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Greece’s Entry Rules Unchanged, All Travelers Must Present Negative Covid-19 Tests

Passengers making their way to a checkpoint upon their arrival at Athens International Airport. Source: EC - Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Yorgos Karahalis

Source: EC – Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Yorgos Karahalis

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) on Sunday extended all Covid-19 aviation directives that concern flights and arrivals to Greece from abroad until February 7.

In short, arrivals are allowed from EU and Schengen Zone member states, those traveling for “essential reasons” and residents from 42 non-EU countries and territories.

All inbound travelers (including children over 5 years old), regardless of nationality, Covid vaccination status or proof of recovery, 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 and 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 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) and the Omicron variant in the country.

Following are the rules in detail.

Travel rules for international arrivals

A Greek police officer scanning the EU Digital COVID Certificate of a passenger, upon her arrival at Athens International Airport. Source: EC - Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Yorgos Karahalis

Source: EC – Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Yorgos Karahalis

Who is allowed entry to Greece

Greece 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

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, regardless of nationality, Covid vaccination status or proof of recovery, 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.

Random rapid testing for covid on arrival

Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless of their 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).

5-day quarantine for those who test positive

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.

Mandatory rapid testing on arrival for some travelers

Permanent residents of Argentina, Russia, India, Uruguay, Omman, Mexico 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. The measure is in force for all unvaccinated passengers from the aforementioned countries. Travelers that test positive for Covid-19 will receive further instructions.
Passengers from the aforementioned countries that are exempt from testing upon arrival are those who 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.

Wearing a mask is mandatory

The result of the scan of a passenger's EU Digital COVID Certificate the is displayed on a screen at a checkpoint at Athens International Airport. Source: EC - Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Yorgos Karahalis

Source: EC – Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Yorgos Karahalis

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 with the entry rules to Greece. The website includes frequently asked questions.

Travelers are advised to contact their travel agent or airline to confirm the requirements before their trip. Those in need of specific details on the travel rules for passengers of international flights are advised to contact their embassy or the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.

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  1. Boris Reply

    Greece is not ready for tourism , this place is crazy. Masks must be worn indoors outdoors even up a mountain a man was blowing his whistle telling you to put your mask on.
    In McDonald’s I had to show QR code for proof of vaccination and my passport to prove it wasn’t fake just to get a cheeseburger my 11 year old child was kicked out because she isn’t able to get a vaccine in uk yet so was told to leave. Total paranoia can’t wait to go home

  2. Gail GRIFFITHS Reply

    This states the listed rules apply until 7 February 2022. I am entering Greece on 8 February – could you please inform me as to whether I also need to do mandatory testing.(I am fully vaccinated, 3 doses)

    • Bruno Guggenheim Reply

      Same question from me!

  3. Craig Reply

    Can you share the source of this information? YPA/HCAA website have no press releases since December, and travel.gov.gr explains these restrictions ended yesterday. This is the only website currently reporting this.

    • GTP editing team Reply

      The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) issued an official announcement on January 23. You can find it on their website in Greek.

    • Thodoris Reply

      That measure should change, Greece is full of omicron cases, we won’t bring it from Europe! I am fully vaccinated with 3 doses and i still have to pay the tests in european countries to travel to Greece.

  4. Storm Reply

    This is a whole new level of stupidity… Why on EARTH would one aim to curb the spread of Omicron when that’s the way out of this pandemic? It is scientifically proven that Omicron is nothing more than a cold, and it is also scientifically proven that catching this cold will give immunity against Delta. This is contradictory! This ensures that Delta is kept alive and killing more people! STOP THIS INSANITY!!!!

    • Barney Reply

      That makes no sense. You acknowledge that Delta is still dangerous. The rules are to prevent the spread of Delta, not Omicron.

      How on Earth did you conclude that the measure is an attempt to curb Omicron?

      And “scientifically proven that Omicron is no more than a cold” is hubris. Although it is rare, Omicron can kill (generally the elderly and infirm).

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