Greece Extends Covid-19 Rules for Domestic Flights to the Greek Islands

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) on Saturday issued an aviation directive (NOTAM) that extends the rules for passengers traveling on domestic flights from the mainland to the Greek islands and vice versa.

The directive extends the travel rules until August 30 at 6am and is part of the Greek government’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19)  in the country.

What Covid documents are needed to travel from the mainland to the islands

Adults in Greece (residents and foreign visitors) are allowed to travel from the mainland to the Greek islands on domestic flights only if they have one of the following:

1) 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: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russia. 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 (or a similar certificate from a non-EU country) 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.

2) a negative PCR test performed less than three days (72 hours) prior to the scheduled travel date or a negative rapid antigen test taken 48 hours prior to travel. Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian.
Negative PCR test results can be in print or electronic form.

3) 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.

According to the HCAA, negative tests (PCR and rapid) that have been carried out abroad and are valid at the time of boarding a domestic flight in Greece will be accepted under the same conditions under which they were accepted for entering the country.

Young people, minors

– Young people aged 12 (with date of birth after July 1, 2009) to 17 may present any test, including self-tests (taken at least 24 hours before travel), to board a flight. When self-testing: travelers must access the self-test declaration form here, print it out, write their negative test result, sign it and then present it when requested at the airport.
– Minors up to 12 years old (with date of birth before June 30, 2009) can travel on a domestic flight without presenting any test.

What Covid documents are needed to travel from the islands to the mainland

Adults in Greece (residents and foreign visitors) are allowed to travel from the Greek islands to the mainland on domestic flights only if they have one of the following:

1) 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: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russia. 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 (or a similar certificate from a non-EU country) 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.

2) a negative PCR test performed less than three days (72 hours) prior to the scheduled travel date or a negative rapid antigen test taken 48 hours prior to travel. Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian.
Negative PCR test results can be in print or electronic form.

3) a negative self-test taken 24 hours before travel (negative self-test results must be filled out on the self-test declaration form found here in English and Greek – travelers must print out the form, write their negative test result, sign it and then present it when requested at the airport)

4) 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.

Young people, minors

– Young people aged 12 (with date of birth after July 1, 2009) to 17 may present any test, including self-tests (taken at least 24 hours before travel), to board a flight. When self-testing: travelers must access the self-test declaration form here, print it out, write their negative test result, sign it and then present it when requested at the airport.
– Minors up to 12 years old (with date of birth before June 30, 2009) can travel on a domestic flight without presenting a test.

General instructions

Photo source: Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA)

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 airport or airline staff who are responsible for supervision, crowd management and passenger assistance, in order to maintain the necessary distances and to ensure safe boarding/disembarkation to avoid overcrowding.

Travelers are advised to also contact their travel agent or airline to confirm the requirements before their trip. Those in need of information regarding specific details are recommended to contact their embassy or the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.