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Greece Keeps Most Travel Restrictions in Place Until April 5

Athens International Airport (AIA)

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) on Sunday released updated Covid-19 aviation directives (NOTAMS) which extend travel restrictions for domestic air travel and all international flights landing in Greece.

The restrictions are part of the Greek government’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.

The 7-day quarantine measure for all arrivals to Greece from abroad is among the restrictions that have remained in place.

Restrictions lifted

However, the HCAA has issued new aviation directives that lift:

– the ban on flights from Turkey, and
– the restrictions for flights from Albania and North Macedonia. Flights to and from Greece from Albania and North Macedonia are now allowed to operate through all Greek airports and not only through Athens International Airport (AIA) as was the case until now.

Moreover, the Greek government has increased the number of arrivals from Russia allowed entry into Greece. According to the relevant aviation directive, 4,000 (from the current 500) permanent residents of Russia are allowed to enter Greece per week on flights landing (only) at the airports of Athens, Thessaloniki and Heraklion.

Restrictions for international flights

According to the HCAA’s updated Covid-19 aviation directives, the following travel restrictions for international arrivals will remain in place until Monday, April 5 at midnight:

PLF remains mandatory
The submission of the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) by all passengers of international flights to Greece remains mandatory.
The rule also applies to Greek citizens and permanent residents of Greece who travel abroad on flights (outbound travel). They are required to fill out the PLF form before their departure from Greece and present it at border checkpoints.

Mandatory negative Covid-19 test result
All travelers from abroad must submit a negative Covid-19 test result (PCR) performed up to 72 hours before arrival in Greece and may also be requested to take a rapid Covid-19 test upon entry (depending on the data provided on the PLF forms). If a passenger is selected for a rapid test and is positive for the coronavirus then he/she must quarantine for a total of 14 days.

Mandatory 7-day quarantine for all arrivals
All passengers entering Greece from any foreign country, including European Union member states, must self-isolate either at their home (for permanent residents) or at the place of temporary residence declared on the PLF, for 7 days. If they are to stay in Greece for a shorter period, the quarantine restriction is valid for that period of time, ie until their departure.

Non-EU citizens allowed into Greece
The temporary ban on entry into Greece from outside the EU has been updated. Only citizens from the following 10 countries are excluded from the ban: UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, Rwanda, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Russian Federation and Israel. It is noted that Singapore and Rwanda were added to the list after having been removed two weeks ago.

Covid-19 rapid testing mandatory for UK, UAE arrivals
All arrivals to Greece from the UK and the United Arab Emirates are required to take a rapid test for Covid-19 upon arrival.

UK arrivals
All arrivals from the UK must take a PCR test after their seventh day of mandatory quarantine in the Greece. If the test is positive the quarantine will be in force for 14 days. If the test is negative the quarantine ends.

Domestic travel: Non-essential trips remain banned

Photo source: Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA)

The non-essential travel restriction for domestic flights (travel between prefectures) in Greece has been extended until 6am on Monday, March 29.
The updated Covid-19 aviation directive concerns domestic scheduled, commercial and general/business flights and foresees that only essential travel is allowed for health and business reasons, family reunification, and returning to permanent residence.

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