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Greece Opens to More Nationalities, Extends Covid-19 Air Travel Rules into November

Photo: Shutterstock

Greece is opening its gates to residents from five non-EU countries, an announcement by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) said.

A revised aviation directive (NOTAM) issued by the HCAA on Friday, showed that five non-EU destinations – Argentina, India, Uruguay, Omman and Chile – were added to the “safe list” of countries and territories whose residents are eligible to enter Greece without the requirement for subsequent self-isolation, provided that they present the required documentation. Travelers from the five non-EU destinations will also be obliged to take a rapid or PCR test for Covid-19 upon arrival.

In short, arrivals are allowed from EU and Schengen Zone member states, those traveling for “essential reasons” and residents from 41 non-EU countries and territories.

In addition, the HCAA has extended the Covid-19 travel rules that international flights and passengers must follow to enter Greece until November 12.

The Covid-19 aviation directives issued each week by the HCAA, are part of the Greek government’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.

Following are the rules in detail.

Travel rules for international arrivals

Who is allowed entry to Greece

Greece’s is open for travelers from all EU & Schengen Area countries and has a ban on travellers from non-EU countries.

However, people traveling for essential reasons and travelers from the following 41 non-EU countries and territories are allowed to enter Greece – provided they have the required documentation – without the requirement for subsequent self-isolation: Australia, Northern Macedonia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Belarus, Bahrain, New Zealand, South Korea, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Ukraine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Japan, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Jordan, Moldova, Brunei, San Marino, Andorra, the Vatican, Monaco, Turkey, Kosovo, Chinese Taipei, Argentina, India, Uruguay, Omman and Chile.

Entry requirements

Greece will allow entrance to travelers that have filled out the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) any time before the departure of their flight. The PLF is mandatory and must be filled out by all travelers, regardless of their nationality. The PLF can be found here.

Passengers from abroad must also have one of the following:

1. a vaccination certificate, stating that 14 days have passed since full vaccination for Covid-19. Vaccination certificates must be issued by a public authority and in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian. The name on the vaccination certificate must match the name on the passport and also include, the type of vaccine administered, the number of doses and the dates they were administered.
(The rule is in force for children aged 12 and over.)

2. negative PCR test performed within 72 hours before travel or negative rapid antigen test performed within 48 hours before travel. Negative test results must be issued by an authorized laboratory and in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian. The name on the vaccination certificate must match the name on the passport.
(The rule is in force for children aged 12 and over.)

3. recovery certificate. Travelers can present a medical/recovery certificate issued thirty days after they first tested positive for Covid-19 (the certificate is valid for entry to Greece 180 days after its issue date). The certificate must be issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory in one of the following languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian.
(The rule is in force for children aged 12 and over.)

4. an EU Digital COVID Certificate in digital or print form which will contain information on whether passengers have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or have a negative PCR test performed within 72 hours before travel or a negative rapid test performed within 48 hours before travel or have recovered from the virus.
(The rule is in force for children aged 12 and over.)

Photo © European Union 2021 – Source : EP

Important for travelers from Russia

All travelers from Russia arriving in Greece must have a negative PCR test performed within 72 hours before travel or a negative rapid antigen test performed within 48 hours before travel. The measure is mandatory and applies to all travelers from Russia, whether they are vaccinated for Covid-19 or not.

All travelers from Russia must also undergo a rapid test at the airport upon arrival in Greece (see below). The measure is mandatory.

Rapid testing on arrival for some travelers

Rapid testing mandatory for unvaccinated travelers from 16 countries

Unvaccinated travelers entering Greece from the following 16 countries – regardless of nationality – must undergo a mandatory Covid-19 rapid test at the airport they arrive at: Egypt, Albania, Argentina, Bulgaria, Brazil, Georgia, Cuba, the United Arab Emirates, India, China, Libya, Morocco, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey. Travelers that test positive for Covid-19 will be obliged to take a PCR test and will receive further instructions.

Random rapid testing on arrival

Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless of the certificate in their possession, may be requested to undergo a random health screening (depending on the data provided on the PLF forms and based on the ‘EVA’ system). If a passenger is selected for a rapid test and is positive for the coronavirus then he/she must quarantine for a total of:

– 7 days, if vaccinated against Covid-19
– 10 days, if unvaccinated

In both cases, passengers will have to take a PCR test on the last day of their quarantine. If the test is negative the mandatory quarantine ends.

Wearing a mask is mandatory

Photo source: IATA

Photo source: IATA

At the arrival and departure areas inside airports, as well as during all domestic and international flights, staff and passengers are required to wear a face mask at all times.

Passengers are also required to comply with the instructions of the permanent and temporary staff of airports or airlines responsible for supervising, crowd management and passenger assistance, in order to maintain the necessary distances and to ensure safe boarding/disembarkation to avoid overcrowding.

The compulsory travel documents passengers must have with them are checked by airline staff. According to the HCAA, airline staff is obliged to ascertain that travelers have all the necessary documentation before they board flight to Greece. In the case of violation, the airline will have to to repatriate the passenger at its own expense.

The Greek government has detailed information on a dedicated website, which includes frequently asked questions, on how Greece is welcoming visitors this year.

Travelers in need of specific details on the travel rules for passengers of international flights are recommended to contact their embassy, airline or the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.

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  1. Jane Reply

    What mean “essential reasons” ?

  2. peter Reply

    This is really upsetting – When is South Africa going to be allowed to travel to Greece?? Even the Embassies are shaking their heads – were down to less then 500 new cases and 50 deaths per day.and we are at 24 000 000 million double vaccinated . These countries that are allowed in are far worse

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