Checking in to any new country or going through customs can be difficult. In most of the Mediterranean, travel is easy an continuous without requiring passport control; this is in part due to the creation of a the Schengen agreement created by the European Parliament on June 14, 1985. The agreement created a region in Europe where 29 countries have abolished passport controls at their mutual borders, allowing for free movement of people within the Schengen area.
For boaters and liveaboards, special considerations may be required on a country-by-country basis within the Schengen area. Greece has a special series of protocols for travelers by sea, and these protocols have frequently changed over recent years.
The guide here is developed from our experience of a ‘private yacht checking in’ through Corfu in early May 2025. The entire process only took one and a half hours, and everyone was pleasant.
Additionally, we are non-EU passport holders on a boat with non-EU VAT; your and your boat’s residency may influence your particular customs experience.
There are many Ports of Entry to check in. Here is a list copied from Rod Heikell’s Greek Waters Pilot. Be careful- some ports of entry may or may not elect to handle non-EU boats (eg Gouvia).
Note: People claim to have ‘success in Argistoli’, or a ‘bad experience in Corfu’. Truth is- good or bad days happen to everyone, everywhere. Choose the location convenient for you and be prepared (this guide!), patient, kind, very organized, look presentable, avoid cruise ship traffic, and above all- respectful.
Finally, an easy checklist for those planning to enter, – scroll down for more details!
Quick, I’m coming in to port, what do I need right now….
- Make it easy on yourself, by arriving from a non-Schengen country (such as Albania)
- Pay your TEPAI in advance on eTEPAI, and have proof of payment confirmation
- Prepare hard copies of the following information:
- Passports of all involved
- Boat Registration
- Boat Insurance
- ETAPI Application
- ETAPI Receipt (some sort of proof of payment, such as a bank transfer)
- Your own Crew List (they’l probably use their own, but having a copy handy is helpful)
- Raise the Greek flag! And your yellow Q flag
- Let the Port know you’re coming in by RADIO (try channel 11 in Corfu): “Port FOO Port FOO Port FOO, this is sailing vessel BAR sailing vessel BAR, sailing vessel BAR, a private yacht checking in to customs”
- Go ashore *we brought the entire crew on board, unclear if this is required
- Visit the Port Authority
- Will examine proof of TEPAI paid
- Will generally look over documents
- Create official crew list
- Will provide page 2 of crew list (document title unknown) to be signed by both entities- Authority and Customs, and returned at the end
- Important! Be sure to ask for the crew list to be stamped with date of entry
- Complete your Online Transit Log <- click for list of docs!
- Visit the Customs- Passport Control
- Check recent travels
- They will stamp into Greece
- Visit the Customs- Immigration
- Asked about travel (easy if not coming from Schengen country)
- Checked documentation
- Asked if ‘online transit log’ completed; if not, may ask you to do it AT THAT TIME with your computer
- Signed page 2 of crew list with Port Authority
- Return to Port Authority
- Show customs signature, return page 2
- Pay €15 IN CASH
TEPAI/eTEPAI- what is it, how to
What is TEPAI / eTEPAI? This stands for a ‘Recreational and Daily Tour Cruise Ships Fee’- in Greek, this is τέλος Αναψυχής και Ημερήσιων Κρουαζιερόπλοιων (ΤΕ.Π.Α.Η.). Why the different acronyms? TEPAI is a direct translation, eTEPAI lexicon refers to the online portal itself likely derived from english-speakers’ general usage of e- before anything online.
The TEPAI is a tax imposed on recreational boats, yachts, sailboats, and cruise ships that are used within Greek waters.
This tax is very important to the Greece Port authorities, they want to have confirmation that the tax has been paid before you try to check in.
So, if you’re planning to visit Greece, pay your TEPAI in advance, using the eTEPAI portal. There are other ways to pay the TEPAI- such as visiting a post office- either is very easy. Simply collect proof of the transaction / receipt of payment and provide.
Note, you have to pay for a full month of tax no matter the day you arrive or depart. Here is a break-down of the TEPAI monthly costs for boats:
| <7 m | 7-8m | 8-10m | 10-12m | >12m |
| FREE | €16/month | €25/month | €33/month | €8 / meter / month |
If you don’t pay at a post office, and wish to complete your TEPAI application online in advance: https://www.aade.gr/en/etepai, submit a funds transfer to the following bank:
- Account Holder Name: Greece AADE
- Bank Name: BANK OF GREECE
- IBAN #: GR1201000230000000481090510
- SWIFT CODE: BNGRGRAAXXX
- Reference: PAYMENT CODE FROM eTEPAI APPLICATION
Note, the code is NOT the ‘administrative fee code’, even though this code on the eTEPAI portal application has a similar number of digits.
Online Transit Log
An online transit log is strongly pushed by the customs authorities. You can complete this using either their app or computer.
https://www.aade.gr/en/transit-log
However, to complete the online transit log, you’ll need a copy of stamped entrance document by the Port Authority. Also complicating the process is the online transit log site will not save incomplete applications.
When uploading documents to the online transit log:
- each document must to be under 5mb
- JPEG only. NO PDF!
The Online Transit Log application must include the following copies of information:
- Photo or scan of passport picture and info of the OWNER
- Boat Registration
- Boat Insurance
- ETAPI Application page 1
- ETAPI Receipt (Proof of payment from bank transfer)
- DATE STAMPED Crew List
Complete the online transit log application … before checking in? During? After?
We recommend to submit a partial but incomplete online transit log BEFORE visiting customs to demonstrate you’ve attempted in good will.
OR, bring a laptop and complete the transit log as a step BETWEEN visiting the port authority and the customs office, as now you would have access to the date-stamped crew list.
OR, complete AFTER visiting customs back at the boat / after checking in.
How to USE your transit log?
The ‘online transit log’ is actually ‘an application for a transit log online‘, meaning, one applies online- then actually just has port authorities stamp your crew list. So why online? Not sure. Likely just a portal for docs about the traveler instead of having customs take copies. (?). So just use your crew list. Or, if the application is completed before the customs visit, they might provide for you.
According to the customs office, each time you enter or exit a port, you are required to visit the local authorities to have your transit log (aka crew list) stamped again.
In practice, we just get a stamp from Corfu, then Nydri, then Argostoli, then back again or whatever.
Then, upon exit of Greece, you’ll need to “check out” with customs, return your transit log and receive an exit stamp on your passport(s).
Notes
It really helps to be organized.
Have hard copies of information in a folder / pamphlet for easy access. This dramatically speeds up the time spent in each office and demonstrates your preparedness to travel within Greece.
Enter Greece from a non-Schengen country.
Checking in from a non-Schengen country was a breeze. We have experience with other boaters and liveaboards that checking in to Greece from other Schengen area countries while having traveled on a crew list (eg. Malta, Spain) proved a more difficult process as customs had then questions about VAT status (see below), how many days were already spent in Schengen area (90 max in a rolling 180 for non-EU citizens) etc.
Albania is really close to the Ionian section of Greece, and is also really pretty and great sailing ground. Good food and a chance to visit a good country. Though they have their own check in process, local agents are inexpensive and perfect for assisting the check in/out process.
VAT- what about boat VAT?
We weren’t asked for VAT proof- because see point above: ENTER GREECE FROM A NON-SCHENGEN COUNTRY which resets VAT according to the ’18 month’ rule of Temporary Admission, where non-EU flagged boats can stay in the EU for 18 months, allowing for VAT-free cruising. Visiting a non-Schengen country resets this clock to a ‘limited transit log’ of 18 months.
Otherwise, for EU VAT paid boats, show the appropriate documentation, you are likely to receive a ‘non-limited’ transit log.
This phrase is your friend: “Private Yacht Checking In”
The unexpected happens, we go to the wrong office or are stopped by a port officer unexpectedly, or simply need a phrase to open a conversation. This phrase- “Private yacht checking in” works wonders! It conveys the intent, purpose, and need of the interaction very simply and cleanly, and opens doors- physical and mental- to a clean check in process.
Other requirements for Greece
MMSI Radio license?
In Greece, obtaining an MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) radio license is mandatory for all vessels operating within Greek waters (no reference for this, just something that comes up online frequently). Our experience: we already had an MMSI radio license so this wasn’t a problem, and Greek customs did not ask us for proof of this. Your experience may vary.
Do you need help with setting your AIS with the correct MMSI number? See this post.
Sailing Qualification?
Within the European Union, it is mandatory for all captains (charter or owned) to have proof of their competency for operating craft. They refer to this as the ICC- International Certificate of Competence.
As residents of the USA, our ASA 102/103/104 courses provided the necessary competency qualifications, and the same organization provided our international certificate.
Like the MMSI radio licence, we’ve never been asked to show certificates of competency.
Corfu- where are the Port Offices? Can I anchor?
Corfu has a bit of a walk between the two important offices, and a few other buildings as well… enough to provide a bit confusing for someone who is already preparing all the customs docs etc and just wants it easy.
I found this website: https://www.svthedream.com/post/greece-corfu-checking-out-and-back-in to have excellent directions for where to go and what entrances to find (follow blue line, then green, then reverse).
Specifically, after visiting the Port Authority office and heading to the customs building, simply look for the ‘To Albania’ area and find someone official to whom you say ‘we are a private yacht checking in to Greece’. They will lead you to where you need to go. Also on the maps below, ignore the ‘guarded gate’ in green, just head straight to he customs building at the end of the green line.
After reading the post linked above post, here are their maps for quick reference to download and take with you.
Gotcha’s and glitches
Are you an EU resident skipper of a non-EU VAT paid boat? = VAT is due within one month, you do not get to have temporary import VAT exemption. Is your partner non-EU? Have her/him be the skipper.
Didn’t get a date stamp on your crew list from the Port Authorities before going to customs? = Walk back and get one or ask for forgiveness.
Didn’t eat or drink enough water before going through check in and now the family is getting hangry? = Yeouch. Been there, got the t-shirt.
