Greece will No Longer Accept Negative Self-test Results for Island Air Travel

The Greek authorities have changed and extended the rules that all passengers must follow to travel from the mainland to the islands on domestic flights.

According to an updated aviation directive (NOTAM) of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA), negative self-test results for Covid-19, as of Monday, July 5, will no longer be accepted as a document for passengers to board a domestic flight to travel to the Greek islands from the mainland. (Negative self-test results for Covid-19 as of July 5 will also no longer be accepted for ferry travel to the Greek islands from the mainland.)

People in Greece (residents and foreign visitors) are allowed to travel to the Greek islands by airplane only if they have one of the following:

– a vaccination certificate stating that 14 days have passed since full vaccination for Covid-19.
Greeks can issue their vaccination certificates here.
Foreigners are obliged to have a vaccination certificate in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian. The vaccination certificate must be issued by a public authority, include the travelers’ name, the type of vaccine administered and the number of doses.
Alternatively, travelers may present, in digital or printed form, an EU Digital COVID Certificate, as
proof that a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19 or received a negative test result (48-hour rapid test or 72-hour PCR) or recovered from the coronavirus.

– a negative PCR test performed less than three days (72 hours) prior to the scheduled travel date or a negative rapid antigen test taken 24 hours prior to travel.
Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 12.)
Negative test results (PCR or rapid) can be in print or electronic form.

– 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 180 days after its issue date). 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 over the age of 12.)

Young people, minors

– Young people aged 12 (with date of birth before June 30, 2009) to 18 may present a self-test to board a domestic flight.
– Minors up to 12 years old (with date of birth after July 1, 2009) can travel on a domestic flight without presenting a test.

Exempt from the above rules are:

– people who travel between different island regional units for work purposes on a daily basis and already take a negative Covid-19 self-test every week.
– people who travel between islands of the same regional unit. Those traveling daily for work purposes will present a weekly negative Covid-19 self-test result. Individual travelers, traveling for what ever reason, must present a negative self-test (taken 24 hours before travel) before boarding a flight.

The staff of airline companies will be responsible to check that passengers are carrying the required documentation during boarding.

The updated aviation directive concerning the rules to fly domestic to the Greek islands will be in force until Monday, July 12, at 6am.

General instructions

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.