This article was originally published on April 5, 2019; it was updated on July 11, 2022 with additional information. If you are planning a European vacation to any of the countries in the Schengen area, you are likely to encounter delays at the airport. // < ! Uspassporthelpguide.com is a privately owned website. Is 3 hours enough time to do it? So, many may wonder if they need to go through customs for their connecting international flight through Europe. We created this mega-resource not because we love getting a passport, but because we grew tired of standing in long lines at the passport agencies. CBP is committed to its privacy obligations and has taken steps to safeguard the privacy of all travelers. Fortunately, there is another method of getting out of the airport (or making your tight connection) even faster. Our bags came quickly. When you plan your next international trip, you might want to think about the airport experience when you choose your flights. Any declarations would be discussed at that point, but if you have none, you are sent on your way. The below diagrams depict any possible combination of flights, from the airport where you started your trip to your final destination, so that you know in advance all the steps you need to follow from the moment you arrive at the Athens International Airport until you get to the Gate for your next flight. An official website of the United States government. While Global Entry users must schedule an interview appointment, go through a background check, and pay a fee once every five years, Mobile Passport is an instant download and free if you dont mind uploading your passport information each time you travel. In addition to being better staffed and having more lanes for passport control, the larger airports like Kennedy, Miami, Chicago OHare, and Atlanta are also the ones that offer more options for getting through passport control quickly, like dedicated lanes for Global Entry members or Mobile Passport Control app users. Mobile Passport Control, (Mobile Passport)which CBP launched in 2014, is a free app that lets travelers use a dedicated, and often shorter, customs line in U.S. airports and cruise ports. In an announcement, Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos informs passengers that as of April 7th, 2019, the Hellenic Police will implement EU Regulation 2017/458 which requires systematic checks against relevant databases, for all European citizens travelling to/from Non-Schengen destinations., Tags arrivals athens International Airport countries departures non-schengen passport controls. Interpols Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database. Mitsotakis on train crash: Tragedy primarily due to human error, Greeces Transport Minister resigns following deadly train crash, Turkey, EU partners express condolences over Greeces train tragedy, Greece s elections date to be set on March 3, Protests in Greece turn violent as anger over train crash grows (videos), American couple missing in Peloponnese found dead, Train crash victims return to families in sealed caskets (POLL), Train Crash: Greek father in Turkish prison seeks permit to attend sons funeral. Don't have an account? Download Now: Mobile Passport, Free, App Store; Google Play. 1997-2023 USPassportHelpGuide.com All Rights Reserved, USPASSPORTHELPGUIDE.COM IS NOT OPERATED, MAINTAINED BY, OR AFFILIATED WITH ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES OR PASSPORT OFFICES. Also, you don't need to traverse customs if you fly in the Schengen Area. PASSPORTINFO.COM is not operated, maintained by, or affiliated with any passport offices or government agencies. LockA locked padlock This allows you to opt for whichever line is shorter once you reach border control. My son and girlfriend arrived at airport more than three hours early fir their flight and had to find a coffee house to sit because couldnt check baggage yet. Heres how Mobile Passport works and what you need to know before using it. The Mobile Passport Control app will help speed you through Customs and Border Patrol lines when you arrive back in the States. How toGet a Passport Name Change on U.S. Passport? Security Fast Track is a dedicated lane at the airport security control enabling you to reach your departure gate quickly. U.S. Department of State Passports website. 356, or email the Reference desk at refdesk@athenslibrary.org. They dont have dedicated lines for Global Entry members, and they also dont use Automated Passport Control kiosks or the Mobile Passport Control app. Families living within the same household can complete their form on one device as a group submission, provided each persons photo and passport details are added to the app. Department of State as follows: The Acceptance / Execution Fee of $35.00 is paid as a separate fee to any Acceptance Agency, including the Athens-Clarke County Library. Register to genAIRation. The regulation instructs the Member States to carry the following checks on EU members traveling from or to a non-Schengen country: Barcelona and Amsterdam will further tighten connections through a new sleeper train that is set to launch in the Copyright 2013 - 2021 SchengenVisaInfo.com. Richard: The incredible variation in winter (and summer!) Click Share This Page button to display social media links. Fortunately, there is another method of getting out of the airport (or making your tight connection) even faster. You will want to arrive at least three hours early for your flight back to the United States. This process provides travelers with a secure, touchless travel experience while fulfilling a longstanding Congressional mandate to biometrically record the entry and exit of non-U.S. citizens. A Decrease font size. Apart from the Athens Airport, other airports in Greece that have customs control are: Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Chania, Corfu and Rhodes. I've never had to wait for more than a few minutes in the non-EU line, but it will likely be longer if there are. CBP has employed strong technical security safeguards and has limited the amount of personally identifiable information used in the facial biometric process. At least a quarter of all returning US citizens had to wait for half an hour or more at all three of those airports. Online check-in will be available up to 3 hours prior to your departure. If the group of 6 has extra luggage allowance between you, you might consider checking the bag in the name of one of the six, leaving the solo traveler to fly "hand-baggage only". - All flights to non-Schengen countries depart from Area A; to Schengen countries at Area B* - follow signs (note that until Spring 2017 the Schengen area . The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel. We are excited to partner with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to offer Simplified Arrival at CLT, said Acting Aviation Director Haley Gentry. How can I book a ticket through the available Bank loyalty schemes? Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. For all other states, you may contact the department of vital records for the State in which you were born, or go to www.vitalchek.com, or call 1-800-255-2414. Please visit our FAQ page for updated information about Passport Services. The moment you land in the United States and connect to WiFi or data, you can fire up the app and answer the regular questions; you can even make necessary declarations, such as restricted food or large purchases, within the program. PASSPORTINFO.COM is not operated, maintained by, or affiliated with any passport offices or government agencies. A lock ( Your email address will not be published. Unlike Global Entry, there is no application process, no lengthy interview appointment that requires a wait time of weeks or months, and no cost. your guide for Delphi the "Navel of the Earth". Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. The Library also accepts cash, personal checks (not starter checks), or money orders for the Execution fee. This enhanced process using facial biometrics only takes a few seconds and is more than 98 percent accurate. Dress comfortably, and make sure you are fed and hydrated before you get to the passport control lines. Privacy, // < ! If you are travelling to or from a non-Schengen country, your passport will be checked by a Marechaussee border guard (unless you use the eGate - an automatic self-service checkpoint). Top honors for speedy passport control goes to Chicago-Midway Airport, which clears passengers through passport control in an average of only 9 minutes. See here: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/airport-passport-queues-british-holidaymakers-eu-alicante-malaga-palma-barcelona-schengen-area-a7872106.html. I would say you probably would want to be at the airport 3 hours before your return flight. When you get to Athens collect your bags and walk right out to arrivals. Once youve indicated your arrival airport and airline, and submitted the form (the process takes about a minute), the app creates a QR code that you show to an immigration officer inside the airport. The app is free to download and enables you to submit your passport and customs declaration information via your smartphone instead of the traditional paper form. It is a privately operated website portal for informational purposes only. The reason for these seasonal changes is simple its all about volume of travelers. 4 is overkill at Athens. We went to the Aegean counter and dropped off our checked bags and headed to security. 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U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. In Athens airport I saw very few lines of any note and 3 hours is more than enough. On the other hand, the Satellite terminal has two levels, one for arrivals and one for departures. Unfortunately, many Americans call the whole process "customs" when it is really two different things. Customs may be different, as the majority's bags will be tagged through to Mykonos, and Mykonos is an international airport with customs officers present. While Global Entry users are still completing their form on the kiosk, you might already be scanning your mobile device QR code with an officer. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. Flights to Schengen & non-Schengen countries; Passport Control, Flight Transfer Procedures, Terminals complex layout and TERMINAL Details: NOTE: If arriving by train at the Airport, follow signs to the Departures level of the Main Terminal.) If you fly from an airport outside the Schengen Zone to a destination within the Schengen Zone*, after passing through passport and security control and claim your baggage, head to Gates B1-B31. The enhanced passport controls are being applied to all travelers with non-Schengen passports. Ten minutes? the connection would be a lot easier for that 'odd man out' if they don't have to collect and recheck bags in Athens. Youll be glad to get out of one airport quickly, at least! You do clear passport control at your first EU entry point. Applicants must have been at least 16 years of age when last passport was issued. For more information call the National Passport Information Center at their TOLL FREE number: (877) 487-2778. The time of day your flight arrives also makes a difference. (704) 717-9117. Reason for this is the implementation of EU directive 458/2017, which Greece implements with a delay of two years. If you fly from and to airports within the Schengen Zone, head to Gates B1-B31. A Increase font size. Notable airports that are not on the list include Detroit, Las Vegas, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Mobile Passport is not a replacement for a passport and is not a trusted traveler program. Our passport staff will go over the documentation and fees you will need to bring with you. Your email address will not be published. The app includes privacy protection barriers in place to keep your document details safe. The line up for security was huge but it kept moving and we got through in 19 minutes. We arrived on a Sunday evening at Athens. What specific instructions have been issued for international travelers by State Authorities? check with the Greek Embassy or consulate in the United States, the Customs office at Athens International Airport (+30 210-3542126) . Enter skyexpress.gr 48 hours before your due departure time. The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office has informed its citizens that they too, will be a subject of the new tougher checks at the Greek airports. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. But if you are heading to Europe this summer, be prepared new EU regulations have tightened passport control procedures. When youre ready to use the app, you can enter your chosen PIN code or use Touch ID if your phone has that capability. Not every major international airport is as slow as JFK, Miami, or LAX. Northeast Station Usps. Sacramento had the worst wait times of all the airports surveyed. The top two airports which receive the highest number of international arrivals also have some of the longest wait times for passport control. If youre not a US citizen, and you come from a country that does require visas to visit Schengen countries, this means that the visa you get for your visit to one Schengen country will also allow you to visit any other country in the zone. Mine (Emirates) was 3 hours ahead of the flight. Fees are payable by check or money order only. New photos of U.S. citizens will be deleted within 12 hours. When you get stamped into Greece and walk away from passport control you will walk right into big signs saying: 'buy your local prepaid sim card here'. [CDATA[ "script","oiopub","https://thedelphiguide.com/mediashop/zones.js"); Greek Police will conduct tougher passport controls at Athens International Airport also for EU citizens coming from or departing for non-Schengen countries. Enter your booking code and your surname. We never have had to collect our bags as they are booked straight through. National databases containing information on stolen, misappropriated, lost and invalidated travel documents. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. When you get back to the United States after an international trip, how long do you expect to stand in line to clear passport control? Official websites use .gov 1820 Harris Houston Rd. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. 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. Required fields are marked *. As of 7 April 2019, the Hellenic Police will begin implementing systematic passport control checks for all European citizens travelling to/from destinations outside the Schengen area (including the UK) Waiting times at passport control may be affected on departure from and arrival into Greece. The new passport-control regulation is not scheduled to go into full effect until October 2017. If both parents are listed on the birth certificate, then both parents MUST be present and show identification when applying for their childs passport if the child is under the age of 16. If one parent cannot be present when applying for their childs passport, the parents consent must be notarized on either a Statement of Consent form (DS-3053), or in a separate notarized letter. The identity and the nationality of the person and of the authenticity and validity of the travel document for crossing the border. Tougher passport controls are being carried out at the Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos on EU nationals since April 7, by the Greek Police. Explore the Delphi surroundings from mount Parnassus and the Nymphs to the maritime city of Galaxidi and enjoy the heart of Greece! Customs is a thing but it relates to your goods, not you. Pre-Covid, I found that arriving 3 hours early to a European airport resulted in having to wait 90 minutes just to check one's luggage! Athens Regional Library System 2025 Baxter Street Athens, GA 30606 706-613-3650, travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/forms.html, Selected Classics of Americas 100 Most Beloved Books Available via GLS. Customs control will be available temporarily (26 April 2022 until 30 October 2022) also at Santorini, Mykonos, Ioannina (exception applies to flight OA160), Samos,Kavala,Kos,Chios,Mytilene, Zakynthos and Skiathosairports. >> Next: TSA PreCheck Versus Global Entry: Which Is Best for You? JFKs main competition, Newark Liberty Airport, is also an efficient option, with average wait times of 17 minutes at its passport checkpoints. (704) 573-0549. That includes US citizens, as well as travelers from Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. While you are on a Sky express connection here is what they say about their process Release Date. Mobile Passport Control is now available at 24 major international airports in the US. Hubs, The Best Time to View D.C.s Cherry Blossoms This Year Is Sooner Than You Might Think, Low-Cost Carrier Norse Atlantic Adds London Routes From 4 U.S. Cities, Damon Dominique Believes Youre Already a Global Citizen, Stay Here Next: The Muir Hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Stay Here Next: The Alpina Gstaad in Switzerland, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Baltimore, Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, Chicago OHare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dallas, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Honolulu. Are you flying directly from the US or UK to a Schengen Zone country like France or Italy? If your current married name is not shown on your current identification, you will submit your application, birth certificate or expired passport, and your original marriage certificate. We were in the departure gate with 15 minutes to spare. If they're on the same booking you should be able to transit in Athens without going though passport control (though you may need an airport transit visa, depending on your nationality), and your Schengen visa will only be "used" once you come back to Greece and actually enter the Schengen Area. Theres often no one else in the Mobile Passport line when I land at SFO [in San Francisco], says AFAR Senior SEO Manager, Jessie Beck, Thanks to this app, I typically clear customs in five minutes or lesssometimes faster than my friends with Global Entry.. Make sure that you have collected the right luggage by checking your baggage claim tags. We also want our users to focus on traveling the globe not loosing hair. For flights to Europe, Atlanta and Washington-Dulles offer the smoothest re-entry to the United States. (And having flown two dozen domestic flights in the last two years, if there are delays or cancelations, arriving earlier is of no consequence.). document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a24597028e522881eb90104a9a28975a" );document.getElementById("hc2ab7a317").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Please check your inbox (or spam folder) to confirm and activate your subscription. There are specific customs restrictions for passengers entering Greece from any country outside the Schengen Zone (Extra Schengen), Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway. Udi Onyile contributed reporting. Overall, the answer depends on how many tickets . No one likes waiting in line, especially not when youve just disembarked from a long international flight. Athens ATH airport VIP Connection service; Our professional agent will expedite you from the gate of arrival to your connecting flight without having to queue in lines. Simplified Arrival pairs one of the industrys highest ranked facial comparison algorithms (as assessed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology) with trained CBP officers who are skilled at verifying the authenticity of travel documents. And waited. Citizens wishing to renew their U.S. passports which are less than 15 years old from the date of issue may pick up the renewal form at the library and then submit them through the mail. You will be denied service if you do not supply the required documentation or adhere to U.S. Passport Acceptance rules and regulations. We are a privately owned organization that simplifies government-related passport information across all states. One traveling companion has heard (and is now insisting) that we must arrive at the Athens Airport 4+ hours ahead of our flight back to the US (in July) due to extraordinarily long lines and prevalent airport strikes in Europe. Head must be between 1 -1 3/8 inches (25 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. Security procedures wont be any different when you board your flight, but expect to face long lines when you arrive. Customers are encouraged to visit the U.S. Department of States website for the most up-to-date information regarding processing times. Fees are payable to the U.S. Upon entering the terminal, follow the airport signs for "Arrivals," go through Passport Control (for non-Schengen arrivals), pick up your baggage and after customs clearance, exit from the Arrivals / All Users Area. When a traveler arrives at CLT, he or she will pause for a photo at the primary inspection point. It also advises EU travelers to use a passport instead of an Identity Card in order to speed up the control procedures. Your dreams of a European vacation probably dont involve long lines and delays at passport control. Arriving at a busy time and would like to not have to spend a long time in passport control arriving in Athens. More information about CBPs efforts to secure and streamline travel through facial biometrics can be found here. Athens Airport Contact Info Address: Athens International Airport "El Venizelos" SA, Spata, 19019, Greece Phone: (+30) 2103530000 (available 24/7) Fax: (+30) 2103530001 E-mail : airport_info@aia.gr t=d.getElementsByTagName(e)[0],t.parentNode.insertBefore(s,t))})(window,document, Customs, for those not declaring anything, is just a walk through. Popular Destinations with Visa Requirements. Ramsey Qubein is a freelance travel journalist covering hotels, cruises, airlines, and loyalty programs from around the globe. Dont Delay, Wait Times Have Climbed, American Is Cutting 50,000 Summer Flights From These U.S. Please call 706-613-3650 to set up your appointment. Since the UK isnt part of the Schengen Area, if you are flying to or from there then I cant see why not. Follow U.S. Customs and Border Protection on twitter @CBPSoutheast and @DFOAtlanta. Will we all have to go through customs (with or without checked luggage?) . Lengthy delays have also been reported in Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, Brussels, and Lyon. Dulles International Airport (IAD), Washington, D.C. Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Fort Lauderdale, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston (IAH), Houston, Kansas City International Airport (MCI), Kansas City, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), Minneapolis, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, Oakland International Airport (OAK), Oakland, Orlando International Airport (MCO), Orlando, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Philadelphia, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Phoenix, Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), Pittsburgh, Portland International Airport (PDX), Portland, Sacramento International Airport (SMF), Sacramento, San Diego International Airport (SAN), San Diego, San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), San Jose, Luis Muoz Marn San Juan Airport (SJU), San Juan, Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Seattle, Port Everglades Cruise Port (USPEF), Fort Lauderdale, Port of Palm Beach (USPBC), West Palm Beach. It is a privately operated website portal for informational purposes only. Passport Acceptance Agent: Where Do I Find an Passport Agent? These original documents will be returned with your new passport. For now, Mobile Passport feels like a well-kept secret among international travelers. Its a surprisingly small and efficient airport for such a major destination. Due to the possible increased waiting time for the passport, passengers traveling to non-Schengen countries are kindly requested to access the checkpoints of the Greek Police on time, in order to have the necessary time available to reach the Departure Gate for their flight, the press release notes. We checked our luggage without much line and then went through security in only a few minutes. Passengers traveling to Non-Schengen destinations are kindly requested to allow for extra time at the passport control for the checks to be conducted by the Hellenic Police, the announcement says, adding that in order to accelerate the checks, it is advisable to hold a passport document rather than an ID card. Those two minutes per traveler add up quickly, especially when you consider that just one arriving flight may contain 500 or more passengers! In addition, CBP looks forward to partnering with stakeholders at other international ports of entry across N.C. to implement Simplified Arrival.. There are specific customs restrictions for passengers entering Greece from any country outside the Schengen Zone (Extra Schengen), Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway. Here's how Mobile Passport works and what . All Rights Reserved. Connecting Passengers at Athens International Airport. 5,403 Views. Your CERTIFIED BIRTH CERTIFICATE will be submitted with your passport application. . Passport control had a long line up but it moved steadily and we were through in 16 minutes. Simplified Arrival is an enhanced international arrival process that uses facial biometrics to automate the manual document checks that are already required for admission into the United States. If you wind up with time to kill, check out our suggestions on how to make the most of your time at the airport. Two hours would have been more than enough and was what we did in 2018. Once the applications leave our facility, we have no control over the passport-issuing process. Reason for this is the implementation of EU directive 458/2017, which Greece implements with a delay of two years. Sanborn, May, 18 free admission policy at all of Greeces Museums & Sites, Early Christian Basilica church at Delphi, Delphi the forgotten Apokria events for 2023, the Gentlemen and Gavogiannos: an attractive and stimulating Delphi folk carnival event, Parnassos Ski Resort will extend 2022 Ski Season, All visitors to Greece must present negative PCR test, as of Sunday, Parnassos Ski Center opens for season 21-22, Under the Light of Apollo: The Louvre in Delphi exhibition, Archaeological sites will be closed due to heat wave.