canadian travel document to greece

Passports & Visas

Travel documents, in order to visit greece you need to have the following travel documents:.

ETIAS Canada

The european travel authorisation for canadian citizens.

Starting 2025, Canadians will need to register online before travelling to Europe. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a new system for visa-exempt non-EU visitors. This includes Canadians.

The European travel authorisation is a new entry requirement for Canadians travelling for tourism, business, and short-term study. It’s quick and easy to apply for ETIAS online.

Get ready for the introduction of the ETIAS for Canadians with etias.ca.

Do Canadians need a visa for Europe?

Canadians do not need a visa to travel to Europe short term. With your Canadian passport, you can travel to Europe visa-free and stay for up to 90 days for tourism, business, or short-term study.

From 2025, Canadians will need to register with ETIAS to enter the Schengen Area , and Cyprus without a visa. Visa-free entry will only be permitted with a valid ETIAS.

European travel visa for long stays for Canadians

Canadians must apply for a visa for Europe to stay more than 3 months . A visa is also required to travel for purposes other than business, tourism, or transit.

To stay long-term, you need to apply for the relevant national visa for your European destination.

Do Canadian residents need a tourist visa for Europe?

European entry requirements for Canadians and other non-EU citizens depend on nationality. Whether a Canadian permanent resident needs a visa for Europe is determined by the country that issued their passport.

Citizens of more than 50 countries can travel to Europe without a visa and will be eligible for ETIAS.

What is ETIAS for Canadians?

ETIAS is a new travel permit for Europe. The ETIAS for Canadian citizens is not a visa . It’s an electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors from outside the EU.

ETIAS secures EU borders by pre-screening travellers before they arrive in Europe. The system helps detect potential security or migration risks presented by visa-exempt visitors.

By registering Canadians and other non-EU passport holders entering European countries , ETIAS also improves European border management.

ETIAS is similar to the Canadian eTA that foreign visitors need to enter visa-free.

How ETIAS for Canadian citizens works

ETIAS for Canadian citizens works by cross-referencing applicants' information with various security databases.

When Canadian passport holders apply for ETIAS , your personal details, travel information, and answers to security questions are checked against databases like the Schengen Information System (SIS), Interpol databases, and Europol data , among others.

This process helps in identifying any potential security, irregular migration, or high epidemic risks.

Most applications are approved following automatic processing. If a potential risk is detected, the application is reviewed manually by the responsible ETIAS National Unit.

ETIAS improves the traveller experience

ETIAS improves the way Canadians travel to Europe . As a tourist, you can enjoy greater peace of mind knowing that other travellers have also undergone ETIAS security checks.

The European travel authorisation for Europe also makes border processes more efficient. Immigration procedures are expected to be faster— security checks are carried out in advance, rather than at the border .

Despite being an additional step Canadians need to take when visiting Europe , ETIAS registration improves the overall traveller experience.

The ETIAS structure

Here’s are some of the groups responsible for the functioning of ETIAS:

• ETIAS Central Unit: checks that the data stored in the application file and the personal data recorded in the ETIAS system is correct and up to date. It defines, evaluates, tests and reviews specific indicators of the ETIAS screening rules
• ETIAS National Units: responsible for assessing travel authorisation applications referred to them from the automatic process. They can issue an opinion if consulted by other member States’ ETIAS National Units
• Europol: will establish and manage the ETIAS watchlist. ETIAS National Units will be able for consultation
• EU-LISA: responsible for developing and operating the ETIAS information system
• ETIAS Screening Board: this is an advisory team that will be made up of representatives from ETIAS National Units and Europol. The board can be consulted for the definition, evaluation, and revision of risk indicators
• European Border and Coast Guard Agency: they ensure the creation and management of an ETIAS Central Unit

European ETIAS destinations for Canadians

As a Canadian citizen, you’ll soon require ETIAS to travel to the following countries:

Key information about the travel permit for Europe

Canadians can continue to enjoy visa-free entry to Europe with ETIAS. Here are the most important facts you need to know about the ETIAS permit to travel to Europe .

* Canadians need the EU ETIAS to transit if they leave the international transit area of the airport.

Travelling from Canada to Europe with ETIAS

Canadians must have an approved and valid ETIAS to travel to countries in the Schengen Area.

When your ETIAS is approved, it’s linked to the Canadian passport you used to apply. You do not need to carry additional documents with you when travelling to Europe — ETIAS is automatically verified during passport checks.

ETIAS does not guarantee entry to European countries . Border checks are carried out and, passengers who do not meet the entry conditions will be denied entry.

It’s important that you apply for ETIAS and travel to Europe using the same passport. If you replace your passport for any reason, you need to apply for a new ETIAS.

Canadians need ETIAS to travel to Europe by air, land, or sea .

Moving around the Schengen Area with ETIAS as a Canadian citizen

You need ETIAS to cross an external Schengen border, for example when travelling from Canada to France.

Once you’ve entered the Schengen zone, you will not face further border checks—there are no internal borders in the travel zone. You should, however, carry your passport with attached ETIAS with you as you travel around.

Visit Spain, Italy, Germany, and other top tourist destinations in Europe with one permit.

Understanding the 90/180 rule for Canadians in Europe

To avoid overstaying in Europe, you need to understand the 90/180 rule.

90-day allowance

You can stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This doesn't have to be a continuous stay.

You can enter and leave the Schengen Area as often as you like, but the total number of days spent in the area must not exceed 90 days within any 180-day period.

Rolling 180-day window

The 180-day period is a rolling window. It’s always counted backwards from the current day.

For example, if you're planning to enter the Schengen Area on December 1st, you'll look back 180 days from December 1st to see how many days you've already been in the Schengen Area during that period.

Count your days

To stay compliant with the rule, keep track of your travel days. Every day you are in the Schengen Area counts towards the 90-day limit, including the day you arrive and the day you depart.

No reset by leaving

You can't reset the 90-day count by leaving the Schengen Area for a short period and then returning. The count of 90 days is cumulative within the 180-day window.

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Greece Reopening to Canadian Travellers: What You Need to Know

This article was last updated on August 15, 2021 to reflect that mixed vaccines are accepted.

Information may change on a day-by-day basis. While we make every effort to keep the information here updated, the responsibility to keep abreast of ever-changing travel restrictions is ultimately your own.

Greece was one of the countries that first reopened to international tourism in the spring and summer of 2021.

The sun-soaked Mediterranean nation is set to be among the most popular destinations for Canadians throughout the rest of 2021. Here’s the key information you need to know if you’re planning a trip to Greece.

Greece Travel Restrictions

In May 2021, Greece reopened its borders to a travellers from a host of countries, including Canada, the United States, and all EU, EEA, and Schengen countries in Europe.

The full list of countries from which entry into Greece is allowed can be found on the Greece Ministry of Tourism website .

How Can Canadians Enter Greece?

Travellers are allowed to enter Greece through all international airports and maritime ports, as well as most land borders with North Macedonia and Bulgaria. Ferry connections with Turkey are temporarily restricted.

As of October 2021, when departing Canada by air, travellers are required to present proof of vaccination.

Travellers coming from Canada have three options for entering Greece:

• Present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival, or a negative antigen test taken within 48 hours of arrival.
• It is confirmed that any combination of approved vaccines are accepted.
• Present proof of recovery from COVID-19. This includes a medical certificate issued by a doctor, health authority, or certified lab within the past 180 days, or a positive PCR test issued between the past 30 to 180 days.

Travellers must complete an online Passenger Locator Form  no later than 11:59pm Greece Time of the day before their planned arrival.

Only children under the age of 12 are exempt from the PCR test requirement. For children above the age of 12 who are not yet eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, they will need to present a negative test or proof of recovery to enter Greece.

Testing & Quarantine Upon Arrival

Upon arriving, travellers may be randomly selected for a rapid antigen sampling test.

If a traveller tests positive, they would be subject to mandatory isolation in a quarantine hotel for a maximum of 10 days with expenses being covered by the Greek authorities.  

Testing & Quarantine Upon Return

As of April 1, 2022, a negative test is no longer required prior to travelling back to Canada.

If you need to find a test in Greece, tests are easily acquired in the capital of Athens. On smaller islands, consider reaching out to the hotel for assistance.

Alternatively, consider purchasing a Switch Health RT-LAMP or antigen test kit for an easy remote testing option via telehealth video link.

Current Health Requirements in Greece

Major attractions, archaeological sites, tour buses, public transport, and inter-island transport are operating with some capacity restrictions. Most businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues have also returned to normal operations.  

Masks remain mandatory in indoor public spaces for travellers aged 6 and older.

As of July 13, in response to the spread of the Delta variant, Greece now requires mandatory proof of vaccination at indoor bars, restaurants, and cafes; furthermore, customers at nightclubs, cinemas, and theatres will need to be vaccinated and seated.

Travellers without proof of vaccination will be limited to outdoor dining venues until this measure is relaxed.  

How to Get to Greece

Air Canada is currently offering three-times-weekly service between Toronto and Athens, as well as two-times-weekly service between Montreal and Athens.

Economy class fares for the summer and fall of 2021 are in the range of $1,000+ round-trip. That’s fairly high compared to historical standards, given the resurgent demand for travel this summer.

(Some connecting flights via the US may be available for cheaper, although Canadians cannot enter the US from Europe until the US travel ban on Schengen Area countries is lifted.)

Accordingly, Air Canada direct flights are also expensive if redeeming Aeroplan points , in both economy and business class. Unless you use eUpgrades to upgrade from Economy Latitude, you’re looking at 200,000+ points for a one-way business class flight.

Instead, some common business class routings on fixed-price partner airlines might include:

• Austrian Airlines, from Montreal via Vienna for 70,000 Aeroplan points
• Lufthansa, from Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver via Frankfurt or Munich for 70,000–85,000 Aeroplan points
• LOT Polish Airlines, from Toronto via Warsaw for 70,000 Aeroplan points
• Swiss, from Montreal via Zurich for 70,000 Aeroplan points
• TAP Air Portugal, from Toronto or Montreal via Lisbon for 70,000 Aeroplan points
• Turkish Airlines, from Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver via Istanbul for 85,000 Aeroplan points

And if you’re an aspirational traveller looking to celebrate your first post-pandemic trip with some luxury flying, consider aiming for:

• Lufthansa First Class from a US gateway airport via Frankfurt or Munich for 100,000 Aeroplan points
• Emirates First Class on the fifth-freedom Newark–Athens route for 85,000 Emirates Skywards miles

Greece has reopened to international travellers, including Canadians, since May 2021. The country has clarified that vaccination is not a requirement to enter, allowing travellers to opt for a negative PCR or antigen test to enter the country instead.

For fully vaccinated Canadians who do not need to quarantine upon their return, the idea of a fairly relaxed trip to Greece this summer or fall may well be an enticing prospect.

Still, it’s important to remain cautious and follow local health guidelines, given the recent uptick in Delta variant cases and the new requirement for proof of vaccination at indoor dining and entertainment venues. 

As always, you can refer to our Travel During COVID-19 Resource for Canadians for the most up-to-date information on travelling in the pandemic era.

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11 Comments

Great article! This is the only source I could find which outlined the issue of mixed doses! Thanks.

Crowds, people from many nations, inadequate surveillance once tourists are in Greece all spell looming disaster. Hospitals not equipped for mass Covid epidemic. Go at your own risk and chech health insurance. Many policies exclude pandemic coverage.

Very informative! So glad I found this 🙂 Thanks!

I am a little confused about air line requirements versus entry requirements for different countries. A fully vaccinated Canadian needs neither a negative PCR or antigen test for entering Greece nor quarantine after arrival but does Air Canada accept this as well or does it still require a negative recent test result for boarding regardless of vaccination records?

Airlines typically enforce the destination’s entry requirements on their behalf. If Air Canada is flying you to Greece, they’ll want to check your proof of vaccination, and if you have that, you’re good.

The article states that provincial vaccination certificates are acceptable proof of vaccination upon arrival – but what about at restaurants? Or when trying to board a ferry?

Referring to mixed doses – does anyone know if greece considers such persons fully vaccinated?

Yes – a reader had called the embassy about this and gotten confirmation. We’re looking into ways that we can provide this information to readers, though it isn’t easy since most countries treat mixed doses as a very niche edge case.

Might be worth an article on Canada’s vaccine mixing approach, and the impact it may have on your travels. I’ve been hearing countries here and there do not currently recognize some of us as fully vaccinated and turn us away if we didn’t get the same vaccine for both shots.

Will definitely be addressing this topic in the next Travel Update video.

Racing this on my AC flight back from Greece .just spent 2 great weeks but please note that the cases have exploded recently especially on the islands . Restrictions are being added on the almost daily bases. Spent last night in Athens and all indoor spaces are now closed . No bars no restaurants indoors . Masks are mandatory but selectively enforced. Also note that PCR test is mandatory for return and AC was very rigorous in enforcing it prior to boarding . Even double vaxed people like me test positive more often then we think which means 2 extra lock up weeks in Greece . Greece is extremely crowded right now and with cases exploding the risk is very real . Something to keep in mind. There is also rumours of a pending imminent lock down in certain areas.

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Embassy of canada to greece, in athens.

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Office information

48 Ethnikis Antistaseos Street, Chalandri, 152 31, Athens, Greece

Telephone:  +30 210 727 3400

Fax:  +30 210 727 3480

Email:   [email protected]

Hours of operation:

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Mark Allen Ambassador of Canada to Greece

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Travel restrictions to Greece for residents of Canada

As of October 25th, 2020 and until further notice, following relevant EU decisions, residents of Canada are not allowed to enter Greece.

Exceptions:

1. Greek nationals and EU/Schengen Area citizens may enter Greece at any time, regardless if there are travel restrictions in place or not.Greek citizens, i.e. persons duly registered in the Records of a Municipality in Greece, need to hold either a Greek passport or a new Greek Identity Card (Αστυνομική Ταυτότητα) with Greek/English typo, along with their valid third-country passport, e.g. Canadian passport.Greek citizens who do not hold a Greek passport nor a Greek ID, may apply to their district’s Consulatefor a “citizenship attestation”. In this case, they will be asked to present:

a. Their valid Canadianpassport.

b. Their flight itinerary.

c. If there is a discrepancy between their names in the Canadian passport and in the Greek Municipal Records, additional documentation may be required.

d. 10 euros payable in Canadian dollars in cash.

2. Spouses/parties to a civil partnership and minor children of EU or Schengen Area citizen.

3. Permanent residents in a EU/Schengen Area country, including Greece.

4. Members of diplomatic/consular missions or international/European organizations.

5. Medical/nursing staff, researchers/professionals in the health sector on condition of their immediate inclusion in the Greek National Health System management.

6. In extreme emergency (essential business or imperative family reasons), a third-country national may apply to their district’s Greek consular authority for a permit to enter Greece. The applicant should be ready to provide supporting documentation.The request will be reviewed by the relevant Greek consular authority.

All travelers to Greece are obliged to complete the Passenger Locator Form (PLF), at least 24 hours before entering the country. All pertinent information and updates are available on https://travel.gov.gr/#/

• Embassy of Greece in Ottawa
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Travel Advisory July 26, 2023

Greece - level 1: exercise normal precautions.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise normal precautions in Greece.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Greece.

If you decide to travel to Greece: 

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Greece.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

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Embassies and Consulates

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91 Vasilisis Sophias Avenue 10160 Athens, Greece Telephone: +(30)(210) 721-2951 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +30 210 729-4444 or +30 210 729-4301 Fax: +(30)(210) 724-5313 Email:   [email protected] Facebook

U.S. Consulate General Thessaloniki Plateia Commercial Center 43 Tsimiski Street, 7th floor 546 23 Thessaloniki Greece Telephone: +30-231-024-2905 Emergency After-Hours Telephone:  +30 210 729-4444 or +30 210 729-4301 Fax: +30 231-024-2927 Email:  [email protected] U.S. Embassy Athens provides all regular consular services including U.S. passports, notarials, and reports of birth and death abroad.

U.S. Consulate General Thessaloniki provides notarial service. Embassy Athens consular staff periodically provide regular consular services in Thessaloniki. Please check the U.S. Embassy Athens website for information on the next scheduled visit. Visa services are provided at Embassy Athens only.

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Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

Visit the Embassy of Greece website for the most current visa information.

Greece is a party to the Schengen Agreement; therefore, U.S. citizens may enter Greece without a visa for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. For additional details about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our Schengen fact sheet .

• For entry into Greece, your passport should have at least six months of remaining validity . While Greek law requires three months of passport validity beyond the intended date of your departure, if you are transiting a country that requires six months of validity, you may not be permitted to continue your trip. We recommend that you have at least six months of validity to avoid any travel disruptions.
• U.S. citizens traveling on a passport reported lost or stolen will not be permitted entry into Greece and may be returned to their original departure point. This decision is the purview of the Greek immigration authorities; the U.S. Embassy cannot intervene. Emergency passports are issued only at the Embassy in Athens. Staff members do not travel to the air, land, or sea ports of entry.
• You must arrive in country with proof of sufficient funds and a return airline ticket or other evidence that you will depart Greece if asked. The sufficient funds requirement is often met with credit cards.
• U.S. official and diplomatic passport holders must obtain a Schengen visa prior to arrival. If you are traveling on a U.S. official or diplomatic passport, you will not be allowed to enter Greece without a visa.
• If traveling on official military orders , review the guidance in the Department of Defense Foreign Clearance Guide .

If you are a U.S. citizen with a passport listing your place of birth as the Northern Republic of Macedonia, the Greek authorities will stamp your passport.

If you are a U.S. citizen with a passport listing your place of birth as Skopje or the Republic of Macedonia, your U.S. passport should be recognized as a valid travel document. However, be aware:

• Greek Immigration officers at ports of entry (land, air, and sea) will not place entry stamps in a passport listing the traveler’s place of birth as Macedonia or the Republic of Macedonia.
• You will be asked to complete a short form on which the entry stamp will be placed.
• Keep the form with your passport while you are in Greece and present it upon departure. If you lose the form, you must visit a police station and file a report before the Greek authorities will permit you to depart the country.

HIV/AIDS RESTRICTIONS: The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Greece.

Find information on dual nationality , prevention of international child abduction , and customs information on our website .

Safety and Security

Terrorism: Credible information indicates terrorist groups continue plotting possible near-term attacks in Europe. All European countries remain potentially vulnerable to attacks from transnational terrorist organizations. In the past year, there have been multiple terrorist attacks in Europe. Extremists continue to focus on tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities as viable targets. In addition, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, high-profile events, educational institutions, airports, and other soft targets remain priority locations for possible attacks. U.S. citizens should exercise additional vigilance in these and similar locations.

For more information, see our Terrorism page.

Strikes and Demonstrations:

• Domestic strikes, demonstrations, and work stoppages are common throughout Greece and can become violent. Stay informed through local news, hotel security, the U.S. Embassy website , and the Consular Section’s Facebook page . Enroll in STEP to receive alerts sent by the Embassy.
• Transportation sector strikes interrupt traffic, public transportation, taxis, seaports, and airports. Confirm domestic and international flights before heading to the airport.
• Avoid all areas affected by the annual November 17 demonstrations, including the U.S. Embassy.
• Anarchists and criminals have used university campuses as refuges. Demonstrators frequently congregate in the Polytechnic University area, Exarchia, Omonia, and Syntagma Squares in Athens; and at Aristotle Square, Aristotle University, and the Kamara area in Thessaloniki.
• Violent anarchist groups have joined public demonstrations to clash with police and vandalize public and private property.

Crime: Crimes against tourists, such as pick-pocketing and purse-snatching , occur at popular tourist sites and on public transportation, especially the metro. A common tactic is one person causes a commotion on the metro or pushes travelers to distract them while another person snatches the belongings. Thieves also seek out and break into rental cars to steal passports, valuables, and luggage. The Embassy has received reports of alcohol-induced attacks targeting individual tourists at some holiday resorts and bars.

Take the following precautions:

• Be cautious and aware of your surroundings.
• Do not leave bags unattended, especially on the metro and the Athens Airport train or in your vehicle.
• Avoid standing near bus or train doors. Thieves often strike as the doors open then disappear into the crowd.
• Use alcohol in moderation and remain in control.
• Never leave drinks unattended in bars or clubs.
• Be discreet when discussing plans and organizing belongings upon arrival.
• Protect yourself and your money by using well-lit, public ATMs.
• Be aware of internet scams with online thieves posing as loved ones or romantic interests.

See the  Department of State  and the  FBI  pages for information on scams.

Victims of Crime: Report crime to the local police and contact the U.S. Embassy at (+30) 210-720-2414 or the Emergency after-hours telephone (+30) 210-729-4444 if you require assistance. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes.

See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

• Help you find appropriate medical care
• Assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• Contact relatives or friends, with your written consent
• Explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• Provide a list of local attorneys
• Provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the United States.
• Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in certain cases of destitution
• Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home in certain cases of destitution
• Replace a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance.

Tremors and earthquakes occur regularly.  Forest fires are common, especially during the dry summer months, and occasionally cause road closures. In the event of a natural disaster, follow the instructions of local authorities. Contact the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, which responds to emergencies, at 210-335-9900 for more information. Operators speak English. Monitor the U.S. Embassy Athens’ website and Consular Facebook page .

Tourism : The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities, such as Athens or Thessaloniki. First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities and to provide urgent medical treatment. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage.

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Possession of a U.S. passport will not prevent you from being arrested, prosecuted, or jailed.

• Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Marijuana is illegal in Greece.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs could land you immediately in jail.
• Photographing military installations is prohibited and may lead to arrest.
• Mace or pepper-spray canisters are illegal in Greece. Such items will be confiscated, and police may arrest or detain you.
• Carry your passport or some form of photo identification at all times. Police may detain you for questioning if you do not have proper identification with you.

Some crimes are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.

Faith-Based Travelers: See our webpages for details:

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religious Freedom Report – see country reports
• Human Rights Report – see country reports
• Hajj Fact Sheet for Travelers
• Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad

Greek Antiquities: Customs authorities strictly regulate the export of Greek antiquities, including rocks from archaeology sites. Do not remove anything, no matter how small, from archaeological or historical sites. Do not purchase protected antiquities and carry receipts for any purchases that may appear to be antiquities.

Military Service for Dual Nationals:

• Greek males between 19 and 45 are required to perform military service.
• If the Greek government considers you to be a Greek citizen, you may be required to fulfill this obligation whether or not you consider yourself Greek or possess a U.S. or third country’s passport.
• Authorities can prevent you from leaving Greece until you complete your military obligations . Contact the Greek embassy or nearest Greek consulate with questions.
• Generally, required military service will not affect your U.S. citizenship, but contact U.S. Embassy Athens if you have questions.

LGBTI Travelers: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Greece. LGBTI individuals in Greece are protected by anti-discrimination laws, and gender identity is among the grounds covered by laws against hate speech; however, non-governmental organizations report that social discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is widespread in Greece and violence against LGBTI individuals remains a problem.

See our LGBTI travel information page and section six of our Human Rights Report for further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance: While Greek law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical or intellectual disabilities and local law requires access to buildings, sidewalks, and public transportation, application and enforcement of these laws is lacking.

• Handicapped parking spaces and sidewalk ramps are often occupied or blocked by parked vehicles.
• Sidewalks often are narrow with broken paving stones and large holes and obstructed by trees and street signs.
• Buildings with ramps might lack accessible elevators or bathrooms.
• A small percentage of public buildings (primarily in Athens) have full accessibility. Some buildings and intersections include accommodations for visually-impaired travelers.
• The Athens metro and Athens International Airport are fully accessible with ramps and elevators.
• Ask your hotel about accessibility before booking.

The Deputy Ombudsman for Social Welfare handles complaints related to persons with disabilities, especially those related to employment, social security, and transportation.

Students: See our students abroad page and  FBI travel tips .

Women Travelers: See our travel tips for women travelers .

Most public medical facilities in Greece offer adequate care, although service quality and hospital appearance may differ from the United States. Some private hospitals have affiliations with U.S. facilities and provide high-quality care. Many doctors trained in the United States or elsewhere in Europe.

• Private hospitals usually require proof of adequate insurance or cash before admitting a patient. Patients bear all costs for transfer to or between hospitals.
• Public hospitals often employ minimal nursing staff overnight and on weekends in non-emergency wards. Consider hiring a private nurse or having family spend the night with the patient, especially a minor child.

We do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare is not accepted overseas.

Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. You may be required to pay upfront and seek reimbursement from your insurance company. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage .

We strongly recommend that travelers purchase travel insurance before their trips to cover medical evacuation.

If traveling with prescription medication, check with the Greek Embassy or consulate in the United States , the Customs office at Athens International Airport (+30 210-3542126) or the National Organization of Medicines ( [email protected] , www.eof.gr , +30 213-204-0000) to ensure the medication is legal in Greece. Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.

Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Travel and Transportation

Short-term Car Rentals: Greek law requires that visitors carry a valid U.S. driver’s license and an international driver’s permit (IDP), even if the rental company does not request to see your IDP. The Embassy does not issue IDPs. You must obtain your IDP in the United States from the American Automobile Association ( AAA ) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance ( AATA ). Contact AAA directly to inquire about their mail in option that will allow you to apply from overseas, but note that it will likely take days or weeks. If you drive without these documents, you may face high fines (1,000 Euros or more) or be responsible for all expenses in the event of an accident.

Road Conditions and Safety: Greece has one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the European Union. Exercise extreme caution as both a driver and a pedestrian, and follow these tips:

• Drive defensively.
• Expect heavy traffic, obscured traffic signs, and vehicles traveling at high speeds.
• Driving at night in inclement weather and on mountain roads can be hazardous.
• Local law requires all motorcyclists to wear a helmet.
• Check for motorbikes between lanes and on either side of you.
• Do not rely on lane markings. On many two-lane highways, slower traffic will drive on the shoulder, and cars will pass straddling the center double-yellow line.
• Review your insurance coverage before renting. Most insurance companies require that you have both your valid U.S. license and an international driver’s permit (IDP) for coverage in Greece. Small motorbike and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rental firms frequently carry no insurance and require customers to cover the cost of all damages to their vehicles. Your insurance company may not cover two-wheel or ATV rentals.

Traffic Laws:

• Talking or texting on a mobile phone while driving is illegal. The police check phone records when investigating accidents.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal, and police conduct random alcohol testing.
• A Greek license is required if you stay more than 185 days in Greece. Contact the Regional Office of Transportation and Communications for more information.

See our road safety page for more information, including information on IDPs. Visit the Greek National Tourist Office website for more helpful tips.                                        

Public Transportation: Purchase and validate your ticket by touching it to the pad on the turnstile prior to boarding a bus or train. Inspectors randomly check for tickets. If you do not have a ticket, have the wrong ticket, or fail to validate your ticket, you could be fined up to 60 times the basic fare.

Aviation Safety Oversight: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Greece’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page .

Maritime Travel: Mariners planning travel to Greece should monitor U.S. maritime advisories and alerts at www.marad.dot.gov/msci , the U.S. Coast Guard homeport website, https://homeport.uscg.mil , and the NGA broadcast warnings website https://msi.nga.mil/NGAPortal/MSI.portal . Greece implemented a Recreational and Daily Tour Cruise Ships Fee on all private and professional leisure ships with a total length of over seven meters, regardless of flag, in Greek territorial waters. Mariners should consult https://www.aade.gr/polites/etepai for details.

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in Greece . For additional IPCA-related information, please see the  International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA )  report.”

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Greece Tourist Visa

What is a tourist visa.

The most common type of diplomatic document is a travel visa. It allows people of all ages and walks of life to visit a country of their choice.

So, do you need a visa to travel to Greece? In this article, we will tell you about the requirements for Greek tourist visas. Greece is a member of the EU and has varying requirements for entry depending on a visitor's country of origin. At present, it operates a visa-free regime for 90 countries.

Eligibility for a travel visa for Greece

Before we go into details on what citizens can visit Greece and what is required to obtain a Greek visa, let us consider what kind of travellers will generally be allowed to enter the country.

A prospective tourist must:

have a good intention to travel;

be able to bear all necessary and unforeseen expenses;

provide reasons for returning to their home country;

exhibit a good character (e.g. provide a clear criminal record);

be in good health;

have a genuine purpose and the proof thereof (e.g., an itinerary).

Provided that you satisfy these criteria and are eager to prove it during a personal visit to a Greek consulate, read on to find out about the visa requirements for this country.

Who needs a tourist visa

At present, citizens of over 90 states can travel to Greece without a visa, and the nationals of other 150 countries must obtain a Schengen visa prior to their visit. This means that citizens of some countries that presently enter Greece without a visa will have to fill in a special application form online ahead of visiting the country. If the ETIAS application is successful, this electronic travel authorization will be linked to a traveller's passport and allow the eligible citizens to travel to Greece and the Schengen zone. It will be valid for 3 years and allow the stays for up to 90 days. The programme is open to travellers with dual citizenship .

Nationals not eligible for ETIAS but who presently travel to Greece visa-free will need to apply for a Schengen visa, which will allow them only to visit Greece but not other EU/EEA states.

Meanwhile, the following requirements are applicable depending on the traveller's country of origin. The majority of people, especially the citizens of most African and Asian countries, Russia, and the CIS countries, will have to apply for a Schengen visa to travel to Greece. Yet, there are certain countries that enjoy visa-free entry.

EU/EEA countries and Switzerland

Currently, citizens of these areas do not need a visa to visit Greece as tourists. Furthermore, if any of these states is a part of the Schengen Zone, their citizens do not need to apply for any kind of visa to travel, study, or work in Greece. They are free to move between the EU states provided they have a valid ID.

The Schengen Zone

Citizens of these countries are exempt from the visa regime and can freely enter Greece.

Citizens of the United States can travel to any Schengen member state, including Greece, without a visa. They can stay in the country for up to 90 days. This does not mean, nevertheless, that no travel documents are required at all.

Where and when to apply

You can check online whether your country belongs to a visa-free zone or not. Now let us look at where you need to go to submit a Greek visa application, and what time period you should allocate to receive your visa on time.

In general, there are 3 options:

A travel agent. You simply provide the documents and let professionals do the job for you.

A local Greek consulate or embassy. This is the most traditional means of getting any type of visa. Its main drawback is the insufficient or vague information about requirements, which unfortunately often results in visas being denied or delayed. If you go down this route, make sure you clarify everything that is unclear prior to submitting an application.

A visa application centre. You may be surprised to know that some embassies actually outsource their visa services to such centres. Bear in mind, though, that, depending on the time you plan to travel, these centres may be overcrowded and overwhelmed with applicants, leading to delays and even possible errors.

Fees and extra expenses

As with most visas, applicants have to pay a service charge and a visa processing fee upon submitting their application. These payments are non-refundable and can be made by card or in cash. Below is a rough estimate of the service tariffs:

Adults: €60;

Children aged 6 to 12 years: €35;

Children under 6 years of age: free.

As for a Schengen visa fee, it depends on the traveller's country of origin. For example, a traveller from South Africa may pay more or less than a traveller from Russia. To determine the visa fee, contact your local Greek embassy or consulate. Average fees are:

Adults: €80;

Children aged 6 to 12 years: €40;

Please bear in mind that neither service charge nor visa fee guarantees permission to enter. None of these can also be refunded if the application is unsuccessful.

Tourist Visa Requirements

In this section, we shall go over the document pack for visa-free travellers. As we said, although they do not require a Schengen visa, they must still provide other documentation to obtain entry to the country.

A valid passport

A valid identification card must satisfy the following criteria:

it is valid for no less than 3 months beyond your intended return to your home country;

it is in good condition (not torn or otherwise spoilt);

it is not past its expiry date (usually 10 years).

Proof of accommodation

No country's officials want their tourists to sleep in the subway. Naturally, they want to know precisely where you are going to stay during your visit. The following may sufficiently prove this:

a hotel reservation;

a print-off from a room booking website (e.g. Airbnb);

a rental agreement;

an invitation from a friend or a family member with whom you are planning to stay on your visit.

Proof of financial independence

This is another mandatory requirement, for staying and travelling in the country may lead to both expected and unforeseen expenses. Officials want to know how you are planning to cover them, so it may be a good idea to enquire about the living costs and calculate your travelling budget. The following can prove your financial sustainability:

recent bank or credit card statements;

payslips from work.

Itinerary and Return Tickets

Travellers are advised to have these two documents to prove the following:

travelling is indeed their sole or primary purpose;

and they definitely plan to return.

We will look at insurance requirements later on, however, be aware that valid medical insurance is obligatory to travel in the EU. Its validity period must be as long as your stay in the country.

Finally, please remember that depending on the time you choose for your trip document requirements and fees may change. Make sure you contact your nearest visa centre or consulate for updates.

Documents for non-exempt countries

Generally, most of the above-mentioned documents are also required for citizens of non-visa-free states who must apply for a Schengen visa. However, certain changes and special conditions are applicable.

In addition to the known requirements, this time a passport must have two blank pages for a visa stamp or sticker.

A Greece Schengen application form

No matter how seasoned a traveller you are, pay attention to the following:

fill out the visa form completely, correctly, and accurately.

A tip: write down all the data you are providing on all forms to make the information consistent.

A Schengen cover letter

In this letter for a tourist visa, you will need to explain why you want to visit the Schengen zone, the places you are going to visit, your accommodation in each of them, etc. You must also provide your travel dates.

Two passport-size photos

These must be no older than 3 months, for details see below.

Previous Visas Copies

This is required for travellers who have obtained Schengen visas before.

The medical or travel insurance must cover the full length of stay. For other conditions, see below.

As above, however, be prepared for additional scrutiny as you are considered a totally "foreign" visitor.

Same as for visa-free entrants.

An itinerary

If you are only travelling to Greece and back, then you need to provide a detailed plan of your activities during your stay. However, you may be entertaining the idea of visiting another Schengen country for which you have a visa. In this case, you will need to show what other places you wish to visit and the purpose thereof.

A return ticket

This will act as proof that you are going to go back to your home country and not to become an asylum seeker or an illegal immigrant.

A clean criminal record

This document provided by your country's officials will demonstrate that you pose no threat to the country or its residents.

Further documents may be required to prove your status, but check with the embassy or consulate for updates.

Employed applicants

a valid contract of employment;

an employer's written permission to take a leave from work;

the bank statements for the past 6 months;

an Income Tax Return form;

recent payslips to prove both sufficient funds and employment.

Self-employed applicants

a copy of a business license;

an Income Tax Return;

a letter confirming the self-employed status written by a solicitor, an accountant, or another responsible entity.

documents that prove the student's status (e.g., a letter from an educational institution for existing students, or a proof of enrollment at an institution for prospective students);

a proof of sufficient funds, e.g. a work contract or bank statements (for working students) or a letter from a sponsor.

Please note that if a student is sponsored (e.g. by their parents), they will need to provide relevant documents that prove the parents' ability to support them.

Also, if you wish to study at a Greek educational institution, you must apply for a student visa.

Retired Travelers

documents that prove the retired status;

pension statements for the last 6 months.

Tourist Visa Insurance

Travelling to a foreign country may occasionally result in unforeseen circumstances. In many Schengen countries public healthcare is available, so visitors to Greece must obtain travel insurance prior to their trip. This is done in order to alleviate the burden on the health system in case of unexpected issues.

Travel insurance must satisfy the following criteria:

provide coverage of at least €30,000.

be valid in all 26 Schengen countries;

cover most emergency expenses, including a return to one's home country for medical reasons, urgent treatments, or death.

If you expect to get an extended Schengen visa, you should obtain travel insurance that lasts for 12 months.

Visa Photo Requirements

Photographs are normally submitted as part of any application. However, in the case with visas, there are strict requirements that must be obeyed, otherwise, you risk having your application turned down. The following specifications apply:

photos are 3 months old or less;

size: 35mm wide x 45mm tall;

taken against a white background;

printed on quality glossy paper (not matte);

have no creases or marks;

facial expression is neutral;

the applicant looks straight into the camera;

the face takes up to 80% of the frame;

both eyes are open and not covered by reflective glasses, hair, or glares;

forehead and chin are well visible;

headwear is permitted only for religious purposes and must not cover any part of the face.

Underage Visa Requirements

This section is for those who travel to Greece as a family with small children. First, bear in mind that each child must have their own application, filled in and signed by both parents. Apart from all standard documentation, the following is also mandatory:

an application with both parents' signatures;

a child's birth certificate;

if a child is eligible to travel alone – a notarized parental authorization signed by either both parents or guardians;

if a child is travelling with only one parent – notarized permission from another parent;

if another parent is absent (divorced, dead, ill, etc.) – a relevant official documental proof;

copies of both parents' IDs.

Adult photo requirements apply to children older than 5 years. For younger children, neutral facial expression and a direct look into the camera are not mandatory, and they need not occupy the centre of the photograph. Babies (1 year old or younger) may have their eyes closed in the photo.

Visa Processing Time

Once your application has been submitted, and you paid your fees and attended the interview with the immigration officer, it takes around 15 calendar days to process the documents. The following events may delay the visa being issued:

a peak season when there is a high demand for tourist visas to Greece;

political events or epidemics;

new travel laws and regulations.

Make sure you have collected all necessary documents, carefully fill in your application, and submit it well ahead of your journey, to avoid delays and complications for your travel.

Green Card Holder Requirements

The United States Green Card holders have not yet obtained US citizenship. As a result, they are not eligible for visa exemption if they wish to visit Greece. The visa requirements will depend on their country of origin. For the purposes of this article, we assume that a Green Card holder is not a European citizen. The good news is that, should a visa be required, the holder can apply for it at their nearest Greek embassy or consulate in the USA. There is no need to travel back home to get a visa.

On another hand, if someone is visiting the US as a tourist (on a B1/B2 visa) and wishes to travel to Greece, they must return to their home country to submit a visa application. The Green Card holder's conditions are not applicable in this case.

• To visit Greece for tourism purposes, you need a Greece tourist visa, which is a type of Greek Schengen visa.
• You can apply for a Greece Schengen visa at the nearest Greek embassy or consulate in your country or region.
• The visa application process usually involves submitting all the required documents and supporting documents, such as a visa application form, travel documents, and travel medical insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR.
• You also need to pay the visa fees or service fees when you submit your application.
• The Greece visa requirements may vary depending on your nationality, intended visit, financial means, employment status, travel date, and other factors.
• The Greece visa application process may take up to 15 calendar days, and you may need to attend a visa interview or provide biometric data, such as your fingerprints and facial image.
• The Greek Schengen visa sticker will be affixed to your travel document if your application is accepted, and it will show the maximum duration and validity of your visa.
• The Greece Schengen visa allows you to stay in Greece and other Schengen member states for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
• If you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you need to apply for a long-stay visa or a residence permit from the competent Greek authorities.
• To apply for a Greece Schengen visa, you need to complete the Greece visa application form accurately and provide all the necessary information and documents.
• The standard documents required for a Greece tourist visa include a valid travel document, travel medical insurance, sufficient financial means, and a confirmed travel itinerary or reservation.
• You may also need to provide additional supporting documents, such as an employment contract, pension statement, bank statement, marriage certificate, birth certificate, reference letter, or covering letter.
• The Greece embassy or consulate may ask you questions related to your intended visit, employment, travel history, financial situation, or other requirements during the visa interview.
• You should prepare for your visa appointment by reviewing the Greece visa application process, the visa requirements, and the necessary documents, and by providing honest and complete answers to the visa officer's questions.
• You should also be informed about the public health regulations and the risks of COVID-19 in Greece and other European Union countries, and you may need to show proof of vaccination, recovery, or negative test results.
• You should check the visa processing time and schedule your appointment and travel date accordingly, and you should also confirm the visa fees, service fees, and any other costs or paperwork involved.
• You should consult the Greece visa guidelines and regulations, as well as the Schengen visa code, to ensure that you qualify for the visa and comply with the rules and restrictions.
• You should also confirm the visa validity and the dates of departure and return, and you should inform the Greece embassy or consulate if any changes occur.
• If you are a UK citizen, you may need to apply for a Greece Schengen visa if you plan to stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days in any 180-day period, and you may also need to apply for a visa if you transit through Greece or other Schengen countries.
• If you travel with family members or minors, you may need to provide notarized parental authorization or other documents, and you should check the visa requirements for each member separately.
• If you have had previous visas or lodged in other Schengen countries, you should provide proof of your travel history and comply with the visa regulations.
• If you have medical reasons or require emergency hospital treatment during your stay in Greece, you should ensure that your travel medical insurance covers such expenses and that you have access to appropriate medical facilities.
• If you travel for business purposes, you may need to provide additional documents, such as a business license or employment contract, and you should check the visa requirements for business visas or official delegations.
• If you transit through a Schengen country or need to enter Greece for airport transit, you may need to apply for an airport transit visa or a short-stay visa, depending on the length and purpose of your transit.
• You should also confirm the visa requirements for other countries you plan to visit during your trip to Greece, such as Vatican City, San Marino, or other Western civilization destinations.
• To apply for a Greece Schengen visa, you can submit your application online or in person, and you can also use the services of a global visa center or a courier to collect and deliver your application file.
• You should ensure that your travel document has at least two blank visa pages and that your recent photograph meets the visa photo specifications, such as size, background, and facial expression.
• You should also provide a cover letter that explains the purpose and itinerary of your trip to Greece and the Schengen area, and that confirms your financial means and support.
• You should confirm that your travel medical insurance is accepted by the Greek and Schengen authorities and that it covers the minimum requirements for emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, repatriation, and death.
• You should also confirm that you have sufficient financial means to support yourself during your stay in Greece and the Schengen area, and that you can prove it with a bank statement or other financial documents.
• You should consult the competent Greek authorities or the nearest Greek embassy or consulate for any additional information or advice related to your Greece visa application process or your travel to Greece.
• Please note that this list is not exhaustive and that the Greece visa requirements and regulations may change or vary depending on your specific case or circumstances. Therefore, you should always consult the official sources and the competent authorities for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you planning a trip to greece in 2023.

If you are a foreign national, you may be wondering if you need a visa to enter Greece for tourism. In this article, we will answer all your questions about tourist visas to Greece, including who needs one, how to obtain it, and how long you can stay in the country.

Who needs a tourist visa to visit Greece?

Foreign nationals from countries outside the European Union (EU) and the Schengen area, including India, Pakistan, Nigeria, South Africa, Philippines, and others, generally require a visa to enter Greece for tourism. However, citizens of certain countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, do not need a visa to enter Greece as tourists for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Do I need a visa to go to Athens or Santorini?

No matter which destination you choose to visit in Greece, the visa requirements are the same. If you are a foreign national from a country that requires a visa to enter Greece, you will need to obtain one regardless of your destination.

How long can you stay in Greece without a visa?

If you are a citizen of the United States, Canada, Australia, or the United Kingdom, you can stay in Greece without a visa for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. However, if you are a foreign national from a country outside the EU and the Schengen area, you will need to apply for a tourist visa before your trip. The length of your stay will depend on the visa type and the duration granted by the Greek authorities.

What is the best time to visit Greece?

The best time to visit Greece is during the shoulder seasons of spring (April to June) and fall (September to November), when the weather is pleasant, and the crowds are smaller than in the peak summer season. However, if you plan to visit the Greek islands, it is better to go during the summer season (June to August) when the weather is warm and sunny, and the beaches are inviting.

How to obtain a tourist visa to Greece?

To obtain a tourist visa to Greece, you will need to contact the Greek embassy or consulate located in your home country. You can also apply for a visa through a visa application center, such as VFS Global, Teleperformance, or AVS. You will need to provide a completed application form, a valid passport, passport-sized photographs, and supporting documents such as flight tickets, travel itinerary, proof of accommodation, and proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay in Greece.

How much does a tourist visa to Greece cost?

The cost of a tourist visa to Greece varies depending on your nationality, the visa type, and the duration of your stay. As of today, the visa fee for a single-entry tourist visa is 60 euros for nationals of countries that require a visa, such as India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and South Africa. However, the visa fee for citizens of the United States, Canada, and Australia is currently waived.

What are the visa requirements for dual nationals?

If you hold dual nationality, one of which is Greek, you can enter Greece using your Greek passport without needing a visa. However, if you hold dual nationality and neither of your passports is Greek, you will need to obtain a tourist visa to enter Greece.

What are the visa requirements for permanent residents?

If you are a permanent resident of a country that requires a visa to enter Greece, you will need to obtain a tourist visa before your trip, regardless of your nationality. However, if you are a permanent resident of the EU or the Schengen area, you can enter Greece using your residence permit.

What are the visa requirements for Canadian citizens traveling to Greece?

Canadian citizens can travel to Greece without a visa for up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism or business purposes. However, they must have a valid passport that is valid for at least three months beyond their intended departure date from Greece.

Do Australian citizens need a visa to visit Greece?

Australian citizens can visit Greece for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa. They only need a valid passport that is valid for at least three months beyond their intended departure date from Greece.

The best time to visit Greece is during the shoulder seasons of late April to early June and September to October. The weather is mild, and the crowds are thinner than during the peak season of July and August.

Can Indian citizens travel to Greece without a visa?

Indian citizens need to obtain a Schengen visa to visit Greece. They must apply for the visa at the Greek embassy or consulate in India or through the VFS Global visa application center.

Can US citizens travel to Greece without a visa?

Yes, US citizens can travel to Greece for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa. However, they must have a valid passport that is valid for at least three months beyond their intended departure date from Greece.

How long can a visitor stay in Greece without a visa?

Visitors from the EU, the US, Canada, Australia, and other countries can stay in Greece for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa.

What is the currency used in Greece?

The currency used in Greece is the Euro.

What are some of the top tourist destinations in Greece?

Some of the top tourist destinations in Greece include Athens, Santorini, Crete, Mykonos, and Corfu.

What are the current COVID-19 restrictions and rules for traveling to Greece?

The current COVID-19 restrictions and rules for traveling to Greece vary depending on the traveler's country of origin and vaccination status. It is recommended to check the official Greek government website or the embassy in your country for the latest updates before traveling.

Is it safe to travel to Greece?

Greece is generally considered a safe country for tourists. However, visitors should still take the necessary precautions and be aware of their surroundings, especially in crowded tourist areas.

GETTING ONBOARD

Required travel documents.

GETTING ONBOARD WITH

THE RIGHT TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

It’s your responsibility to ensure you have all the proper documentation to board the ship and enter each of the countries your cruise visits. We’ll require government-issued identification to board. And government authorities may require you to have a visa or meet other requirements.

Select your departure port below to find out exactly what you need. But be aware – government requirements may change.

Don't Get Caught Without The Right Travel Doc

Passports are Best A passport is the best ID document for travel. Make sure yours doesn't expire for 6 months after your cruise ends. Learn more

Caution: Birth Certificates U.S. Citizens can cruise with a U.S. birth certificate on most sailings from the U.S. But your birth certificate needs to meet the requirements. Learn more

Names Must Match If you've had a name change, and the name used across your documents does not match, you will need to take an extra step. Learn more

Cruising With Kids That Aren't Yours When a minor (age 17 and under) travels without their legal guardian, an accompanying adult must present a notarized form signed by the child's guardian. Learn more

Visas May Be Required Some countries require an entry visa or electronic visa based on your nationality. Learn more

Don't Pack Your Docs Please keep all travel documents on your person at the terminal; you’ll need to present them at check-in.

Select where you're sailing from

Popular homeports:, full list of all homeports:, travel document requirements for sailings from u.s. homeports (excluding honoulu, hawaii & seward, alaska).

Here are the current requirements for our guests sailing from the U.S. Booked guests will be provided the latest full details prior to sailing. Please select the citizenship options below to learn the right requirements:

Accepted Identification for U.S. Citizens & Permanent Residents

Note: U.S. Cruises that visit Colombia or Panama If your sailing visits Colombia or Panama, see your protocols here .

In order to sail, a guest must meet the requirements of ONE of the check boxes below.

All documents must be original – no photocopies. Your name must match across documents. What if I had a name change?

• U.S. Passport Book OR U.S. Passport Card
• Royal Caribbean strongly recommends that all guests travel with a valid passport. Learn why a passport is best.
• Passports must be valid at least 6 months after your cruise ends
• Read more about passport requirements.
• U.S. Birth Certificate AND Valid Government Issued ID (State ID Card, Driver’s License OR Military ID)
• U.S. Birth Certificates must be the original or an official document issued by the government.
• Read more about birth certificate requirements.
• Guests age 15 and under are NOT required to have a photo ID, just the birth certificate.
• Permanent Resident Card (Alien Resident Card "ARC" OR Green Card) AND Valid Passport from Country of Citizenship
• Guests must bring their physical Permanent Resident Card and it must be original – no photocopies.
• Passports must be valid at least 6 months after your cruise ends.
• Guests age 16 and older whose ARC has no photo must present a valid government issued photo ID
• Barbados & Martinique require ARC guests to provide a valid passport.
• Any additional requirements are the responsibility of the guest.
• U.S. Naturalization Certificate AND Valid Government Issued ID (State ID Card, Driver’s License OR Military ID)
• Original U.S. Naturalization Certificate or a certified copy.
• Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) that is not expired
• Enhanced Driver's Licenses are only available from the following states: Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington State.
• An Enhanced Driver’s License is different from a REAL ID compliant id. An EDL will have a flag on the front.
• U.S. Passport Book
• Visa may be required based on Passport Country of Origin. Learn More

Additionally, visas or travel permits may be required to enter some countries.

• Electronic Travel Authorization will be required based on disembarkation port.
• Learn more about visa requirements.

Accepted Identification for Canadian Citizens

• Canadian Passport Book – Required if traveling to the U.S. by air
• Enhanced Driver's Licenses are only available from the following Provinces: British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.
• Guests age 14 and under may present a passport as noted above OR one of the documents below:
• Original Naturalization Certificate OR Original Valid Canadian Citizenship Card OR Original Birth Certificate Issued by Canada.
• Read more about birth certificate requirements

In order to sail, a guest must meet the requirements below.

• Canadian Passport Book

Accepted Identification for Other Nationalities

• Valid Passport from Country of Citizenship

Additionally, visas or travel permits may be required to enter some countries. Please check requirements for your own nationality. Common visas are noted below.

• The United States may require a Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) or Visa depending on nationality.
• Please check requirements for your own nationality .
• Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) is required for Chinese Nationals.
• Sailings with a Canadian Port of Call (ex. Alaska sailings) may require a Canadian Visitor’s Visa.

Travel document requirements for sailings from Australian homeports

Here are the current requirements for our guests sailing from Australia. Booked guests will be provided the latest full details prior to sailing. Please select the citizenship options below to learn the right requirements:

Accepted Identification for U.S. Citizens

• U.S. Passport Book AND Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
• All visitors are required to get an Australian ETA to travel to Australia.
• Read more about passport requirements

Additionally, visas or travel permits may be required to enter some countries. Please check requirements for your own nationality.

• New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
• All visitors are required to get a NZeTA to travel to New Zealand.

Accepted Identification for U.K. Citizens

• Passport Book

Accepted Identification for Australian Citizens

• Australian Passport Book
• Australian Driver's License OR Government-issued, laminated photo ID
• Cruise itinerary must call only on Australian ports of call.
• If an itinerary leaves Australia, then guests must use a Passport.
• Guests age 17 and under may present one of the documents below:
• Medicare Card - Can be used as the only identification for children when all guests share the same last name.
• Original (or Certified) Birth Certificate - If the parent's name differs from the child.

* Sailings that originate and end in ports within Australia that do not include a visit to an overseas port outside of Australia. (Note that Queensland cruises that include Willis Island are considered domestic cruises) . If an itinerary leaves Australia, then guests must use a Passport.

• Passport Book AND Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
• For Transpacific sailings, the United States may require a Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) or Visa depending on nationality.

Travel document requirements for sailings from Canadian homeports

Here are the current requirements for our guests sailing from Canada. Booked guests will be provided the latest full details prior to sailing. Please select the citizenship options below to learn the right requirements:

Accepted Identification for U.S. Citizens & Permanent Residents

• U.S. Passport Book - If traveling to Canada by air
• U.S. Passport Card - Can be used if traveling to Canada by ground/car or by sea
• U.S. Birth Certificate AND Valid Government Issued ID (State ID Card, Driver’s License OR Military ID) - Can be used if traveling to Canada by ground/car or by sea
• Original U.S. State Certified Birth Certificate or a certified copy; or an original Consular Birth Abroad Certificate from the U.S. State Department.
• Permanent Resident Card (Alien Resident Card "ARC" OR Green Card) AND Valid Passport from Country of Citizenship - If traveling to Canada by air, ground/car or by sea
• Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after your cruise ends.
• Guests age 16 and older whose ARC has no photo must present a valid government issued photo ID.
• Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) that is not expired - Can be used if traveling to Canada by ground/car or by sea

Accepted Identification for Canadian Citizens & Permanent Residents

• Canadian Permanent Resident Card AND Valid Passport from Country of Citizenship
• Guests age 14 and under may also present either:
• Canada may require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or Visa depending on nationality.

Travel document requirements for sailings from European homeports (excluding Southampton, England; Haifa, Israel & Istanbul, Turkey)

Here are the current requirements for our guests sailing from Europe. Booked guests will be provided the latest full details prior to sailing. Please select the citizenship options below to learn the right requirements:

Additionally, visas or travel permits will soon be required to enter European Union countries.

• Traveling to Europe
• Coming Soon - All visitors will soon be required to get an European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) to travel to Europe.
• Sailings that have a European Union Port of Call
• For Transatlantic sailings, the United States may require a Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) or Visa depending on nationality.

Accepted Identification for European Citizens

• Guests are responsible for any requirements a country may have.
• Royal Caribbean strongly recommends that all guests travel with a valid passport. Learn why a passport is best
• EU Government ID
• Cruise itinerary must call only on countries within the Schengen Region .
• EU Government ID must be valid at least 3 months after your cruise ends.
• A Multi-Entry Schengen Visa may be required
• Coming Soon - European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS)
• Some nationalities will soon be required to get an European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) to travel to Europe.
• A Schengen Visa may be required
• European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS)
• Coming Soon - Some nationalities will soon be required to get an European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) to travel to Europe.

Travel document requirements for sailings from Dubai

Here are the current requirements for our guests sailing from Dubai. Booked guests will be provided the latest full details prior to sailing. Please select the citizenship options below to learn the right requirements:

• U.K. Passport Book

Travel document requirements for sailings from Central & South American homeports

Here are the current requirements for our guests sailing from Central and South America. Booked guests will be provided the latest full details prior to sailing. Please select the citizenship options below to learn the right requirements:

• Australian citizens cruising to and from Buenos Aires, Argentina and Valparaiso, Chile require additional documentation.

Travel document requirements for sailings from Singapore

Here are the current requirements for our guests sailing from Singapore. Booked guests will be provided the latest full details prior to sailing. Please select the citizenship options below to learn the right requirements:

• U.S. Passport Book AND Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC)
• All visitors are required to get an Singapore Arrival Card to travel to Singapore.

Accepted Identification for Singaporean Citizens

• Singaporean Passport Book
• Passport Book AND Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC)

Travel document requirements for sailings from Japanese homeports

Here are the current requirements for our guests sailing from Japan. Booked guests will be provided the latest full details prior to sailing. Please select the citizenship options below to learn the right requirements:

Accepted Identification for Japanese Citizens

• Japanese Passport Book

Travel document requirements for sailings from Chinese homeports

Here are the current requirements for our guests sailing from China. Booked guests will be provided the latest full details prior to sailing. Please select the citizenship options below to learn the right requirements:

Accepted Identification for Chinese Citizens

• Chinese Passport Book

Travel document requirements for sailings from Istanbul, Turkey

Here are the current requirements for our guests sailing from Istanbul, Turkey. Booked guests will be provided the latest full details prior to sailing. Please select the citizenship options below to learn the right requirements:

• U.S. Passport Book AND Turkish Visa
• All visitors are required to get a Turkish Visa to travel to Turkey.
• Passport Book AND Turkish Visa

Travel document requirements for sailings from Haifa, Israel

Here are the current requirements for our guests sailing from Haifa, Israel. Booked guests will be provided the latest full details prior to sailing. Please select the citizenship options below to learn the right requirements:

• All visitors will soon be required to get an European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) to travel to Europe.

Travel document requirements for sailings from Seward, Alaska

Here are the current requirements for our guests sailing from the Seward. Booked guests will be provided the latest full details prior to sailing. Please select the citizenship options below to learn the right requirements:

• Canada may require a Visa depending on nationality.

Travel document requirements for sailings from Southampton, England

Here are the current requirements for our guests sailing from Southampton. Booked guests will be provided the latest full details prior to sailing. Please select the citizenship options below to learn the right requirements:

Additionally, visas or travel permits will soon be required to enter the U.K. and European Union countries.

• Entering the U.K.
• Coming Soon - All visitors will soon be required to get an U.K. Travel Authorization (ETA) to travel to the U.K.

Travel document requirements for sailings from Oahu (Honolulu), Hawaii

Here are the current requirements for our guests sailing from the Honolulu. Booked guests will be provided the latest full details prior to sailing. Please select the citizenship options below to learn the right requirements:

• Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA).

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Find out if you need a visa to travel to Canada

Most people need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada - not both. Some people may only need their valid passport. Answer a few questions to see what's right for you.

See all entry requirements by country/territory

You can find the country code on your passport. Be careful when you select your country. Some countries have multiple options and codes are quite similar.

Answer yes if you’re a citizen of Canada and another country.

Look on the front cover of your passport for the symbol of a rectangle with a circle in the middle. If you see this symbol, you have an electronic passport.

Answer: You need a visitor visa

For visits of up to 6 months for most purposes. Cost: CAN $100

Get details about visitor visa Opens in a new tab

Answer: You need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

For visits of up to 6 months or to transit via a Canadian airport. Cost: CAN $7

Get details about eTA Opens in a new tab

Answer: You need a valid Canadian passport

You need a  valid Canadian passport  to travel to Canada by air (board your flight).

Exception: If you’re an American-Canadian dual citizen with a valid U.S. passport, you don’t need a Canadian passport to fly to Canada. However, you still need to  carry proper identification Opens in a new tab  and meet the basic requirements to enter Canada Opens in a new tab .

Get details about travelling as a dual Canadian citizen Opens in a new tab

Answer: You need a valid passport or travel document to travel to Canada by car, train, bus or boat

If you decide to fly to a Canadian airport instead, you'll need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Learn about documents you may need Opens in a new tab

Answer: You need official proof of status in the U.S.

Lawful permanent residents of the U.S. must present these documents for all methods of travel to Canada:

• a valid passport from their country of nationality (or an equivalent acceptable travel document ) and
• a valid green card (or equivalent valid proof of status in the United States)

Answer: You need a transit visa 

To connect between 2 international flights, in less than 48 hours. Cost: Free

Note: If you have more than 48 hours between international flights OR if you decide to visit Canada, you need to apply for a visitor visa.

Get details about transit visa Opens in a new tab

Answer: You can apply for a parent and grandparent super visa to visit for more than 6 months

• The super visa is for visits of 5 years at a time .
• a letter from your child or grandchild with a promise to financially support you for the duration of your visit in Canada.
• More information on approved insurance providers outside of Canada will be available in the coming months.
• be valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry to Canada
• provide at least $100,000 in emergency coverage.
• You must apply for a super visa from outside Canada.
• Cost: CAN $100

Note : If you don't meet the criteria for a super visa, you need to apply for a visitor visa.

Get details about super visa Opens in a new tab

Note : If you don’t meet the criteria for a super visa, you need to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA). An eTA allows for visits of up to 6 months.

Note : If you don’t meet the criteria for a super visa, you can visit Canada for up to 6 months with a valid identity document. Bring identification such as a valid passport. Or, if a member of an official program such as Nexus, you may present your valid membership card.

If you don’t meet the criteria for a super visa, you can visit Canada for up to 6 months with

• a valid passport from your country of nationality (or an equivalent acceptable travel document Opens in a new tab ) and
• official proof of lawful permanent resident status in the U.S., such as a green card

Answer: You need a valid identity document

Bring identification such as a valid passport. Or, if a member of an official program such as Nexus, you may present your valid membership card.

Learn about the documents you may need Opens in a new tab

Answer: If we approve your study permit application, we’ll issue a visitor visa

• You don’t need to submit a separate application for a visitor visa.

When you travel to Canada, bring your

• letter of introduction that says your study permit application is approved, if you received one
• valid passport that has your visitor visa stuck to one of its pages

Learn about studying in Canada Opens in a new tab

Answer: You should already have a valid visitor visa

We automatically issued a  visitor visa to you when we approved your first study or work permit.

If you leave and return to Canada,  you must travel with:

• your valid study or work permit
• If you don’t have a valid visa when you check-in for a flight, it may result in travel delays (or a missed flight).
• your valid passport

Exception : If you return directly from a visit only to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon, you don’t need a valid visitor visa if your study or work permit is still valid.

If your visa has expired or was only valid for a single entry to Canada

You need to  apply for a new visa Opens in a new tab .

• A visa costs CAN$100.
• It’s valid for up to 10 years.

If your study or work permit will expire soon, you must extend it before you can apply for a new visitor visa.

You need a visitor visa to leave and return to Canada.  Apply for your visa before you leave.

You can apply for a visitor visa from inside Canada if you meet all the conditions below:

• you’re already in Canada
• you hold a valid study or work permit
• you want to  leave and return to Canada  in the near future
• your existing  visitor visa Opens in a new tab  is expired or was valid for only one entry

Exception : If you return  directly  from a visit only to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon, you don’t need a valid visitor visa if your study or work permit is still valid.

Processing times vary by country.  You may need to  give fingerprints and photo (biometrics) Opens in a new tab  with your application. Processing times  don’t include  the time you need to give biometrics.

Apply for a visitor visa Opens in a new tab

You need a  visitor visa  to travel to Canada.

A visitor visa:

• is a sticker we put in your passport
• costs CAN$100

Processing times vary by country.  You may need to  give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) Opens in a new tab  with your application. Processing time  doesn’t include  the time you need to give biometrics.

Answer: Before you continue, find out if you need a study permit

You’ll need to answer some questions on another page to find out.

If you’re eligible to study without a study permit, you’ll need to come back to this page to find out what you need to travel to Canada.

Find out if you need a study permit Opens in a new tab

Answer: If we approve your work permit application, we’ll issue a visitor visa for you

• letter of introduction that says your work permit application is approved, if you received one

Learn about working in Canada Opens in a new tab

We automatically issued a  visitor visa to you when we approved your first work permit.

Processing times vary by country.  You may need to  give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics)  with your application. Processing time  doesn’t include  the time you need to give biometrics.

Apply for a visitor visa

Answer: Before you continue, find out if you need a work permit

If you’re eligible to work without a work permit, you’ll need to come back to this page to find out what you need to travel to Canada.

Find out if you need a work permit Opens in a new tab

Answer: If we approve your study permit application, we’ll issue an electronic travel authorization (eTA)

• You don’t need to submit a separate application for an eTA.

If you get a new passport before you come to Canada, you’ll need to apply for a new eTA if you plan to fly to a Canadian airport.

Answer: You need an eTA to leave and return to Canada

Your study permit lets you study in Canada. If you plan to leave and return to Canada, you need to make sure you have what you need to re-enter the country.

What you need depends on your travel plans.

If you re-enter by a Canadian airport (fly back to Canada)

You must have:

• the passport that’s linked to a valid eTA and
• your valid study permit
• costs CAN $7
• is electronically linked to your passport

If you received your current study permit on or after August 1, 2015, you may have a valid eTA.

If you don’t have an eTA or yours has expired, you’ll need to apply for a new eTA.

Apply for an eTA Opens in a new tab

If you re-enter Canada by car, boat, bus or train

• a valid passport and

Answer: If you fly to a Canadian airport, you need an eTA

• costs CAN$7

Most applicants get their eTA approval (via an email) within minutes. However, some requests  can take several days  to process if you’re asked to submit supporting documents.

If you drive or arrive by train, bus or boat

You just need a  valid passport or travel document Opens in a new tab  to get to Canada by car, train, bus or boat.

Answer: If we approve your work permit application, we’ll issue an electronic travel authorization (eTA) for you

• valid passport that you used to apply for your work permit

If you get a new passport before you come to Canada, you’ll need to apply for a new eTA if you plan to fly to a Canadian airport.

Your work permit lets you work in Canada. If you plan to leave and return to Canada, you need to make sure you have what you need to re-enter the country.

• your valid work permit

If you received your current work permit on or after August 1, 2015, you may have a valid eTA.

• your valid work or study permit

Answer: You don’t need to apply for a visitor visa or eTA

• valid passport or travel document that you used to apply for your work or study permit

When you travel to Canada, you must bring your:

• letter of introduction that says your study permit application is approved

Answer: You don’t need an eTA or a visitor visa

If you’re driving or arriving by train, bus, or boat.

You just need to  bring the right travel documents Opens in a new tab .

If you fly to or transit through a Canadian airport

You just need to travel with your valid U.S. passport if you fly or transit through a Canadian airport.

• valid passport or travel document that you used to apply for your work permit
• valid work or study permit

Answer: Your permit is not an eTA or a visa

When you extend your study permit, you’ll also be issued an eTA if you don’t already have one. When you fly to a Canadian, you must have:

• the passport that’s linked to your valid eTA  and
• a valid visitor and

Apply for visitor visa Opens in a new tab

When you extend your work permit, you’ll also be issued an eTA if you don’t already have one. When you fly to a Canadian, you must have:

• a valid visitor visa and

Answer: You’re eligible to apply for an eTA

You can apply for an  eTA  if you travel to Canada  by air only .

• is only valid when flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport

Most applicants get their eTA approval within minutes (via email). However, some requests  can take several days  to process if you’re asked to submit supporting documents.

If you already have a  valid Canadian visitor visa  you don’t need to apply for an eTA. You can travel with your visa until it expires.

If your travel plans change

You need a  visitor visa  (not an eTA) if you decide to  get to Canada by car, train, bus or boat  instead.

Answer: You don’t need to apply for a visitor visa or eTA

• valid passport or travel document that you used to apply for your study permit and
• official proof of U.S. lawful permanent resident status

Answer: You need valid proof of lawful permanent resident status of the U.S. to leave and return to Canada

• valid study permit,
• valid passport or travel document that you used to apply for your study permit, and

Answer: You don’t need an eTA or a visitor visa

• valid passport or travel document and

You’ll need to answer some questions on another page to find out.

If you’re eligible to study without a study permit, you’ll need to come back to this page to find out what you need to travel to Canada.

• valid passport or travel document that you used to apply for your work permit and
• valid work permit
• valid work permit,

If you’re eligible to work without a work permit, you’ll need to come back to this page to find out what you need to travel to Canada.

Answer: You’re eligible to apply for an eTA

If you already have a  valid Canadian visitor visa , you don’t need to apply for an eTA. You can travel with your visa until it expires.

If you transit through Canada to or from the United States

You  may  be able to  transit through Canada without a visa or eTA if you meet certain eligibility requirements.

You need an official proof of status as a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., such as one of the following:

• valid permanent resident card (Form I-551)
• foreign passport with an unexpired temporary I-551 stamp (also known as an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication [ADIT] stamp)
• foreign passport with a temporary I-551 printed notation (“Upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year”) on a machine-readable immigrant visa upon endorsement with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection admission stamp
• expired permanent resident card (Form I-551) with Form I-797 (Notice of Action) for pending Form I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence) or Form I-829 (Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status)
• expired permanent resident card (Form I-551) with Form I-797 (Notice of Action) for pending Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card [Green Card])
• valid re-entry permit (Form I-327)
• Form I-94 with an unexpired temporary I-551 stamp (ADIT stamp) and a passport-style photo

Important note:

This tool provides information only. It was created to assist you as you decide what travel document you may need to travel to Canada. This tool may not provide information on all travel documents or your particular situation. If you choose to apply, we will assess your application in accordance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its related Regulations. Read our complete terms and conditions (opens in a new tab) .

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International travel documents for children

See what documents a child needs to travel to or from the U.S. alone or with a parent or relative.

Children traveling to the U.S.

All children, including infants, must have their own travel documents such as a passport or document from a Trusted Traveler Program to enter the U.S. If you travel or are going to travel with a child, consider taking the following documents:

• If the child is traveling with only one of their custodial parents, they must have a letter of consent, preferably in English and notarized, from the other parent or signed by both parents. The letter should say "I acknowledge that my son/daughter is traveling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission."
• If one parent has sole custody of the child, a copy of the custody document can take the place of the other parent's letter.
• Parents who frequently cross the border by land with a minor must always carry a letter of permission from the other parent.

U.S. citizen children traveling abroad

Ports of entry in many countries have security measures to prevent international child abduction . If you are traveling alone with your child, you may be required to present documentation proving you are the parent or legal guardian. You may also need a letter of permission from the other parent for your child to travel. 

If your child travels alone, depending on the country, they may be required to present a notarized letter from both parents or their legal guardian. If a minor is traveling abroad and is not accompanied by both parents or a legal guardian, contact the embassy or consulate of the country you will be visiting and ask about entry and exit requirements for that country.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

Have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

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Travel advice and advisories by destination

COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

The Government of Canada’s official source of travel information and advice, the Travel Advice and Advisories help you to make informed decisions and travel safely while you are outside Canada. Check the page for your destination often, because safety and security conditions may change. See Travel Advice and Advisories – FAQ for more information.

Where are you going?

Take normal security precautions

Exercise a high degree of caution

Avoid non-essential travel

Avoid all travel

Travel advice from other countries

Travel advice is also provided by the governments of Australia , New Zealand , the United Kingdom and the United States .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

An official website of the United States government

U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, Annual Revision

• News Release
• Related Materials
• Additional Information

Updates to Goods and Services

In this release and in the accompanying “ U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, April 2024 ” release (FT–900), the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are publishing revised statistics on trade in goods and services. With these releases, statistics on trade in goods, on both a Census basis and a balance of payments (BOP) basis, and statistics on trade in services are revised beginning with 2019.

Revised statistics on trade in goods reflect:

• Corrections and adjustments to previously published not seasonally adjusted statistics for goods on a Census basis.
• End-use reclassifications of several commodities.
• Recalculated seasonal and trading-day adjustments.
• Newly available and revised source data on BOP adjustments, which are adjustments that BEA applies to goods on a Census basis to convert them to a BOP basis. See the “Goods (balance of payments basis)” section in the FT–900 explanatory notes for more information.

Revised statistics on trade in services reflect:

• An improved estimation method for transport services.
• Newly available and revised source data, primarily from BEA surveys of international services.
• Recalculated seasonal adjustments.
• Revised temporal distributions of quarterly source data to monthly statistics. See the “Services” section in the FT–900 explanatory notes for more information.

This annual revision has not changed the overall trend in the annual goods and services deficit. The deficit was unrevised for 2019, was revised up for 2020, 2021, and 2023, and was revised down for 2022. The largest revision was for 2021 when the deficit was revised up 0.8 percent, reflecting a downward revision to the services surplus.

The revised statistics for goods on a BOP basis and for services will also be included in the “U.S. International Transactions, 1st Quarter 2024 and Annual Update” report and in BEA’s Interactive Data Application , both to be released by BEA on June 20, 2024. For more information, see “ Preview of the 2024 Annual Update of the International Economic Accounts ” in the Survey of Current Business .

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Census Bureau, Economic Indicators Division, International Trade Macro Analysis Branch, on (800) 549-0595, option 4, or at [email protected] or BEA, Balance of Payments Division, at [email protected] .

Full Release & Tables (PDF)

Tables only (excel), release highlights, historical comparisons, u.s. trade in goods and services, 1960-present, u.s. trade in goods and services by selected countries and areas, 1999-present, u.s. international trade in goods and services, april 2024, seasonal adjustment by selected countries and areas, frequently asked questions.

• Goods Data Inquiries U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Indicators Division 301-763-2311 [email protected]
• Goods Media Inquiries U.S. Census Bureau, Public Information Office 301-763-3030 [email protected]
• Services Data and Media Inquiries Balance of Payments Division 301-278-9559 [email protected]
• Media Thomas Dail 301-278-9003 [email protected]

Explanatory Notes

Goods (Census basis)

Data for goods on a Census basis are compiled from the documents collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and reflect the movement of goods between foreign countries and the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and U.S. Foreign Trade Zones. They include government and non-government shipments of goods and exclude shipments between the United States and its territories and possessions; transactions with U.S. military, diplomatic, and consular installations abroad; U.S. goods returned to the United States by its Armed Forces; personal and household effects of travelers; and in-transit shipments. The General Imports value reflects the total arrival of merchandise from foreign countries that immediately enters consumption channels, warehouses, or Foreign Trade Zones.

For imports, the value reported is the CBP-appraised value of merchandise—generally, the price paid for merchandise for export to the United States. Import duties, freight, insurance, and other charges incurred in bringing merchandise to the United States are excluded. The exception is exhibit 17a, which shows CIF import value. The CIF (cost, insurance, and freight) value represents the landed value of the merchandise at the first port of arrival in the United States. It is computed by adding import charges to the customs value and therefore excludes U.S. import duties.

Exports are valued at the f.a.s. (free alongside ship) value of merchandise at the U.S. port of export, based on the transaction price including inland freight, insurance, and other charges incurred in placing the merchandise alongside the carrier at the U.S. port of exportation.

Revision procedure (Census basis)

Monthly revisions: Monthly data include actual month's transactions as well as a small number of transactions for previous months. Each month, the U.S. Census Bureau revises the aggregate seasonally adjusted (nominal and real, or chained-dollar) and unadjusted export, import, and trade balance figures, as well as the end-use totals for the prior month. Country detail data and commodity detail data, based on the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Revision 4 and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are not revised monthly. The timing adjustment shown in exhibit 14 is the difference between monthly data as originally reported and as recompiled.

For March 2024, unadjusted exports of goods were revised up $0.1 billion and unadjusted imports of goods were revised up less than $0.1 billion. Goods carry-over in April 2024 was $0.3 billion (0.2 percent) for exports and less than $0.1 billion (less than 0.1 percent) for imports. For March 2024, revised export carry-over was less than $0.1 billion (less than 0.1 percent) and revised import carry-over was less than $0.1 billion (less than 0.1 percent).

Quarterly revisions to chain-weighted dollar series: For March, June, September, and December statistical month releases, revisions are made to the real, or chained-dollar, series presented in exhibits 10 and 11: the previous five months are revised to incorporate the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) revisions to price indexes, which are used to produce the real series and to align Census data with data published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) in the national income and product accounts (NIPAs).

Annual revisions: Each June, not seasonally adjusted goods data are revised to redistribute monthly data that arrived too late for inclusion in the month of transaction. In addition, revisions are made to reflect corrections received subsequent to the monthly revisions. Seasonally adjusted data are also revised to reflect recalculated seasonal and trading-day adjustments. These revisions are reflected in totals, end-use, commodity, and country summary data.

Other revisions: For December and January statistical month releases, each prior month of the most recent full year is revised so that the totals of the seasonally adjusted months equal the annual totals.

U.S./Canada data exchange and substitution

Data for U.S. exports to Canada are derived from import data compiled by Canada. The use of Canada's import data to produce U.S. export data requires several alignments in order to compare the two series.

• Coverage - Canadian imports are based on country of origin. U.S. goods shipped from a third country are included. U.S. exports exclude these foreign shipments. For April 2024, these shipments totaled $243.5 million. U.S. export coverage also excludes U.S. postal shipments to Canada. For April 2024, these shipments totaled $41.9 million. U.S. import coverage includes shipments of railcars and locomotives from Canada. Effective with January 2004 statistics, Canada excludes these shipments from its goods exports to the United States, therefore creating coverage differences between the two countries for these goods.
• Valuation - Canadian imports are valued at the point of origin in the United States. However, U.S. exports are valued at the port of exit in the United States and include inland freight charges, making the U.S. export value slightly larger than the Canadian import value. Canada requires inland freight to be reported separately from the value of the goods. Combining the inland freight and the Canadian reported import value provides a consistent valuation for all U.S. exports. Inland freight charges for April 2024 accounted for 1.5 percent of the value of U.S. exports to Canada.
• Re-exports - Unlike Canadian imports, which are based on country of origin, U.S. exports include re-exports of foreign goods. Therefore, the aggregate U.S. export figure is slightly larger than the Canadian import figure. For April 2024, re-exports to Canada were $5,185.7 million.
• Exchange Rate - Average monthly exchange rates are applied to convert the published data to U.S. currency. For April 2024, the average exchange rate was 1.3674 Canadian dollars per U.S. dollar.
• Other - There are other minor differences, such as rounding error, that are statistically insignificant.

Canadian estimates: Effective with January 2001 statistics, the current month data for exports to Canada contain an estimate for late arrivals and corrections. In the following month, this estimate is replaced, in the news release exhibits only, with the actual value of late receipts and corrections. This estimate improves the current month data for exports to Canada and treats late receipts for exports to Canada in a manner that is more consistent with the treatment of late receipts for exports to other countries.

Nonsampling errors

The goods data are a complete enumeration of documents collected by CBP and are not subject to sampling errors. Quality assurance procedures are performed at every stage of collection, processing, and tabulation. However, the data are still subject to several types of nonsampling errors. The most significant of these include reporting errors, undocumented shipments, timeliness, data capture errors, and errors in the estimation of low-valued transactions.

Reporting errors: Reporting errors are mistakes or omissions made by importers, exporters, or their agents in their import or export declarations. Most errors involve missing or invalid commodity classification codes and missing or incorrect quantities or shipping weights. They have a negligible effect on aggregate import, export, and balance of trade statistics. However, they can affect the detailed commodity statistics.

Undocumented shipments: Federal regulations require importers, exporters, or their agents to report all merchandise shipments above established exemption levels. The Census Bureau has determined that not all required documents are filed, particularly for exports.

Timeliness and data capture errors: The Census Bureau captures import and export information from administrative documents and through various automated collection programs. Documents may be lost, and data may be incorrectly keyed, coded, or recorded. Transactions may be included in a subsequent month’s statistics if received late.

Low-valued transactions: The total values of transactions valued as much as or below $2,500 for exports and $2,000 ($250 for certain quota items) for imports are estimated for each country, using factors based on the ratios of low-valued shipments to individual country totals for past periods.

The Census Bureau recommends that data users incorporate this information into their analyses, as nonsampling errors could impact the conclusion drawn from the results. See “ U.S. Merchandise Trade Statistics: A Quality Profile ” (October 2014) for a detailed discussion of errors affecting the goods data.

Area groupings

North America: Canada, Mexico.

Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR): Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua.

Europe: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Svalbard-Jan Mayen Island, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vatican City.

European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.

Euro Area: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain.

Pacific Rim: Australia, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea (South), Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan.

South/Central America: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Sint Maarten, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Africa: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, British Indian Ocean Territories, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Reunion, Rwanda, St. Helena, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Adjustments for seasonal and trading-day variations

Goods are initially classified under the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonized System), which is an internationally accepted standard for the commodity classification of traded goods. The Harmonized System describes and measures the characteristics of the goods and is the basis for the systems used in the United States: Schedule B for exports and Harmonized Tariff Schedule for imports. Combining trade into approximately 140 export and 140 import end-use categories makes it possible to examine goods according to their principal uses (see exhibits 7 and 8). These categories are used as the basis for computing the seasonal and trading-day adjusted data. These adjusted data are then summed to the six end-use aggregates for publication (see exhibit 6). The Census Bureau provides these data to BEA for use in the NIPAs and in the U.S international transactions accounts (balance of payments accounts).

Exhibit 19 shows goods (Census basis) that are seasonally adjusted for selected countries and world areas. Unlike the commodity-based adjustments discussed above, these adjustments are developed and applied directly at the country and world area levels. For total exports and imports, data users should refer to the commodity-based totals shown in the other exhibits. The seasonally adjusted country and world area data will not sum to the seasonally adjusted commodity-based totals because the seasonally adjusted country and world area data and the commodity-based totals are derived from different aggregations of the export and import data and from different seasonal adjustment models. Data users should use caution drawing comparisons between the two sets of seasonally adjusted series.

The seasonal adjustment procedure (X-13ARIMA-SEATS) is based on a model that estimates the monthly movements as percentages above or below the general level of series (unlike other methods that redistribute the actual series values over the calendar year). Because the data series for aircraft is highly variable, users studying data trends may wish to analyze trade in aircraft separately from other trade.

Adjustments for price change

Data adjusted for seasonal variation on a real, or chained-dollar, basis (2017 reference year) are presented in exhibits 10 and 11. This adjustment for price change is done using the Fisher chain-weighted methodology. The deflators are primarily based on the monthly price indexes published by the BLS using techniques developed for the NIPAs by BEA.

Principal commodities

Goods data appearing in exhibit 15 are classified in terms of the SITC Revision 4, with the exception of agricultural and manufactured goods. Agricultural goods are defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) based on World Trade Organization guidance; they consist of non-fishery food products, raw fibers, feeds, and derivatives. Manufactured goods conform to the NAICS; they consist of goods that have been mechanically, physically, or chemically transformed. USDA agricultural goods and NAICS manufactured goods are not mutually exclusive categories.

Re-exports are foreign merchandise entering the country as imports and then exported in substantially the same condition as when imported. Re-exports, which are included in overall export totals, appear as separate line items in exhibit 15.

Advanced technology products

About 500 of some 22,000 Schedule B and Harmonized Tariff Schedule classification codes used in reporting U.S. merchandise trade are identified as "advanced technology" codes, and they meet the following criteria:

• The code contains products whose technology is from a recognized high technology field (e.g., biotechnology).
• These products represent leading edge technology in that field.
• Such products constitute a significant part of all items covered in the selected classification code.

The aggregation of the goods results in a measure of advanced technology trade that appears in exhibits 16 and 16a. This product- and commodity-based measure of advanced technology differs from broader NAICS-based measures, which include all goods produced by a particular industry group, regardless of the level of technology embodied in the goods.

Goods trade in the Advance Economic Indicators Report

In addition to the U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report (FT-900), which is released jointly with BEA, the Census Bureau also releases advance statistics on international trade in goods, along with advance estimates on retail and wholesale inventories, in the Advance Economic Indicators Report ( Advance Report ). Trade statistics in the Advance Report, released on average 24 to 26 calendar days after the end of the reference month, reflect nearly complete coverage of goods trade, while statistics in the FT-900, released on average 34 to 36 calendar days after the end of the reference month, reflect complete coverage.

The Advance Report contains advance statistics for goods trade on a Census basis by principal end-use category, thus providing users an earlier high-level snapshot of U.S. international trade for the featured month. Commodity and country details and statistics for goods trade on a balance of payments (BOP) basis and for services trade are released several days later in the FT-900. See the Advance Report Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

The FT-900 is the primary source for the goods trade data used in BEA’s quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) statistics. However, for the advance GDP estimate, FT-900 data for the third month are not yet available, so BEA uses data from the Advance Report. Because only goods trade on a Census basis by principal end-use category is available in the Advance Report, BEA applies adjustments, such as BOP and coverage adjustments, to the Advance Report statistics to produce detailed estimates for incorporation into the advance GDP estimate. See the “Key Source Data and Assumptions” table that accompanies each GDP release for more information.

Goods (BOP basis) and services

Quarterly and annual statistics for goods on a BOP basis and for services are included in the U.S. international transactions accounts (ITAs), which are published by BEA in news releases in March, June, September, and December and in the Survey of Current Business in January, April, July, and October. The next release of the ITAs is scheduled for March 21, 2024.

In addition, BEA releases detailed monthly and quarterly goods statistics , which consist of statistics on trade in goods by end-use category and commodity on both a Census basis and a BOP basis, and detailed annual services statistics , which consist of statistics on trade in services and on services supplied through affiliates of multinational enterprises. The services statistics provide detail on U.S. trade in services by type and by country and area and detail on services supplied through affiliates by industry and by country and area.

Goods (BOP basis)

Goods on a Census basis are adjusted by BEA to a BOP basis to align the data with the concepts and definitions used to prepare the international and national economic accounts. These adjustments, which are applied separately to exports and imports, are necessary to supplement coverage of the Census data, to eliminate duplication of transactions recorded elsewhere in the international accounts, and to value transactions at market prices. They include both additions to and deductions from goods on a Census basis and are presented in this release as net adjustments . Adjustments that exhibit significant seasonal patterns are seasonally adjusted. BEA also publishes more detailed quarterly and annual statistics for net adjustments in ITA Table 2.4. U.S. International Trade in Goods, Balance of Payments Adjustments .

The export adjustments include:

Gold exports, nonmonetary - This addition is made for gold that is purchased by foreign official agencies from private dealers in the United States and held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The Census data only include gold that leaves the U.S. customs territory.

Goods procured in U.S. ports by foreign carriers - This addition is made for foreign air and ocean carriers’ fuel purchases in U.S. ports.

Net exports of goods under merchanting - This addition is made to include the net value of the purchase and subsequent resale of goods abroad without the goods entering the United States. Because these goods do not cross the U.S. customs frontier, their value is not recorded in the Census data.

Other adjustments to exports include:

Deductions for equipment repairs (parts and labor), developed motion picture film, military grant-aid, and, for periods prior to 2010, goods identified in the Census data as exports under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Additions for sales of fish caught in U.S. territorial waters, exports of electric energy to Mexico, private gift parcels, military goods transferred through grants, vessels and oil rigs for which ownership changes, valuation of software exports at market value, low-value (below reporting threshold) transactions for 1999–2009 to phase in a revised Census Bureau low-value methodology that was implemented for goods on a Census basis beginning with statistics for 2010, and, for periods prior to 2010, FMS goods exports reported to BEA by the U.S. Department of Defense.

The import adjustments include:

Gold imports, nonmonetary - This addition is made for gold sold by foreign official agencies to private purchasers out of stock held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The Census data only include gold that enters the U.S. customs territory.

Goods procured in foreign ports by U.S. carriers - This addition is made for U.S. air and ocean carriers’ fuel purchases in foreign ports.

Imports by U.S. military agencies - This addition is made for purchases of goods abroad by U.S. military agencies, which are reported to BEA by the Department of Defense. The Census data only include imports of goods by U.S. military agencies that enter the U.S. customs territory.

Inland freight in Canada and Mexico - This addition is made for inland freight in Canada and Mexico. Imports of goods from all countries should be valued at the customs value—the value at the foreign port of export including inland freight charges. For imports from Canada and Mexico, this should be the cost of the goods at the U.S. border. However, the customs value for imports for certain Canadian and Mexican goods is the point of origin in Canada or Mexico. BEA makes an addition for the inland freight charges of transporting these goods to the U.S. border to make the value comparable to the customs value reported for imports from other countries.

Other adjustments to imports include:

Deductions for equipment repairs (parts and labor), repairs to U.S. vessels abroad, and developed motion picture film. Additions for non-reported imports of locomotives and railcars from Canada and Mexico, non-reported imports of aircraft, imports of electric energy from Mexico, conversion of vessels for commercial use, valuation of software imports at market value, and low-value (below reporting threshold) transactions for 1999–2009 to phase in a revised Census Bureau low-value methodology that was implemented for goods on a Census basis beginning with statistics for 2010.

The services statistics cover transactions between foreign countries and the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other U.S. territories and possessions. Transactions with U.S. military, diplomatic, and consular installations abroad are excluded because these installations are considered to be part of the U.S. economy.

Services statistics are based on quarterly, annual, and benchmark surveys and information obtained from monthly government and private sector reports. For categories for which monthly data are not available, monthly statistics are derived from quarterly statistics through temporal distribution, or interpolation. The interpolation methodology used by BEA is the modified Denton proportional first difference method. This method preserves the pattern of the monthly indicator series, if available, while satisfying the annual aggregation constraints. See “ An Empirical Review of Methods for Temporal Distribution and Interpolation in the National Accounts ” (May 2008) for more information. Services are seasonally adjusted when statistically significant seasonal patterns are present.

Services are shown in eleven broad categories. The following is a brief description of the types of services included in each category:

Maintenance and repair services n.i.e. (not included elsewhere) - Consists of maintenance and repair services performed by residents of one country on goods that are owned by residents of another country. The repairs may be performed at the site of the repair facility or elsewhere. Excludes such services in which the cost is included in the price of the goods and is not billed separately or is declared as a part of the price of the goods on the import or export declaration filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Maintenance and repair of computers are included under computer services, and some maintenance and repair of ships, aircraft, and other transport equipment are included under transport. Construction maintenance and repair are included under construction.

Transport - Consists of transactions associated with moving people and freight from one location to another and includes related supporting and auxiliary services. Transport covers all modes of transportation, including air, sea, rail, road, space, and pipeline. Postal and courier services and port services, which cover cargo handling, storage and warehousing, and other related transport services, are also included.

Travel (for all purposes including education) - Includes goods and services acquired by nonresidents while abroad. A traveler is defined as a person who stays, or intends to stay, for less than one year in a country of which he or she is not a resident or as a nonresident whose purpose is to obtain education or medical treatment, no matter how long the stay. Purchases can be either for own use or for gifts to others. Travel is a transactor-based component that covers a variety of goods and services, primarily lodging, meals, transportation in the country of travel, amusement, entertainment, and gifts. Travel excludes air passenger services for travel between countries, which are included in transport, and goods for resale, which are included in goods.

Travel includes business and personal travel. Business travel covers goods and services acquired for use by persons whose primary purpose for travel is for business (including goods and services for which business travelers are reimbursed by employers). Business travel also includes expenditures by border, seasonal, and other short-term workers in their economy of employment. Personal travel covers travel for all non-business purposes, including for medical or educational purposes.

Construction - Consists of the services provided to create, renovate, repair, or extend buildings, land improvements, and civil engineering constructions, such as roads and bridges. Additionally, in concept, inputs purchased by foreign construction contractors for projects in the United States are included in construction exports, and inputs purchased abroad by U.S. construction contractors are included in construction imports. However, in practice, data are not available to estimate inputs purchased by foreign contractors for projects in the United States, so BEA statistics on construction exports do not include this component.

Insurance services - Includes the direct insurance services of providing life insurance and annuities, non-life (property and casualty) insurance, reinsurance, freight insurance, and auxiliary insurance services. Insurance is measured as gross premiums earned plus premium supplements less claims payable, with an adjustment for claims volatility. Premium supplements represent investment income from insurance reserves, which are attributed to policyholders who are treated as paying the income back to the insurer. Auxiliary insurance services include agents’ commissions, brokerage services, insurance consulting services, actuarial services, and other insurance services.

Financial services - Includes financial intermediary and auxiliary services, except insurance services. These services include those normally provided by banks and other financial institutions, such as securities brokerage and underwriting, financial management, financial advisory, and custody services; credit card and other credit-related services; and securities lending, electronic funds transfer, and other services. Financial services include services for which an explicit commission or fee is charged as well as implicit charges, such as (1) implicit fees for bond transactions, measured as the difference between bid and ask prices; (2) margins on buying and selling transactions (called market-making services); and (3) margins between interest payable and the reference rate on loans and deposits (called financial intermediation service charges indirectly measured, abbreviated as FISIM).

Charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e. - Includes (1) charges for the use of proprietary rights, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and franchises, and (2) charges for licenses to reproduce and/or distribute intellectual property embodied in produced originals (such as copyrights on books and manuscripts, computer software, cinematographic works, and sound recordings) and related rights (such as for live performances and television, cable, or satellite broadcast). Charges for end-user rights to use general-use computer software and outright sales of customized computer software are included under computer services. Charges for end-user rights to use audiovisual content, such as film, television programming, and sound recordings, as well as outright sales of audiovisual originals, are included under audiovisual services, a component of personal, cultural, and recreational services.

Telecommunications, computer, and information services - Telecommunications services include the broadcast or transmission of sound, images, data, or other information by electronic means. These services do not include the value of the information transmitted. Computer services consist of hardware- and software-related services and data processing services. Sales of customized software and related use licenses, as well as licenses to use non-customized software with a periodic license fee, are also included, as is software downloaded or otherwise electronically delivered. Cross-border transactions in non-customized packaged software with a license for perpetual use are included in goods. Information services include news agency services, database services, and web search portals.

Other business services - Consists of research and development services, professional and management consulting services, and technical, trade-related, and other business services. Research and development services include services associated with basic and applied research and experimental development of new products and processes as well as outright sales of the outcomes of research and development (such as patents, copyrights, and information about industrial processes). Professional and management consulting services include legal services, accounting, management consulting, managerial services, public relations services, advertising, and market research. Amounts received by a parent company from its affiliates for general overhead expenses related to these services are included. Technical, trade-related, and other business services include architectural and engineering, waste treatment, operational leasing, trade-related, and other business services.

Personal, cultural, and recreational services - Consists of the following three subcategories: (1) audiovisual services, which covers production of audiovisual content, end-user rights to use audiovisual content, and outright sales and purchases of audiovisual originals; (2) artistic-related services, which includes the services provided by performing artists, authors, composers, and other visual artists; set, costume, and lighting design; presentation and promotion of performing arts and other live entertainment events; and fees to artists and athletes for performances, sporting events, and similar events; and (3) other personal, cultural, and recreational services, which includes services such as education services delivered online, remotely provided telemedicine services, and services associated with museum and other cultural, sporting gambling, and recreational activities, except those acquired by customers traveling outside their country of residence.

Government goods and services n.i.e. - Includes goods and services supplied by and to enclaves, such as embassies, military bases, and international organizations; goods and services acquired from the host economy by diplomats, consular staff, and military personnel located abroad and their dependents; and goods and services supplied by and to governments that are not included in other goods and services categories. Goods and services supplied by and to governments are classified to specific goods and services categories when source data permit.

Goods (BOP basis) and services by country and area

Monthly country and area detail is not available for goods on a BOP basis or for services. However, quarterly statistics on goods on a BOP basis and on services that are seasonally adjusted by geography are shown in exhibit 20. Unlike the seasonal adjustments by commodity and by service type that are applied to the global totals, these adjustments are developed and applied directly at the country and world area levels. For total exports and imports, data users should refer to the by-commodity and by-service type totals shown in the other exhibits. The seasonally adjusted country and world area data will not sum to the seasonally adjusted by-commodity and by-service type totals because the two sets of statistics are derived from different aggregations of the export and import data and from different seasonal adjustment models. Data users should use caution drawing comparisons between the two sets of seasonally adjusted series.

The definitions of the world areas shown in exhibit 20 are consistent with the definitions for goods on a Census basis (see Area groupings above) with a few exceptions. For services, CAFTA-DR is not available because trade with this area currently is not reviewed for seasonality. For goods on a BOP basis and for services, European Union reflects the composition of the areas at the time of reporting.

Revision procedure (goods on a BOP basis and services)

Monthly revisions : Each month, a preliminary estimate for the current month and a revised estimate for the immediately preceding month are released. After the initial revision, no further revisions are made to a month until more complete source data become available in March, June, September, and December.

Quarterly revisions : The releases in March, June, September, and December contain revised estimates for the previous six months to incorporate more comprehensive and updated source data.

Annual revisions : Each June, historical data are revised to incorporate newly available and revised source data, changes in definitions and classifications, and changes in estimation methods. Seasonally adjusted data are also revised to reflect recalculated seasonal and trading-day adjustments.

Other revisions : The release for December statistical month contains revisions to goods for January through November of the most recent year; the release for January statistical month contains revisions to both goods and services for all months of the most recent year. These revisions result from forcing the seasonally adjusted months to equal the annual totals.

Data availability

The FT-900 and the FT-900 Supplement are available at www.census.gov/ft900 or www.bea.gov/data/intl-trade-investment/international-trade-goods-and-services .

Census Bureau’s application programming interface (API): The Census Bureau’s API, available at www.census.gov/developers , lets developers create custom apps to reach new users and makes key demographic, socio-economic, and housing statistics more accessible than ever before.

BEA’s data API: BEA’s data API, available at apps.bea.gov/API/signup/ , provides programmatic access to BEA’s published economic statistics using industry-standard methods and procedures.

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Additional changes to entry, testing and quarantine requirements in response to the Omicron variant

There are temporary changes for all travellers, including Canadian citizens, regardless of their vaccination status.

Additional restrictions and requirements now apply to these countries:

• Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe

News release

Changes to border measures

New border measures include

• rules for re-entering Canada, if leaving for 72 hours or less
• who is considered fully vaccinated
• rules for travelling within Canada

Starting January 15, 2022, there will be new rules for who can enter Canada as an unvaccinated or partially vaccinated traveller.

Learn more about the new measures

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If the printed expiry date on your Venezuelan passport has passed

If the printed expiry date has passed and you’re applying for a visitor visa, study permit, work permit or to extend your stay as a temporary resident in Canada, follow these steps:

• Add 5 years to the printed expiry date shown on your passport and enter it in the expiry date field of the application form.
• Include a letter of explanation with your application stating: “I am a Venezuelan national with a Venezuelan passport, which has been extended for 5 years”.

Warning: If your passport is still expired after adding 5 years to the printed expiry date, your passport is considered expired. You’re not eligible to submit an application with that passport.

Prepare documents and apply

The reason you’re traveling to Canada determines the way you apply and the documents you need to submit with your visa application.

Why are you applying for a visitor visa?

• To visit as a tourist
• To visit for business
• To visit your spouse or partner who has sponsored you for permanent residence

What is your family member’s status in Canada?

• Canadian citizen
• Person registered under Canada’s Indian Act
• Canadian permanent resident
• Temporary resident in Canada
• For compassionate reasons
• To join a vessel as a marine crew member (known as a “seafarer”)
• None of the above

Do you plan to visit your children or grandchildren for more than 6 months?

You may be eligible to apply for a Super Visa

A super visa lets you visit your children or grandchildren for 5 years at a time. It’s a visa that provides multiple entries for a period up to 10 years.

Find out how to apply for a Super Visa

Step 1 Gather documents

Gather these documents to submit with your visa application and bring when you travel.

About the documents listed

• Not all documents listed below are required—some are optional.
• This is not an exhaustive list of acceptable proof to support your visa application.
• Only submit the recommended documents that prove you’re eligible for a visa.
• Even if you submit all the documents listed, there is no guarantee that we’ll approve your application.
• We may request more information from you in addition to what is listed here.

Documents we accept:

• passports (regular, official or diplomatic)  from most countries (see exceptions below)
• alien’s passport for stateless persons
• US Permit to Re-Enter (Form I-327)
• US Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571)
• other refugee travel documents for non-citizens

Documents we don’t accept:

• any passport issued by Somalia
• non-machine-readable passports issued by the Czech Republic
• temporary passports issued by the Republic of South Africa
• provisional passports issued by Venezuela

A clear, colour copy of your valid passport or travel document that you’ll use to travel to Canada

If you have a passport, you must provide a copy of

• the page that shows your birth date and country of origin
• any pages with stamps, visas or markings

If you have a travel document, it must be issued by a government and include your

• date of birth
• document number
• citizenship or residency status
• expiry date (if applicable)

Submit this document with your visa application.

Family members or third parties who apply on behalf of the applicant need to complete this form.

Submit the completed form with your visa application.

Each applicant 18 years or older must complete this form.

Submit the completed form with your visa application

Documents needed depend on whether a child under 18 years of age will travel with only 1 parent, with a relative or friend or alone.

You may need to show

• a letter that authorizes the minor child to travel to Canada
• other documents, such as adoption papers or a custody decree, depending on if the minor child travels alone or not

Consult Minor children travelling to Canada .

Submit these with your visa application.

• Show the border services officer when you arrive in Canada.

If you’ve travelled to Canada or to other countries, this can show that you’ve been able to get a visa in the past.

Proof of this includes copies of previous visas in your passport.

Include a clear copy of 1 or more of the following:

• your previous passports and/or visas (used within the last 10 years to travel outside your country)
• entry and exit stamps
• study and/or work permits that indicate your duration outside of your country
• expired or valid visas

Submit this document with your visa application

Documents that show how long you plan to stay and what you’ll do in Canada

Include copies of any of the following:

• flight details
• hotel reservations
• registration for an event

This can help us understand if you have enough money to support yourself during your stay in Canada.

Bank name and contact This allows us to contact your bank or financial institution with questions.

Proof it is your account Your name and address on the statement show that the account is yours.

Account details At least 6 months of account details, including balances, helps us understand your financial situation.

Use this form if you want to allow Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to release your personal information to someone you choose.

The person you choose will be able to get information on your case file, such as the status of your application.

Business visitor

A clear, colour copy of your valid passport or travel document that you'll use to travel to Canada

Submit this with your visa application.

A clear copy of 1 or more of the following:

• study and/or work permits that indicate your duration outside your country

Copies of any of the following:

A letter from your employer can confirm that you have a stable job and will return to it. It can also show that your employer supports your visit to Canada.

The letter should be printed on your employer’s official letterhead.

The letter should include the following:

• date, no earlier than 3 months before you apply
• confirmation that you have a job with the employer
• your full name and date of birth
• date you started the job
• brief description of your job
• current salary
• contact information of your manager
• phone number
• email address
• employer information
• company name
• state or province
• Your manager or human resources contact should print their name and sign the letter.

A letter from a business or company in Canada

It can confirm that your purpose for visiting Canada is valid.

A copy of the letter from the business or company inviting you to Canada

• The letter must be written to you from the business or company.

Consult the details to include in the letter .

Visit your spouse or partner who sponsored you for permanent residence

Proof of your relationship with the person or family member inviting you to Canada

This can include a copy of

• a marriage certificate
• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM5409)
• a birth certificate
• an official document naming you as a parent

Each applicant 18 years and older must complete this form.

The documents needed depend on whether a child under 18 years of age will travel with only 1 parent, with a relative or friend, or alone.

• other documents, such as adoption papers or a custody decree, depending on whether the minor child travels alone

Consult Minor children travelling to Canada

A letter written by your family member in Canada

A copy of the letter from the family member inviting you to Canada

• The letter must be written to you from your family member.
• current Salary

Complete the form that declares you and your partner are in a common-law relationship. Also provide proof that you and your common-law partner have combined your affairs and set up a household together.

What is a common-law partner?

Proof can include

• joint bank accounts or credit cards
• joint ownership of a home
• joint residential leases
• joint rental receipts
• joint utilities (electricity, gas, telephone)
• joint management of household expenses
• proof of joint purchases, especially for household items
• mail addressed to either person or both people at the same address

Faster visitor visa processing for spousal applicants

If you’re being sponsored for permanent residence (PR) by your spouse or partner, you could benefit from faster processing for a visitor visa.

You may be eligible if you

• submitted an application to be sponsored for permanent residence
• received an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) that confirms the application is in progress

Applications that need more information, for example custody documents for a child, will take longer to process.

When your sponsor receives the AOR for your permanent residence application, you can apply for a visitor visa. If you’re eligible, your visitor visa application will automatically receive faster processing. You don’t need to request it.

You must still meet all of the requirements to be eligible for a visitor visa .

Visit family (Canadian citizen, person registered under Canada’s Indian Act, or permanent resident of Canada)

Submit with visa application

Visit children or grandchildren Super visa option

Submit this with your visa or super visa application.

For super visa applicants only

Proof that medical insurance for at least $100,000 coverage has been purchased from a Canadian insurance company.

A copy of the insurance certificate or policy you received for medical insurance coverage for 1 year with a Canadian insurance company.

Submit this with your super visa application.

Documents that show that the super visa applicant’s child or grandchild meets the low income cut-off minimum.

Submit one of the following documents:

• If the child or grandchild does not have a paper copy of their notice of assessment on file, they can view and print their tax returns as well as other personal tax information using the Canada Revenue Agency My Account online service.
• a copy of the child’s or grandchild’s most recent T4 or T1
• an original letter from the child’s or grandchild’s employer stating their job title, job description and salary
• a letter from an accountant confirming the child’s or grandchild’s annual income, if they are self-employed.
• proof of other sources of income (pension statement, investments, etc.)

A document confirming that you had an  immigration medical exam (IME)

The exam must conducted by a panel physician authorized by IRCC.

Get complete details about how to get a medical exam with a panel physician.

Submit this with your super visa application, or wait for instructions from the visa office.

Visit family (temporary resident of Canada)

A letter written by your family in Canada

Documents that show how long you plan to stay and what you’ll do once in Canada

Visit for compassionate reasons

A clear, colour copy of your valid passport or travel document that you'll use to travel to Canada.

• Show the border services officer when you arrive in Canada

A letter written to you from a person or business inviting you to Canada

A copy of the letter from the person or business inviting you to Canada

• registration for an event.

Please indicate clearly if family members will accompany you to Canada.

Submit the following documents with your visa application:

• digital copy of Seaman’s Book
• digital copy of a signed Letter of Invitation from a ship or port agent in Canada
• digital copy of an Introduction Letter from recruiter shipping agency or vessel owner
• digital copy of the employment contract

Step 2 Apply through the IRCC Portal

Step 2 apply.

To apply for a visitor visa to visit Canada on business, you need to qualify as a business visitor.

To qualify, you must show that:

• you plan to stay for less than 6 months
• you don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market
• your main place of business and source of income and profits is outside Canada

Business visitor activities include business meetings, special events or training for a few days or weeks.

If your meeting, event or conference is registered with us, include the event code in your application. You should get this code from the organizer.

Note: If you plan to stay for more than 6 months, or if you plan to work in Canada, you may be considered a temporary worker and have to  apply for a work permit .

To apply online, you need a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents, and a valid credit or debit card.

Read the instruction guide before you complete your application. As an online applicant, you can ignore steps 3 and 4 of the guide (paying the fees and submitting your application).

If you’re applying for the first time , you must pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application (unless you’re exempt). Otherwise, you may experience delays.

Apply through the IRCC Secure account

Sign in to your IRCC secure account

Apply through the IRCC Portal

Only for tourists, visiting for business, family visits, compassionate reasons

Sign in to the IRCC portal

To apply for a visitor visa to join a vessel as a marine crew member (seafarer) , you must

• be travelling to Canada to join a ship’s crew
• hold a seafarer’s identity document
• hold a valid passport or travel document
• have proof of employment on a vessel at a Canadian port

As a seafarer, you’re not eligible for a transit visa and you must apply for a visitor visa (temporary resident visa).

Note: When asked to “Tell us more about what you’ll do in Canada”, include “Join vessel” or “Seafarer”.

Register to the IRCC portal

Applying on paper for specific situations

If you need a visitor visa to travel to Canada, you must apply online for one. Only online applications will be accepted and processed. However, you can apply on paper if:

• you can’t apply online because of a disability or
• you’re travelling with an identity or travel document that was issued to a refugee, a stateless person or a non-citizen

The application package includes an instruction guide and all the forms you need to fill out.

Read the guide carefully before you complete your application . We will not refund your application fee, so make sure you need a visitor visa before you apply.

Each individual applicant must submit a completed application form. Applicants under the age of 18 must have this form signed by a parent or a guardian.

Download the application package .

Pay your application fees

In most cases, your fees will include processing fees for you and anyone you include on your application.

If you’re applying for the first time, you must pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application (unless you’re exempt). Otherwise, you may experience delays.

Third-party fees

Depending on your situation, you may need to pay third parties for

• your medical exam
• a police certificate

Our instruction guides (opens in a new tab) can help you understand which fees apply to you.

Submit your application

Families should send their individual applications in one package. The principal applicant must send this combined package to the location where their application will be processed.

Select the country/territory you’ll be applying from to find out where to submit your application. You can choose your country of nationality or the country or territory where you have been legally admitted:

• Afghanistan
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• British Virgin Islands
• Burkina Faso
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Cayman Islands
• Central African Republic
• China (People’s Republic of)
• Comoros Island
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Czech Republic
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Hong Kong SAR
• Liechtenstein
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia (Federated States of)
• Netherlands
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• North Korea
• North Macedonia (Republic of)
• Palestinian Authority (Gaza)
• Palestinian Authority (West Bank)
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Puerto Rico
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Korea
• South Sudan
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Switzerland
• Timor-Leste (Timor oriental)
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• US Virgin Islands

If you need to give biometrics (fingerprints and photograph), and you’re applying on paper, submit your application in person . VAC staff will check that it is complete and will confirm that you have paid the correct fees before you can give your biometrics.

Credit cards and prepaid cards

We accept the following credit cards and prepaid cards:

• MasterCard ®
• American Express ®
• UnionPay ® (for online applications only; debit cards not accepted)

If you use a prepaid credit card, keep it for at least 18 months after you pay to make refunds easier. Find more on prepaid cards .

We also accept all Visa Debit cards.

The card you use doesn’t have to be in your name. The cardholder’s name will appear on the receipt but it does not need to match your application.

Debit cards

• be from a Canadian bank using INTERAC ® Online
• be registered for online banking through your bank’s website

We also accept all Debit MasterCard ® and Visa ® Debit cards. If your card has the Visa Debit logo on it, alone or with the INTERAC ® Online logo, select Visa Debit as your payment method.

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