The European Union central government has ruled that all travelers from countries outside the Schengen Zone must have their passports checked upon entry and exit of the Schengen area. 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. As weve seen, there are wide differences between airports when it comes to the amount of time youll spend standing in line! The enhanced passport controls are being applied to all travelers with non-Schengen passports. You do clear passport control at your first EU entry point. 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. But, they can stop you. Why not? Passport services are available at the Athens-Clarke County Library only. 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. At a smaller airport, there will typically be fewer US Customs and Border Patrol agents on duty checking passports, which means that just one or two large flights arriving can cause backups in the immigration lines. (And having flown two dozen domestic flights in the last two years, if there are delays or cancelations, arriving earlier is of no consequence.). Every airport in the US has separate immigration lanes for US and non-US citizen travelers, and non-US travelers can expect to wait in line a lot longer, as the US Customs and Border Patrol officers will take longer to process each individual traveler through passport control. Then you will be escorted to the airline VIP lounge or the gate for pre-boarding. For flights to Europe, Atlanta and Washington-Dulles offer the smoothest re-entry to the United States. Except Athens Airport, other airports in Greece with customs control are the ones of Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Chania, Corfu and Rhodes. Get the best out of your travel experience with the Aegean App. Mobile Passport Control is now available at 24 major international airports in the US. 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. 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. This means you can expect to spend more time in line at the airport at both ends of your trip! I was at Athens airport 3 hours early because of wanting a cushion since returning a car. All it takes is one morning flight to arrive a bit early, and the lines can get out of control! Release Date. A recent study has analyzed the wait times for international arrivals at airports across the US, and has revealed that the amount of time youll spend in line will vary depending on which airport you use. Overall, the answer depends on how many tickets . BTW, when listing what one must go thru at airport, do not use the word "customs" because that is not even a thing -- there is a desk one walks by, but the only people who stop are businesses that are bringing major merchandise in.. for the rest of us, nada. Travelers from any country outside of Europes Schengen Zone will have their passports closely inspected both when they arrive and when they depart. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. For now, Mobile Passport feels like a well-kept secret among international travelers. 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Reason for this is the implementation of EU directive 458/2017, which Greece implements with a delay of two years. Security Fast Track is a dedicated lane at the airport security control enabling you to reach your departure gate quickly. The lounge is located in the Non-Schengen area of the Departure Hall on Level 2, Non-Schengen (International) flights only. Train Crash: Greek father in Turkish prison seeks permit to attend son's funeral, Anti-vaxxers bribe doctors for vaccination with water, end up with the real vaccine, Divorce finalized: Athina Onassis gets rid of unfaithful husband, pays him almost nothing, Spain, France, Greece and Portugal may refuse UK tourists entry under new scheme, Second Tourist killed trying to take a selfie with Zakynthos Shipwreck Poll, International flight passengers to Greece must fill PLF prior to check-in. Of course, I would only do this with a close friend or a family member. 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". make the most of your time at the airport. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. Not every major international airport is as slow as JFK, Miami, or LAX. The time of day your flight arrives also makes a difference. Smaller airports have the advantage of receiving fewer passengers, but that doesnt always mean that theyll have shorter lines at passport control. We were in the departure gate with 15 minutes to spare. The free Mobile Passport app allows travelers to speed through customs when arriving back in the United States after an international flight. Online check-in will be available up to 3 hours prior to your departure. The regular passengers had a very long line up as there was one line for two flights one to Toronto and one to Montreal. You must provide the ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE, or a Certified copy (a copy with a raised seal), or an expired passport. Passport patrons aged 16 and 17 who have their own Drivers License are still considered minors and must have at least one parent with ID present. Passport Acceptance Agent: Where Do I Find an Passport Agent? All Rights Reserved. Your email address will not be published. If you are a naturalized U.S. Citizen you must provide your CERTIFICATE OF NATURALIZATION. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. In order to make your trip even smoother and more comfortable, we have created a special guide that will help you easily find the way to your next flight at Athens International Airport. Applicants must have been at least 16 years of age when last passport was issued. Twenty minutes? 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. 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.. The line you wait in is for "Passport control" one line for EU/Shengen, the others for all the rest. It also advises EU travelers to use a passport instead of an Identity Card in order to speed up the control procedures. On the other hand, the Satellite terminal has two levels, one for arrivals and one for departures. Much easier than it sounds - no lines in the bag check or security. In this article, weve been focusing on the wait times that US citizens experience when returning to the states. Fortunately, there is another method of getting out of the airport (or making your tight connection) even faster. But if you are heading to Europe this summer, be prepared new EU regulations have tightened passport control procedures. How do I check-in online? 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. The month of November has the second shortest average wait times at passport checkpoints. When youre ready to use the app, you can enter your chosen PIN code or use Touch ID if your phone has that capability. I would say you probably would want to be at the airport 3 hours before your return flight. Can I change or cancel my ticket after booking? Paris-Orly, Schipol Airport in Amsterdam, and Palma de Mallorca airports have been named the worst offenders, with travelers waiting as long as four hours to clear passport control. 11035 Golf Links Dr. Charlotte,North Carolina 28277-8007. 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. One booked the two flight legs separately. Fri, 05/14/2021 - 12:00. Charlotte,North Carolina 28227-8744. Heres how Mobile Passport works and what you need to know before using it. Once at the airport, drop off your baggage at the SKY express check-in counters and head to your gate at least 20' before your scheduled departure time. Phoenix Sky Harbor, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and Washington Dulles also are busy airports that typically process returning passengers through in 11 minutes or less. 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.

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