Greece Announces Restrictions for Travelers from Poland, Updates Aviation Directives

Photo source: Warsaw Chopin Airport

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) on Thursday issued an aviation directive (NOTAM) concerning travelers arriving to Greece from Poland and also updated previous directives regarding passengers from other countries.

All directives, which have been issued as part of the Greek government’s efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country, will remain in effect through to October 12 at midnight.

More specifically, according to the new guidelines:

– From Saturday October 3 until Monday October 12, those traveling to Greece by air from Poland will be allowed to enter the country only by presenting a negative Covid-19 test result. The test must be taken at least 72 hours before arrival.

– The aviation directive that states that all travelers arriving to Greece by air from the Czech Republic will be obliged to present a negative Covid-19 test result, has been extended until October 12. The test must be taken at least 72 hours before arrival.

– The suspension of flights between Greece and Turkey and Greece and Catalonia, Spain, have been extended until October 12 at midnight.

– The aviation directive that sees all flights to and from Greece from Albania and North Macedonia operating only through Athens International Airport (AIA) has been extended until October 12. There will be no routes to any other Greek airports.

– The aviation directive that states that all travelers visiting Greece by air from Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, the United Arab Emirates, Malta, Belgium, Spain, Albania and North Macedonia, will be allowed admission into Greece only by presenting a negative Covid-19 test result, has been extended until October 12. The test must be taken at least 72 hours before arrival. Travelers from the aforementioned countries will be subject to sample testing upon arrival.

– The aviation directive that bans entry to Greece for non-EU Citizens has been extended until October 12. Citizens from the following 11 countries are excluded from the ban: Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay and the United Arab Emirates. Travelers from the aforementioned countries will be subject to sample testing upon arrival.

– The aviation directive concerning travelers from Israel has been extended until October 12. According to the directive, all travelers entering Greece from Israel are obliged to present a negative molecular test result (PCR) for coronavirus, taken at least 72 hours before arrival. All permanent residents of Israel entering Greece will be subject to testing again. Only 5,000 people per week are allowed to enter Greece on flights from Israel arriving to all airports in the country.

– The aviation directive concerning travelers from Russia is valid until October 5. According to the directive, all travelers entering Greece from Russia are obliged to present a negative molecular test result (PCR) for coronavirus. All permanent residents of Russia entering Greece will be subject to testing again. Only 500 people per week are allowed to enter Greece on flights from Russia arriving to the airports of Athens, Thessaloniki and Heraklion.

PLF still mandatory to travel to Greece

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority also informed that the mandatory submission of the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) by all passengers of international flights to Greece, has been extended until October 12.
The PLF can be found here.

*ATTENTION: All guidelines reported have been obtained by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) and are subject to change based on the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic, government decisions, and European Union directives.

* Regulations concerning countries allowed entry are subject to change after 14 days, when renewed assessments are made based on epidemiological data from country of origin.