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Greece Updates Aviation Directives for Int’l Flights, Domestic Travel

Photo source © EP

Photo source © EP

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) on Sunday released updated Covid-19 aviation directives (NOTAMs) which extend restrictions on domestic travel until April 12, and on international flights until April 19.

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

Domestic travel: Only essential trips allowed

The non-essential travel restriction for domestic flights (travel between prefectures) in Greece has been extended until 6am on Monday, April 12.
The updated NOTAM 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.

International flights – Restrictions, Rules

According to the HCAA’s updated Covid-19 aviation directives (NOTAMS), the following travel restrictions for international arrivals will remain in place until Monday, April 19 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.

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.

Vaccinated Israeli passengers exempt from quarantine
An updated directive of HCAA clarifies that passengers from Israel (permanent residents) will not need to quarantine for seven days after arriving in Greece if they have a health certificate (Israel’s “Green Pass”) that states they have been fully vaccinated and have tested negative for Covid-19 (PCR test).
More specifically:
The vaccination certificates will be accepted by Greek authorities if they are in the English language and have been issued by a public authority under the following conditions:
– 14 days have passed since the completion of the holder’s vaccination, and
– it states that a negative Covid-19 test (PCR) result has been performed up to 72 hours before the holder’s arrival.
The certificates must include the name of the holder, the type of vaccine received and the number of vaccinations.
“Arrivals of permanent residents from Israel who have a vaccination certificate are exempt from the seven-day mandatory precautionary restriction (quarantine) that applies to all other arrivals from abroad, including Israel, who have not been vaccinated,” the directive notes.

Non-EU citizens allowed into Greece
The temporary ban on entry into Greece from outside the EU has been updated. Only citizens traveling for essential reasons from the following 10 countries are excluded from the ban: UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, Rwanda, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Russia and Israel.

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.

Special restrictions for arrivals from UK, Russia

UK arrivals
All arrivals from the UK must take a PCR test after their seventh day of 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.

Arrivals from Russia
Only 4,000 permanent residents of Russia per week are allowed to enter Greece on flights landing (only) at the airports of Athens, Thessaloniki and Heraklion.

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  1. Carl Simpson Reply

    The excessive charges for pcr tests in the uk will be the death knell this year for family’s trying to plan a holiday to Greece.

  2. Noel Spruce Reply

    Many Britons are awaiting the British Government’s soon-to-be announced statement on foreign travel this summer.
    We earnestly hope that Greece will be on the horizon as a relatively covid-19 free place to visit, particularly as so many Britons have now been vaccinated producing protection both for themselves and the peoples of countries we hope to visit.

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