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Greece Extends Covid Travel Rules for International Arrivals

Photo source: HRADF

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) on Saturday issued an update to its Covid-19 aviation directives (NOTAMs) that have the rules travelers arriving in Greece on international flights must follow.

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

Moreover, inbound travelers to Greece from EU/Schengen member states and from 33 non-EU countries (mentioned below) that hold a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC) will not be subject to additional restrictions (testing before travel for the fully vaccinated). Vaccinated travelers entering Greece from the United States, Canada and Australia are also exempt from additional restrictions provided that they have a valid vaccination certificate.

All other inbound travelers to Greece (including children over 5 years old) that do not have an EU Digital COVID Certificate, regardless of nationality, Covid vaccination status or proof of recovery, must present a negative PCR test result (performed within 72 hours before travel) or a rapid antigen test result (performed within 24 hours before travel).

The new rules will run until March 7.

The Covid-19 aviation directives issued 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 Greece’s entry rules in detail.

Travel rules for international arrivals

Passenger Locator Form (PLF)

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

EU Digital Covid Certificate (EUDCC) holders

Photo source: European Commission

Photo source: European Commission

There are no additional restrictions (such as the prior Covid-19 testing before travel requirement for the vaccinated) for European Union Digital Covid Certificate (EUDCC) holders coming from:

– the EU and Schengen zone countries
– the following 33 non-EU countries and territories that have joined the EUDCC system: San Marino, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, the Vatican, Northern Macedonia, Georgia, Switzerland, El Salvador, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Lebanon, Morocco, Montenegro, Moldova, Monaco, Norway, New Zealand, Ukraine, Uruguay, Panama, Cape Verde, Serbia, Singapore, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Tunisia, Faroe Islands and Chinese Taipei.

The EU Digital Covid Certificate must include information on one of the following:

1) a vaccination certificate valid for nine months since full vaccination for Covid-19, and without validity limit for travelers who have received the booster dose

2) a recovery certificate valid for 180 days after its issue date

3) a negative PCR test performed within 72 hours before travel or a negative rapid antigen test performed within 24 hours before travel.

The rule is also in force for children aged 5 and over.

Non-EUDCC holders: Mandatory testing before entering the country

All other inbound travelers to Greece that do not have an EUDCC (including children over 5 years old) and regardless of their Covid vaccination status must present a negative PCR test result (performed within 72 hours before travel) or a rapid antigen test result (performed within 24 hours before travel) upon arrival.

Travelers from US, Canada & Australia

All travelers from the United States of America, Canada and Australia may enter Greece provided they have one of the following:

1) a vaccination certificate valid for nine months since full vaccination for Covid-19, and without validity limit for travelers who have received the booster dose

2) a recovery certificate valid for 180 days after its issue date

3) a negative PCR test performed within 72 hours before travel or a negative rapid antigen test performed within 24 hours before travel.

Random rapid testing on arrival

Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless if they are a holder of the EU Digital Covid Certificate, may be subject to random COVID-19 rapid test at the airport (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.

Wearing a mask is 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.

Passengers are also required to comply with instructions of airport and airline staff 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. Nick Sauvage Reply

    Nine months is validity if EU certificate to enter country, but after that only seven months if you want to enter bar, restaurant or museum?! Who is crazy there?!

  2. William Bradley Reply

    Travellers from South Africa have not been allowed into Greece since 17 July 2020. Does the paragraph headed “Non-EUDCC Holders: Mandatory testing before entering the country” mean that South African citizens are now allowed to enter Greece?

  3. Mark+Brealey Reply

    So does the nine month rule apply where three doses of vaccine have been given. I travel in Mid June so okay as last vaccine was November. But I also travel in September so not sure if November 3rd dose vaccine will count. Although might have a fourth by then

  4. Carolyn Reply

    I would like to know if citizens of Trinidad and Tobago are allowed t9 travel to Greece now. Previously we were not on the list of approved countries.

  5. T Ferguson Reply

    After two years of paying nearly £600 in tests each year to go to Greece, we felt we needed to support them after holidaying there for over 25 years. We travelled when many did not we non vaccinated are still being discriminated against, does not matter that vaccinated people can catch and spread the virus ( when it was there) they can go about without a test but we have to pay again although the UK will hopefully not have the same return tests in place. But we are thinking of going elsewhere, virus has gone stop the nonsence.

  6. David Reply

    The lunatics are running the asylum! Stay away from Greece. Go to Turkey…!

  7. RJ Reply

    just so you know…..there is no pandemic….there never was…over here we are back to normal and no one is dying….you need to stand up for what is right. freedom now or never!

    • Bryn Archer Reply

      and where is “over here?”

    • Mark+Brealey Reply

      Another covid*** in denial. And ain’t it funny at least in the UK. The ********* going on about freedom are the same ******* who voted away Freedom of movement.

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