Greece wins Visa Waiver status

 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that Greece is now a member of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). As a result Greek citizens will now be permitted to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.

With this announcement, Greece joins the 35 nations already participating in VWP which allows travellers to simply apply for an Electronic System Travel Authorization (ESTA). Greek citizens will be able to visit the United States without visas in early April.

“Our efforts to guard against terrorism while enhancing legal travel and trade depend upon close collaboration with our international partners,” said DHS Secretary Napolitano. “I commend our partners in Greece for committing to strong screening and security standards and enhanced information sharing for travel by Greek citizens to the United States as we work together to protect our citizens and strengthen our economies.”

Greece’s VWP designation represents more than two years of coordination between the two countries on Greece’s entry into VWP.

To secure visa-waiver status Greece has had to prove it complies with key security and information-sharing requirements, such as enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United States; timely reporting of lost and stolen passports; and the maintenance of high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, aviation and document security standards.