In the following text, we will attempt to enumerate all the documents that you need to have with you when you travel to Greece. There is a high likelihood that most of these documents will not be requested from you. However, if someone does ask for them and you are unable to provide them, you risk being turned back at the border or facing significant fines, both in Serbia and in North Macedonia, Bulgaria, or Greece.

Read on to see what you need to pay attention to specifically.

Travel Document - Passport

Ensure the validity of your passport. Since 2013, the requirement for the entry of citizens of the Republic of Serbia into any EU member state is to possess a travel document issued within the last ten years.

IMPORTANT

The passport must be valid for at least three months after the planned return (from Greece, Croatia, or any other EU country).

• Passengers who do not meet these criteria will be turned back at the border.

If you have traveled extensively and are unsure of how many days you have left to stay in the Schengen area (Greece, Croatia…), simply check on the calculator here: Schengen Calculator ⁹⁰⁄₁₈₀ to see how many days are remaining.

For more details about passports, read HERE.

Proof of Sufficient Financial Means

For staying in Greece, it is necessary to have a certain amount of funds for subsistence. The prescribed minimum for a stay of up to 5 days is 50€ per person per day and a minimum of 300€ total for this period.

• For minor children, the amount is reduced by 50%.

If you do not have cash, you can prove possession of funds with a bank statement or a confirmation of the balance on a credit or debit card. If you are traveling through Bulgaria by car, in addition to the 50€ per day, border officials may also request to show an additional 200€.

While these checks are not common in practice, they are included in the rules, so it is good to be aware of them.

Green Card (for North Macedonia)

If you are traveling to Greece through North Macedonia, the green card is still required.

• This is an international certificate that your vehicle has valid compulsory insurance, issued by the insurance company where the vehicle is insured.

We recommend obtaining the green card before departure. The cost ranges from 2,000 to 2,500 dinars, while some insurance companies may charge slightly more due to their commission.

If you forget the green card, you have two options:

• You can obtain it at the Preševo border crossing at the AMSS office. If you have the appropriate insurance policy, issuance costs 2,000 dinars. Otherwise, you will need to pay for a temporary insurance policy, so the total cost may be around 6,000 dinars.
• The other option is to purchase border insurance upon entering North Macedonia. For a passenger car, it costs around 50€ and is valid for 15 days, making it financially more viable to obtain the green card before the trip.

Note:

• The green card is not required for entry into Greece but is necessary for transit through North Macedonia.
• If you are traveling to Greece through Bulgaria, you do not need the green card.
• For Greece, this document is not required, only the registration sticker obtained during vehicle registration.

Travel Health Insurance

It is important to secure health insurance before traveling on vacation to ensure that any costs in case of accidents are covered. Whether it’s minor health complications that come with vacationing (ear infections, sunstroke, sea urchin stings…) or major health problems that tourists may encounter abroad.

• A large number of clinics in Greece have agreements with insurance companies in Serbia.

• Check the list of doctors in all popular resorts HERE.

You will undoubtedly travel and enjoy your vacation much more peacefully if you have health insurance for your family.

Important Tip

• Buy health insurance at least a day before your trip! The policy only takes effect at midnight (00:00) on the specified date. If you buy it on the day of departure and cross the border before midnight, the insurance will not be valid in case of an accident.

For more detailed information, read HERE.

Written and Notarized Consent of Parents for Traveling with Minor Children

According to the official announcement of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia, a minor under the age of 16 must have a notarized consent from both parents (if they share parental rights or a legal guardian) to cross the state border, only if traveling alone or with someone who is not a parent or legal guardian. Read more HERE.

Vignette

Required if you are traveling through Bulgaria. You can obtain it online on the official website before your trip. If you do not buy it before the trip, there are vending machines for vignettes at the border crossing, or you can purchase one at the OMV gas station on our side of the border (Gradina). Read more about vignettes and travel costs HERE.

International Driving Permit for Driving a Foreign Vehicle Abroad

If you are traveling to Greece with a foreign vehicle, by law, you need an international driving permit obtained from the AMSS. Although this permit is often not requested at the border, it is mandatory by law, and you may be turned back at the border if you do not have it. Find more details HERE.

Documents for Pets (if traveling with you)

The entry of pets is regulated by European legislation, so it is necessary to have: a passport, a certificate of rabies vaccination not older than 15 days, a certificate of health status from an authorized veterinarian. The titer test is no longer required (since June 2026). Read more HERE.

Child Car Seat

Child car seats should comply with ECE standard ⁴⁴⁄₀₃ or newer. Children over 135cm in height can use regular seatbelts. Read more HERE.

Voucher/Booking Confirmation for Accommodation

Border authorities may also ask for a voucher from a travel agency for tourist trips, a hotel reservation, or a confirmation of a private address where you will be staying. While they are not frequently requested in practice, it is good to be aware that they may be asked for.

Driver’s License

You can view pre-travel recommendations summarized in our article HERE.

Return Ticket

It is also on the list of mandatory documents, although in practice, we have not heard of anyone being asked for it so far.

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