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Covid-19: Greece Changes Expiration Dates of Vaccination and Recovery Certificates
Posted On 01 Apr 2022
UPDATE: On April 2 it was announced that two-dose vaccination certificates are now valid in Greece for 9 months (270 days) and there is no time limit for those who have received a booster shot. Recovery certificates are now valid for 6 months (180 days) in Greece.
Photo source: European Commission / Photographer: Yorgos Karahalis
The Greek government is considering to harmonize Greece’s domestic validity period of Covid-19 vaccination and recovery certificates with the validity period set at EU level.
Speaking to SKAI on Friday, Greece Health Minister Thanos Plevris referred to the European Commission’s recommendation for EU national governments to harmonize the domestic validity periods of vaccination/recovery certificates with the validity period set at EU level, which is a 9-month duration (270 days) for the two-dose vaccination certificate and 6-month duration (180 days) for the recovery certificate.
Right now the two-dose vaccination certificate issued in Greece has a 7-month duration (210 days) and there is no time limit for those who have received a booster shot. The recovery certificate in Greece is valid for only 3 months (90 days).
Photo source: European Commission / Photographer: Yorgos Karahalis
It should be mentioned that the Greek government permits entrance to the country to travelers with either:
– a vaccination certificate valid for 9 months (270 days) since full vaccination (two shots) for Covid-19 (and without validity limit for travelers who have received the booster dose)
– or proof of recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection valid for 6 months (180 days) after its issue date.
However, once in the country visitors must abide by the domestic validity period. This means that access to indoor areas of restaurants, cafes, bars and other leisure facilities in Greece is allowed only after showing either:
– a vaccination certificate valid for 7 months (210 days) since full vaccination (two shots) for Covid-19 (and without validity limit for travelers who have received the booster dose)
– or proof of recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection valid for 3 months (90 days) after its issue date.
Minister Plevris also announced that the Greek government may scrap the measure of showing a certificate to access indoor areas (restaurants, cafes, bars) during the summer months.
So basically if you’ve only had the initial 2 doses by the beginning of last year and no boosters because of reactions to both first vaccinations you won’t be allowed into the country for a holiday? The current and proposed regulations don’t account for the unvaccinated or those like me who don’t want a booster because of reactions to the 1st 2!!! Very disappointed as I’ve already booked our holiday for June! You can still carry coronavirus wether your vaccinated or not and the current variant is more prolific but produces symptoms of the common cold! At a loss! ❤️❤️
Ms Southgate the article finishes with the comment that Greece May scrap this Covid regulation during the summer months!