Greece Updates Rule for Domestic Travel with a Covid-19 Recovery Certificate

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) on Thursday issued an update to the rule for travelers flying on domestic flights in Greece with a Covid-19 recovery certificate.

According to the HCAA’s updated Covid-19 aviation directive (NOTAM), Covid-19 recovery certificates will be accepted for travel on domestic flights in Greece only if they are issued 14 days (instead of the previous 30 days) after a person’s first positive diagnosis (positive Covid-19 PCR test result).

It is reminded that people can fly domestic in Greece also if they hold a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR/rapid antigen test result.

The updated Covid-19 aviation directive, which has been in force since September 13, is part of the Greek government’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.

Details on the rules to board domestic flights in Greece follow below.

Covid documents needed to board domestic flights

Photo © European Union 2021 – Source : EP / Michel CHRISTEN

Travelers (residents and foreign visitors) aged 12 and over in Greece are allowed to travel 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 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 (or a similar certificate from a non-EU country) as proof that a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19 or has a negative test result or recovered from the coronavirus.

2) a recovery certificate – UPDATED. Travelers can present a medical/recovery certificate issued 14 days after they first tested positive for Covid-19 (the certificate is valid for 90 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.

3) a negative PCR test performed within 72 hours before travel or a negative rapid antigen test performed within 48 hours before travel.
Greeks can issue their test result here.
Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian.
Negative test results can be in print or electronic form.

Minors

Passengers aged 4 to 17 can present a negative self-test result (either in print or electronic form) taken at least 24 hours before travel, to board a flight.
The self-test declaration form can be accessed here. Travelers will have to print it out, write their negative test result, sign it and then present it when requested at the airport along with identification (passport).
Travelers can also present their negative test result in digital form (TaxisNet codes and AMKA social security number are necessary).

Masks are mandatory

Photo source: IATA

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 that do not wear masks will not be allowed to board airplanes to travel.

Moreover, passengers are 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.

The compulsory travel documents passengers must have with them are checked by airline staff. According to the HCAA, airline staff is obliged to ascertain that travelers have all the necessary documentation before they board flight in Greece.

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.