even under the impression that it was 90 days per country maximum stay. And they all said, no one ever checks.
Now I’m not going to be visiting Greece after overstaying my 90 days, and my return flight is out of Rome again, so I want to know, what’s the likelihood I’d be fined and what visa/permit would I apply for for an extension?
I guess I could always just hang out in the UK to waste some time/ try not to overstay the 90 days.
How would they know if after 68 days, I went through some Schengen countries, went to the UK for a while, came back and say went over 90 days total by a few? If they don’t stamp, how do they know?
Thanks,
Alicia
A wrote @ October 4th, 2009 at 13:31
Hi Kat,
First, I want to thank you for such an extensive, informative website, which obviously you have put together on your own and without pay! I am sure you know that it is a insanely valuable resource to many many people, but I want to share my individual appreciation with you.
I’m trying very hard not to ask you a silly question that you’ve already answered, so hopefully I do not annoy you or waste your time!
I have read the entire overstaying-visa section, and have the following small remaining questions.
- Is it illegal in greece for a greek citizen to ‘harbor’ or ‘help’ someone (I’m American) if they’ve overstayed their 90-day Schnegan visa? (as it is in the USA)
- When you get stopped by the border patrol and assessed a fee, will they let you out of of the customs office where they’ve detained you to let you go to a cash machine?
- Or will they let you run over to your *boyfriend -or-[insert greek liaison here!]* and grab some cash? (Seems silly to ask, but these details can be killer I am sure!).
I am unfortunately one of those who didn’t inform themselves properly before coming (didn’t realize the 6-month aspect of the 90-day travel allowance!), and am now stuck with an overstay…
I have realized all this just yesterday in fact, and am thinking that when I leave, I should either go from Athens and pay the fine upon exiting (however much they charge!), or maybe go through Italy, as I now realize they have let me overstay there with no problem before (was there 2004-2005 for almost a whole year and never got stopped, questioned, or fined)! From others’ posts, it seems that if I take a boat to Italy, there is less of a chance of me getting pulled out than if I was at the Athens Airport…
I’d rather not get blacklisted, as I am in a serious relationship with a Greek and am hoping not to have impeding issues if ever we marry and i want to come live in Greece. I also love Europe and would be miserable if i was denied entry for the next 5 years!!
But I am a PhD student (In the UK – student visa there), and am very broke, so any money I use to pay a fine will probably be best borrowed from my boyfriend or my parents if they decide they want to help me (hence my question about the official’s treatment of someone they [found] to be helping an overstaying visitor and my wondering about having money on me or being able to get some from a cash machine or my boyfriend. I can have someone loan me money deposited into my account for that purpose, so that I don’t have to carry cash on me, or have my boyfriend carry come cash for me if i need it… Of course it is better to have cash on me that is not used rather than getting blacklisted, but it would suck not having a way to give the money back to my boyfriend if i didn’t use it… and of course, I’d rather not expose my boyfriend negatively, esp if he could get in trouble.
I’m not trying to work here or party all summer on the islands (in fact have never been!!) or anything, just trying to finish writing my thesis while staying with my boyfriend!
Anyway, I hope that my questions do not annoy you – I did try to look on your website but haven’t seen these specific details addressed. I’ve been in your position as an advice-giver before and I know how annoying people asking stupid questions can be.
I should also say – I think that my next obstacle will be to try to get a job as a non-EU non-married person in Greece. Fortunately I am skilled, educated, specialized and (hopefully!) very employable, but I do realize the odds are very much against me. I will let you know if I succeed (or fail!) so you can add me into your statistics…
Anyway, Thanks very much in advance.
Best regards,
A
shaz wrote @ January 8th, 2010 at 20:10
i am married to a greek citizen for 15 yrs. my south african parents were here for a holiday and overstayed their visa and got fines 1200 euros each can we get this reduced?
I am currently between a rock and a hard place. I had overstayed my visit in Switerland by 2 months past the 90 days allowed. When leaving, I got caught by Swiss customs and was pulled aside. I didn’t speak French and the guards I was passed off to didn’t speak English. They had me complete 2 separate forms basically with name and address info, also with a claim for defense against possible refusal to entry or expulsion from the country. After completing the forms the guard gave back my passport and boarding pass and let me go to board the plane to go back to America, no fine, just an okay and I left. They did not provide me a copy of the paperwork, they did stamp my passport with a regular exit stamp, but then they hand wrote ‘4c’ in the stamp.
My concern is that I have already booked a reunion trip with friends to go to Greece at the end of May. I would still technically be illegal. I plan on getting a new passport, but have heard that Greece scans all passports, and that my info would appear in the SIS IF I have been entered into it. If I haven’t been entered in the SIS then I could manage a 2 week vacation in Greece and then go back to the US for a long time. Although what happens if I am in the SIS? What would happen to me upon arrival in Greece from America? What are the possible consequences? A fine up to 1500 euro, deportation, a possible ban from Schengen countries for 3-5 years? Is there any way to find out if I am in the SIS?
I have also been told that maybe if I am in transit at the Athens airport and go directly to Santorini from the airport, that maybe then I wouldn’t get scanned? Any thoughts on that option?
What are your suggestions?
Many thanks in advance!
Kat wrote @ May 18th, 2010 at 23:38
To Everyone – After repeated warnings, I have decided to close comments and the ability to ask questions on this post because it’s discouraging to spend time writing out 11 years of information and research, only to have people not pay attention.
Please take the time to read the article and people’s comments and experiences above — you’ll see that people believe their situation is unique, but it’s not. It’s the same story over and over, with only minor variation, and I give the same answers and advice all the time. Rules are rules, but what happens to an individual specifically at a certain time with a certain person in a certain country is a crapshoot. Gamble at will.
Also remember that your actions as a citizen reflect on the country you’re from, good or bad. It’s not only about you.
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Kat Reply:
July 26th, 2007 at 22:28
I don’t address rosfeti on this site as a method in which to partake, although I know it’s a reality. Most people trying to avoid paying a fine usually don’t have the money to pay a bribe.
People I know of different non-EU nationalities were given red/black marks in their passport and questioned in some countries, just as I was 10 years ago until I renewed my passport. However, as i say in my “Warning and Disclaimer” section, “results may vary” depending on who you are, how much money you have and who you know.
I communicate certain things to help people make decisions and avoid surprise; if it doesn’t happen, it’s great, but at least they were informed and warned “just in case.”