Greece Extends Travel Rules for International Flights

The entry requirements and rules for travelers to Greece from abroad have been extended by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA).

According to the HCAA’s aviation directives (NOTAMs), the following will be in force until Monday, June 7, at 6am:

Who is allowed entry to Greece

People traveling for essential reasons and travelers from the following countries* are allowed to enter Greece – provided they have the required documentation – without the requirement for subsequent self-isolation: EU & Schengen Area countries, Australia, Northern Macedonia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Belarus, Bahrain, New Zealand, South Korea, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Ukraine, Rwanda, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Thailand and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

* Regulations concerning countries on the admission list are subject to change by the Greek authorities, when renewed assessments are made based on epidemiological data from country of origin.

Entry requirements

Greece will allow entrance to travelers that have filled out the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) one day before travel. The PLF is mandatory and must be filled out by all travelers, regardless of their nationality.

In addition, passengers from abroad must have one of the following:

– 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: 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. Acceptable vaccines are: Pfizer BioNtech, Moderna, Astra Zeneca/Oxford, Novavax, Johnson + Johnson/Janssen, Sinovac Biotech, Gamaleya (Sputnik), Cansino Biologics, Sinopharm.

– a negative PCR test (in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian) performed less than 72 hours. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 5.)

– a recovery certificate (in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian) stating that one has recovered from the coronavirus in the past 9 months. This can be proven through a certificate of recovery issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 5.)

Non-EU citizens are strongly advised to choose direct flights to Greece. In any other case, travelers should abide by the stop-over country requirements.

Rapid testing on arrival

Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless of the certificate in their possession, may undergo a random health screening (depending on the data provided on the PLF forms). If a passenger is selected for a rapid test and is positive for the coronavirus then he/she must quarantine for a total of 14 days.

General instructions for air travel

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.

Greece’s aviation directives are part of the Greek government’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.

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 information regarding specific details are recommended to contact their embassy, airline or the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.