Covid Free GR: How Non-EU Tourists Can Enter Indoor Areas of Restaurants, Bars in Greece

The Greek Tourism Ministry on Wednesday gave clarifications on how tourists in Greece from non-EU countries can enter indoor areas of establishments that only allow entrance to customers who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus (Covid-19) or have recovered from the virus.

Tourists from non-EU countries – such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Serbia and Saudi Arabia – can enter indoor areas of businesses such as restaurants, cafes, bars and cinemas by simply presenting their national vaccination certificate or recovery certificate in printed or electronic form. They will also have to have some form of identification with them such as an ID card or passport.

The ministry released the clarification after it was reported that the country’s Covid Free GR app, launched to to make it easier for businesses to check the QR codes on the vaccination/recovery certificates of customers, was not recognizing the documents of third-country nationals.

According to the ministry, the Covid Free GR app only recognizes Greek vaccination certificates and the EU Digital COVID Certificate held by EU citizens.

The Covid Free GR app verifies whether a customer to an establishment – café, bar, restaurant – has been vaccinated or recovered, holds a negative rapid test result or a negative PCR test result.

Certificates presented (on paper or on smart phone) are scanned at the door. A color-coded system verifies validity. The color green and a check mark indicates completed Covid-19 vaccination or recovery; yellow indicates a negative test result; and red that the document is false or not correct.

Covid Free Badges

It is reminded that people wanting to go to an indoor area of an establishment in Greece can recognize if it accepts only vaccinated/recovered individuals or also those holding negative PCR/rapid tests by checking the Covid Free badge displayed on the door. Click here for more information.