Clarification Of Greek Cruising Regulations

Created by doina. Last modified on 2007-09-12 13:36:36
Contributors:
Topic: European Union
Countries: Greece

Noonsite reported last month that it appeared the notorious Greek cruising tax for non-EU vessels might perhaps no longer be applied. However, it appears there was some confusion over the report from a US-flagged vessel, s/v Moonshadow, which remained in Greece for five weeks without incurring the extra charge. In fact the so-called "cruising tax" only applies to non-EU vessels remaining more than 90 days in the country. Some local Customs officials have stated that non-EU vessels can remain for up to 6 months without extra charges, but it would seem this is only a local decision and cannot be counted on.

"The Greek cruising tax for non-EU vessels has apparently been rescinded. We are a US-flagged vessel. We entered Greece in Rodhos in late June of this year and were charged only for a transit log, 30 Euros, and a one time entry fee of 15 Euros. Immigration, Customs and Port Police officials were all very helpful and courteous. We were told by Customs that we could remain in Greece for up to six months without incurring any additional charges. We only stayed for five weeks and surrendered our transit log in Kos. Port fees were quite reasonable, and when we anchored it was just 88 Euro cents, regardless of the length of stay. In some cases, the officials couldn't be bothered filling out a receipt and did not collect any charges at all." George Backhus of s/v Moonshadow

Furthermore, a fact that Noonsite has perhaps not highlighted clearly enough is that the time a yacht may remain in the country is not the same as the time granted to individuals. Most countries do not require a visa for a 3 month stay. For longer stays a visa must be applied for well in advance of the expiry of the 3 month period; visa extensions are possible and again, must be applied for in advance of the initial visa expiry date. A report from US citizens Debbie and Moshe Bram of s/y Poppa Joe illustrates this:

"After reading George Backhus's report regarding the permitted length of stay for non-EU citizens I felt I must relate what happened to us this summer in Greece. We are American citizens with an American flagged boat. We entered Greece in Kos in May '07 and were issued a 6 month transit log. We too were told in customs that we could stay 6 months in Greece. When, after, almost three months spent in Greece sailing the Ionian, we were told by an American couple that non-EU citizens were only granted a three month visa we were concerned as we still had to cross the Aegean with very little time remaining. We went to the Passport Police in Corinth who told us we only had three months and that they would not renew our visa as visas would only be renewed for the seriously ill. A few days later, while in Poros we were told we could renew our visa in Pireaus. We phoned the passport police in Pireaus and they informed us that we could extend our visa by paying 600 euros per person and opening a Greek bank account. This was not feasible for us and we continued our race across the Aegean trying to dodge the meltemi. In Amorgos we contacted the marina manager in Kos who contacted the Passport Police in Kos. They informed us that we could stay the 6 months but ten minutes later phoned again to say they had made a mistake and we had only a three month visa. The transit log issued for six months was only for the boat and not for us. Luckily we made it out of Greece within the three months. Non-EU citizens should not assume that by being granted a six month transit log that they too are entitled to stay six months. Customs, which issues the transit logs, does not know the facts regarding the boat's crew. I should also mention that in the 2004 edition of Rod Heikell's Greek Waters Pilot, he states that when non-EU passport holders enter Greece they may stay for only three months but if they enter on a yacht they can stay indefinitely as long as they remain with the yacht. (page 7). This is not the case!"