Travelling to Greece: Entry requirements as of the 19th April
Would you like to travel to Greece? Did you miss the bright sun, the deep blue sea and the beautiful Greek islands? 😎 Did you also miss attending the Greek lessons in Greece? 😉
There is some great news for those who wish to travel to Greece the following months! The generalized opening is planned for 14th May, but since 19th April Greece has opened its borders gradually, in a safe manner and with some restrictions. It is important to be aware of how you protect yourself, your family and all those involved in offering you hospitality in Greece! Read our article and learn what goes into effect as of the 19th April for arrivals in and departures from Greece.
# What goes into effect as of the 19th April?
According to the General Principles regarding the health protocols apply in Greece as of the 19th of April:
✅Every traveler coming to Greece from abroad should have a negative PCR test from a diagnostic laboratory.
✅The PCR test has to be conducted no later than 72 hours before arrival.
📌The PCR test is mandatory for all tourists (including children over the age of 5), regardless of the epidemiological situation prevalent in the country of departure.
✅The proof of a negative PCR test is not required in case that the traveler has completed his/her vaccination and 14 days have elapsed since the last vaccination, depending on the doses required. Of course, he/she is obliged to confirm his/her vaccination by presenting the relevant vaccination certificate.
✅Travelers who provide vaccination certificates with vaccines Sputnik, Sinovac, etc., which have not been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) are also exempt from the obligation of a negative PCR test.
📌The acceptable vaccines are the following: Pfizer BioNtech, Moderna, Astra Zeneca/Oxford, Novavax, Johnson + Johnson/Janssen, Sinovac Biotech, Gamaleya (Sputnik), Cansino Biologics, Sinopharm
📌Every traveler who arrives to Greece, regardless of the certificate he carries, may undergo a random mandatory health check. Otherwise, authorities reserve the right to refuse his/ her entry in the country. The selection is made through a targeted sampling system, based on the EVA system used in the summer of 2020.
❗❗Attention: The presentation of a vaccination certificate or an antibodies certificate it is not considered as a “passport” for the entry in Greece.
✅ The travelers from the EU, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Rwanda, Singapore, USA, UK, Israel, Serbia and UAE are allowed to enter the country, under the aforementioned conditions, without the requirement for isolation. Passengers are allowed to enter Greece
✈ through 9 airports: Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Corfu, Rhodes, Kos, Chania, Mykonos and Santorini
🚗 from the land borders of the country through the land entry gates of Promachonas and Nymphaea
🛳 cruising with no intermediate stops in ports and yachting are allowed as of the 23rd of April. Of course, the same terms and conditions apply for all passengers, both for Greek and foreign citizens.
# OBLIGATIONS FOR EVERY VISITOR IN GREECE
📌Before arrival:
Every traveler must
✅fill in the special PLF (Passenger Location Form) no later than 23:59 of the day before arriving in Greece.
✅ensure that he/she has some kind of certification of his health condition, either a PCR test from a laboratory, maximum 72 hours before entry or a vaccination certificate issued by an appropriate authority. All certificates must include the critical information in English and the full name must match with that of the passport or other travel document.
📌On arrival:
✅ Sampling RAPID antigen tests at the entrance gates, the selection of individuals drawn from a targeted sampling system, based on the EVA system used in the summer of 2020.
✅Mandatory isolation for tourists who have tested positive for SARS-Cov-2, following a sampling test. In this case, the travelers and their escorts are transported to quarantine hotels and undergo further PCR tests to confirm the initial diagnosis. Guests will stay in seclusion hotels for at least 10 days, and they will undergo new tests again. The expenses of the accommodation in quarantine hotels are covered by the Greek state.
👉 For more information go to the official webpage of the Greek Government.