Arriving at Athens Airport an evening prior to our Visa start date
So we're a married Indian couple on our honeymoon trip to Greece. Our original flight from Mumbai to Athens (via Muscat) on Oman Air was scheduled for July 10, 2019 and arriving at Athens at 1950 hours on 10 July. Basis this schedule, we had applied for our tourist Visa with the intended date of arrival in the Schengen area as 10 July.
Today I received a call from the airline informing me that our onward flight has been cancelled due to B-737 Max grounding. They can accommodate us either on the 11 July flight (in which case we miss the first day in Athens) or 9 July (in which case we arrive at Athens at 1950 hours on 9 July itself).
If we decide to take the latter route, i.e. reach 4 hours prior to the midnight of our intended date of arrival in the Schengen area - How likely are we to face difficulties either in (a) Mumbai (i.e. origination point) or (b) Muscat (where we need to change aircrafts) or (c) Athens itself with the security/ immigration authorities?
We will, of course, wait until midnight of 10 July to pass through immigration. But I'm concerned if we will face challenges explaining our situation or with our checked-in luggage or with the transit authorities in Oman itself.
If anyone knows of a similar situation or familiar with Greek immigration, would love to hear you out. The safer (albeit, inefficient) option is to just cut our trip short by a day and reschedule to 11 July.
Thanks!
Best Answer
You are highly likely to be refused boarding given that your flight is scheduled to arrive before your visa start date. Your plan to loiter in the Immigration area of Athens airport for around 4 hours after your flight arrives will not work.
The only feasible option is to take the later flight.
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Can I enter a country before my visa begins?
You could arrive earlier and enter with a tourist visa, assuming that your nationality would let you enter as a tourist without needing a visa. If that's not the case, and your visa is in fact a tourist visa, you can always wait in the airport before "entering" the territory.How early do you need to arrive at Athens Airport?
How early should I arrive at Athens airport? A two-hour arrival before the flight is recommended, especially during the peak season, which is during the summer.Can I travel on the day my visa starts?
No you can't travel before the visa date, you will waste money cos you can book the ticket but at the time of check in , the counter person will check your passport and visa, if dates not matching they won't allow you to board and won't issue you a boarding pass. Your ticket money will go waste.Do I need a visa to transit through Athens Airport?
In order to reach your departure gate you'll have to leave the transit area and pass through the security control to get back into the transit area and once you leave the transit area you're technically in Greece and therefore might need a visa. 3.Greece, Athens International Airport, arriving with Turkish Airlines, 1X Schindler escalator
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Images: Matthew Turner, LT Chan, Vincent Albos, Vincent Albos