By Vangelis Dourakis

A few hours were still left to claim nearly 300,000 free families through the DBA social tourism: the process of submitting applications is ongoing with the deadline expiring next Monday May 12th. The “lucky” can start on June 1 – early on – their subsidized holidays. Applications are made exclusively electronically and on the basis of the last digit of the VAT.

Already those who have a VAT that ended at 0 were submitting their request Wednesday and Thursday (7/5 and 8/5), while today Friday 9th of the month and tomorrow Saturday 10 May the potential beneficiaries who have an end to 1 am.

The process of submitting applications for free vacation

The process is completed Sunday and Monday, 11 and 12 Mayso those who have a tax register number expiring in digits 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 are entitled to apply.

Applications are submitted through Gov.gr. Specifically, the route is: Initial – Work and Insurance – Compensation and Benefits – Social Tourism Programs (DBA).

The choice of beneficiaries is based on the scoring of specific criteria (disabled, single, number of children, income, first time participation in the program) in an objective and transparent manner through the integrated DBA Information System (IIS).

The check that the “lucky ones” will take in their hands is a unique number for each beneficiary and beneficiary separately, so that they can carry out up to 6 nights in accommodation choosing from the “DBA Providers Register”, after their consultation with the provider, with a private entry and a private participation of € 12 and a private participation of € 1 and a private participation of € 12 and selected.

Especially in Leros, Lesvos, Chios, Kos, Samos & Rhodes up to 10 nights can be held free of charge (zero private participation), while in its municipalities B. Evia and his Evros As well as in Thessaly (except for Sporades), up to 12 nights can be held free of charge.

Sorting prices are increased by 20% for the peak August month and for Christmas (15.12.2025 to 14.01.2026) and Easter (03.04.2026 to 19.04.2026).

Increased subsidy is valid for all year for accommodation V. Evia, Evros and Thessaly (except the Sporades). In addition to staying in tourist accommodation, ferry tickets are subsidized. Participation is 25%, while for people with disabilities the tickets are free.

What are the beneficiaries of social tourism

The program provides for special scoring for single group and disabled and increased scoring for lower income beneficiaries.

Also, people with disabilities provide for participation each year, the entitled of escort and zero private participation in the ferry tickets, and they are not imposed if they do not use their checks.

For parents, there is an increased scoring for each minor child. Also, those who have not received checks in the past or have not received a check due to scoring in the last two programs.

Beneficiaries are:

  • workers with a dependent employment relationship of private law or
  • Insured to EEFKA in their professional category with contributions in favor
  • Unemployed with an ongoing unemployment period of at least three months at the date of expiry of the application deadline.

Family income may not exceed 30,000 euroswhile for long -term unemployed (at least 12 months of unemployment) there are different income criteria as described in the public invitation.

Employees and unemployed are not participated in the program of social tourism program for another period for the same period and those (outside the disabled) have received a check in the 2024-25 program.

Supporting documents relating to the conditions for participation or the beneficiaries are sought on its own motion. In cases of non -potential for an ex officio search, the supporting documents are attached to the applications.