Greece Updates Travel Rules, Allows Entry to Digital COVID Certificate Holders

Photo: Shutterstock

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) on Sunday announced that all aviation directives concerning arrivals from abroad have been updated and extended.

With regard to updates and additions to the rules, the HCAA informed:

• Travelers from abroad may also now enter Greece if they have a Digital COVID Certificate which contains information on whether they have either:

a. been vaccinated against Covid-19
b. have a negative PCR test result
c. have recovered from Covid-19.

The certificate can be in digital or print form.

It is noted that the Digital COVID Certificate is not mandatory. Travelers may still enter the country as before (see Entry Requirements below) with either a vaccination certificate, a negative PCR test or a recovery certificate.

• Permanent residents from Montenegro will be allowed to enter the country from June 7 with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate and a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before travel.

• The Covid-19 PCR testing requirement for entry in the country will be in force for children aged 6 and above (it was previously mandatory for children over 5) in accordance with the recommendations of the European Union and the rules of IATA.

• The mandatory quarantine time for a traveler who tests positive for Covid-19 after taking a rapid test upon arrival in Greece has been reduced to 7 days for the vaccinated and to 10 days for the unvaccinated. (Mandatory quarantine time was previously 14 days for all.)

Photo: Shutterstock

Following are the updated HCAA’s aviation directives (NOTAMs) in detail, which will be in force until Monday, June 14, 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, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro (just added).

* 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.

Passengers from abroad must also have one of the following:

1. 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 and, Johnson + Johnson/Janssen.

2. 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 6.)

3. 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 6.)

4. a Digital COVID Certificate in digital or print form which will contain information on whether passengers have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or have a negative PCR test result or have recovered from the virus.

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:

– 7 days if the passenger has been vaccinated against Covid-19
– 10 days if the passenger is unvaccinated

In both cases, passengers will have to take a PCR test on the last day of their quarantine. If the test is negative the mandatory quarantine ends.

Greece has reduced the mandatory quarantine time so as to adapt to the new ECDC guidelines.

The HCAA has also released rules on travel by air to the Greek islands while in Greece (domestic travel). Press here for further information.

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.

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