As of 7 April 2019, the Hellenic Police will begin implementing systematic passport control checks for all European citizens travelling to/from destinations outside the Schengen area (including the UK) Waiting times at passport control may be affected on departure from and arrival into Greece. Although the new security procedures are only supposed to take about two minutes per traveler, many airports in Europe dont have enough security staff to process passengers through quickly. Arriving at a busy time and would like to not have to spend a long time in passport control arriving in Athens. Any declarations would be discussed at that point, but if you have none, you are sent on your way. Athens-Clarke County Library does not take the passport photographs. Ready to head home? Ramsey Qubein is a freelance travel journalist covering hotels, cruises, airlines, and loyalty programs from around the globe. The app includes privacy protection barriers in place to keep your document details safe. Please visit our FAQ page for updated information about Passport Services. Its far better to be early than to risk missing your flight! check with the Greek Embassy or consulate in the United States, the Customs office at Athens International Airport (+30 210-3542126) . Click Share This Page button to display social media links. What is the current status for domestic flights? If you fly to and from airports outside the Schengen Zone, after passing through passport control, head to Gates A1-A23. If you have questions please call 706-613-3650, ext. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. A certified birth certificate must also be presented when renewing a childs passport when the child is still under 16 years of age. Required fields are marked *. Fortunately, there is another method of getting out of the airport (or making your tight connection) even faster. You might have a long wait at the airport Starbucks counter in November, but at least youll clear immigration quickly! Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the passport agency is not able to provide time frames for the issuance of passports or for the return of citizenship documents. That's why you might also see them walking around Schiphol Plaza, for example. Except Athens Airport, other airports in Greece with customs control are the ones of Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Chania, Corfu and Rhodes. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. One is directly after the passport control right in front of luggage belt number one. However since you fly with the luggage, this might take a while, and you can take overall up to 40 minutes before you leave the customs. The Mobile Passport Control app will help speed you through Customs and Border Patrol lines when you arrive back in the States. Please make a copy of your BIRTH CERTIFICATE as it will be inserted into the application. When a traveler arrives at CLT, he or she will pause for a photo at the primary inspection point. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. Charlotte,North Carolina 28262-9191. the connection would be a lot easier for that 'odd man out' if they don't have to collect and recheck bags in Athens. (function(w,d,e,o,u,s,t){w[o]||(w[o]={},s=d.createElement(e),s.src=u,s.async=1, Our bags came quickly. The officer may ask a few questions about your trip, but the process is swift because, as a Mobile Passport user, youll have a dedicated lane in 31 participating airports that expedites the line to complete the standard immigration and customs process. For our return flight Athens airport was as crowded as i have ever seen it. New Yorks John F. Kennedy airport, which receives 14.6 million travelers arriving from overseas each year, and Miami International Airport, which gets more than 10 million international arrivals annually, are among the airports with the longest average wait time to clear passport control. Greek Police will conduct tougher passport controls at Athens International Airport also for EU citizens coming from or departing for non-Schengen countries. Keeptalkinggreece.com 2023, All Rights Reserved. You must provide the ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE, or a Certified copy (a copy with a raised seal), or an expired passport. (704) 573-0549. Immigration/Passport Control is where you get your passport stamped. I've never had to wait for more than a few minutes in the non-EU line, but it will likely be longer if there are. Once at the airport, drop off your baggage at the SKY express check-in counters and head to your gate at least 20' before your scheduled departure time. Athens ATH airport VIP Connection service; Our professional agent will expedite you from the gate of arrival to your connecting flight without having to queue in lines. The EU directive does not refer to domestic flights and those to Schengen countries. Make sure you have the necessary travel documents and that your hand luggage does not exceed the baggage allowance of your fare, in order to avoid extra charges. Would you like to be a part of making your library even better? For flights to Europe, Atlanta and Washington-Dulles offer the smoothest re-entry to the United States. Sorry, summer vacationers July and August are always the months with the very longest lines at passport control, no matter what airport you use. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Some non-US citizens are eligible to use the new checkpoint-expediting technologies. The UK isnt in the Schengen Area. The ability to speed through U.S. immigration and customs after an international flight without wasting time waiting in line, is perhaps one of the greatest improvements to modern travel. All Rights Reserved. Paris-Orly, Schipol Airport in Amsterdam, and Palma de Mallorca airports have been named the worst offenders, with travelers waiting as long as four hours to clear passport control. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. At least a quarter of all returning US citizens had to wait for half an hour or more at all three of those airports. As one of the busiest airports in the world, this innovative technology will provide our millions of passengers each year an enhanced customer experience upon their return to the U.S.. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Why not? Reason for this is the implementation of EU directive 458/2017, which Greece implements with a delay of two years. (704) 717-9117. So, how early should we plan to get to the airport? This means you can expect to spend more time in line at the airport at both ends of your trip! An official website of the United States government. For more information call the National Passport Information Center at their TOLL FREE number: (877) 487-2778. So, many may wonder if they need to go through customs for their connecting international flight through Europe. Pre-Covid, I found that arriving 3 hours early to a European airport resulted in having to wait 90 minutes just to check one's luggage! See here: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/airport-passport-queues-british-holidaymakers-eu-alicante-malaga-palma-barcelona-schengen-area-a7872106.html. The European Union central government has ruled that all travelers from countries outside the Schengen Zone must have their passports checked upon entry and exit of the Schengen area. Like Global Entry, Mobile Passport can only be used for arrival in the United States. Greek Police will conduct tougher passport controls at Athens International Airport also for EU citizens coming from or departing for non-Schengen countries. Automated Passport Control (APC) is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that streamlines the entry process for U.S. citizens, U.S. legal permanent residents, Canadian citizens, eligible Visa Waiver Program participants, and specific U.S. visa holder travelers, by providing an automated process through CBP's Primary Inspection area. The regulation instructs the Member States to carry the following checks on EU members traveling from or to a non-Schengen country: Barcelona and Amsterdam will further tighten connections through a new sleeper train that is set to launch in the Copyright 2013 - 2021 SchengenVisaInfo.com. When you get back to the United States after an international trip, how long do you expect to stand in line to clear passport control? An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. All applicants, including children, must be present when applying for a U.S. Passport. You must apply for a new passport using the information above. Automated Passport Control Kiosks can be used by Canadians and by any citizen of one of the 38 Visa Waiver nations who do not need a visa to enter the US. The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office has informed its citizens that they too, will be a subject of the new tougher checks at the Greek airports. Dress comfortably, and make sure you are fed and hydrated before you get to the passport control lines. The fee is per application. A Decrease font size. These new systematic checks for all European Union citizens traveling from or to non-Schengen countries have been introduced because of the EU Regulation 2017/458, which Greece implements with a delay of two years. . Passport Card: How to Apply and Get a U.S. Passport Card. If they're on the same booking you should be able to transit in Athens without going though passport control (though you may need an airport transit visa, depending on your nationality), and your Schengen visa will only be "used" once you come back to Greece and actually enter the Schengen Area. Uspassporthelpguide.com is a privately owned website. For 1, I had a similar situation as the odd man out. How toGet a Passport Name Change on U.S. Passport? The identity and the nationality of the person and of the authenticity and validity of the travel document for crossing the border. For a lost passport, you must also submit the form DS-64, Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passport.. How do I check-in online? The odd man out will likely have to get his bags in Athens, clear customs there, and check in for the flight to Mykonos as if he was originating in Athens. If you have Global Entry, you can still use Mobile Passport. How can I book a ticket through the available Bank loyalty schemes? Its a surprisingly small and efficient airport for such a major destination. Then you will be escorted to the airline VIP lounge or the gate for pre-boarding. Charlotte,North Carolina 28227-8744. A Reset font size. Reason for this is the implementation of EU directive 458/2017, which Greece implements with a delay of two years. April 2, 2019 The Athens International Airport warns passengers of the possibility of increased waiting times at check points, and calls on timely presence at the departure gates. When you first use it, you must upload a headshot and enter your passport details (its as simple as scanning your passport page). Online check-in will be available up to 3 hours prior to your departure. For Georgia-born residents this certificate may be obtained by contacting the Georgia office of Vital Records at: Vital Records 2600 Skyland Drive NE Atlanta, GA 30319-3640. U.S. and Canadian citizens with a B1 or B2 visa status are eligible. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. If youre planning to fly within the Schengen nations from Rome to Zurich, perhaps, or from Paris to Athens you shouldnt get caught in the passport control delays. In this article, weve been focusing on the wait times that US citizens experience when returning to the states. Go ahead and order that Uber youll be out of the airport in no time! Customs control will be available temporarily (26 April 2022 until 30 October 2022) also at Santorini, Mykonos, Ioannina (exception applies to flight OA160), Samos,Kavala,Kos,Chios,Mytilene, Zakynthos and Skiathosairports. If youre not a US citizen, and you come from a country that does require visas to visit Schengen countries, this means that the visa you get for your visit to one Schengen country will also allow you to visit any other country in the zone. 2023 PassportInfo.com. South Providence Charlotte Usps. This process provides travelers with a secure, touchless travel experience while fulfilling a longstanding Congressional mandate to biometrically record the entry and exit of non-U.S. citizens. For an international airport, its not large. Here's how Mobile Passport works and what . PASSPORTINFO.COM is not operated, maintained by, or affiliated with any passport offices or government agencies. We arrived on a Sunday evening at Athens. Customers are encouraged to visit the U.S. Department of States website for the most up-to-date information regarding processing times. 4 is overkill at Athens. Station master arrested: A scapegoat for Greece's chronic problems? They dont have dedicated lines for Global Entry members, and they also dont use Automated Passport Control kiosks or the Mobile Passport Control app. According to this press release, domestic flights, as well as those to and from inland Schengen still fall outside the provisions of this directive.