connect with us
Greece's latest tourism industry news by Greek Travel Pages

Covid-19 Air Travel Measures for Greece Get Update

Photo © GTP

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) on Sunday updated the travel rules that all international travelers must follow to enter Greece.

The HCAA informed that as of 6am on Monday, January 10, and until January 24, all inbound travelers over 5 years old, regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative PCR or rapid antigen test result taken before entering the country.

PCR tests should be performed within 72 hours before travel while rapid antigen tests should be performed within 24 hours before travel.

Αll travelers to Greece must also submit the mandatory Passenger Locator Form (PLF) any time before the departure of their flight. The PLF must be filled out by all travelers, regardless of their nationality. The PLF can be found here.

What’s new

Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless of vaccination/recovery status, 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 five days at home or in a temporary facility as indicated by Greek authorities. The isolation period begins the next day, after diagnosed positive for Covid-19.

The mandatory quarantine can end after five days as long as passengers have no symptoms or their symptoms have subsided (no fever for the last 24 hours without the use of antipyretics).

Self-isolation is extended in case fever persists and until it subsides. These passengers are required to wear only a high filtering respirator mask (FFP2 or N95) or a double mask (surgical and fabric) for at least another five days after the end of the self-isolation period.

The HCAA  has extended all other aviation directives (below) concerning arrivals to Greece from abroad until January 24.

The aviation directives are part of the Greek government’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) and the new Covid-19 variant, called Omicron in the country.

Travel rules for international arrivals

Athens, Greece - July 2020: People wearing masks for COVID-19 in eleftherios Venizelos Airport in Athens, Greece.

Photo: Shutterstock

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 42 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, Mexico, Kosovo, Chinese Taipei, Argentina, India, Uruguay, Omman and Chile.

Entry requirements

Αll travelers to Greece must submit the mandatory Passenger Locator Form (PLF) any time before the departure of their flight.

Passengers from abroad, regardless of vaccination/recovery status, must also have one of the following:

– a negative PCR test performed within 72 hours before travel or
– a negative rapid antigen test performed within 24 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 5 and over.

Mandatory testing on arrival for some travelers

Permanent residents of Argentina, India, Mexico, Uruguay, Russia, Omman and Chile must present the required documentation and also take a rapid or PCR test for Covid-19 (regardless if they are vaccinated or not) upon arrival to Greece. The rule is in force for children aged 5 and over. Travelers that test positive for Covid-19 will receive further instructions.

All travelers, regardless of nationality and means of transport to the country, from Egypt, Albania, Argentina, Bulgaria, Brazil, Georgia, Cuba, the United Arab Emirates, India, China, Libya, Morocco, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey must present the required documentation and take a rapid or PCR test for Covid-19 upon arrival to Greece. Exempt from testing upon arrival are passengers from the aforementioned countries that have:

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 5 and over.

or

a 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 90 days after the first positive Covid-19 test result. 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 5 and over.

Travelers that test positive for Covid-19 will receive further instructions.

Masks are mandatory

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.

Moreover, passengers are required to comply with the instructions of the airport or airline staff who are responsible for supervision, 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 a flight in Greece.

Travelers are advised to contact their travel agent or airline to confirm the requirements before their trip. Those in need of information regarding specific details are recommended to contact their embassy or the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.

Follow GTP Headlines on Google News to keep up to date with all the latest on tourism and travel in Greece.
About the Author
This is the team byline for GTP. The copyrights for these articles are owned by GTP. They may not be redistributed without the permission of the owner.
  1. ioannis Vlahos Reply

    Greekes living abroad, over 60 years, how they can send their Vaccination certificate????

  2. Anna L wilson Reply

    Agreed! Time for other countries to catch on.

  3. Maureen Arnold Reply

    Well done Greece recognising that anyone can catch and spread Covid . Definitely, the way forward is to test everyone regardless of vaccine status !

Leave a Reply to Anna L wilson Cancel reply

*