Airports
Dear Traveler,
We welcome you to Greece and hope you enjoy a wonderful and unforgettable holiday experience.
On behalf of the Greek Government and the Greek Ministry of Tourism, we would like to inform you that we have done everything in our power to make sure you stay safe during your stay in Greece. Your health is our absolute priority.
On May 14, Greece opened its borders in a safe and attainable manner.
In the paragraphs follow, we provide a step-by-step guide on how to prepare before travelling to Greece as of May 14th.
These guidelines are in place to ensure the protection of your health, as well as the health of your loved ones and all those involved in offering you a safe hospitality experience:
– As of May 14th, travelers arriving in Greece are required to have a negative PCR certificate from a testing laboratory, for a Covid-19 test taken no later than 72 hours before arrival.
This test is mandatory for all tourists (including children over the age of 5), regardless of the epidemiological situation in the country of departure.
– Proof of a negative test is not required however for all travelers that have completed their vaccination (i.e., 14 days have elapsed since the last vaccination, depending on the doses required) and hold a vaccination certificate.
Acceptable vaccines are: Pfizer BioNtech, Moderna, Astra Zeneca/Oxford, Novavax, Johnson + Johnson/Janssen, Sinovac Biotech, Gamaleya (Sputnik), Cansino Biologics, Sinopharm among others.
– Proof of a negative PCR test is not required if the traveler was tested positive with COVID-19 in the past 2 to 9 months. This can be proved either by presenting a positive PCR molecular test result performed by an authorized laboratory or a medical certificate confirming that the holder was tested positive with SARS-CoV-2 virus infection.
– Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless of the certificate in their possession, may undergo a random health screening. If you are selected, please keep in mind that the screening is mandatory. In case of refusal, authorities reserve the right to refuse entry into the country. The selection is made through a targeted sampling system ”EVA” used also in the summer of 2020.
– Important clarification: Entry of tourists in Greece is not subject to vaccination. Presenting a vaccination certificate greatly facilitates the procedures upon arrival. However, in no case is a vaccination or antibodies certificate considered a “passport”.
– The countries from which entry is allowed, under the aforementioned conditions, without the requirement for subsequent self-isolation are: EU & Schengen Area countries, USA, UK, Israel, Serbia, UAE, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Rwanda, Singapore, the Russian Federation, North Macedonia, Canada, Belarus, Bahrein, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Ukraine, and Saudi Arabia.
– Non EU citizens are strongly advised to choose direct flights to Greece. In any other case, travelers should abide by the stop-over country requirements.
Passengers are allowed to enter the country through all international airports and the ports of Patras, Igoumenitsa and Corfu.
Travellers are allowed to enter from the land borders through the entry gates of Promachonas and Ormenio in a 24h basis and Evzonoi and Nymfaia from 07:00 to 23:00.
Cruising and yachting is allowed. Maritime connections with Albania and Turkey are temporarily restricted.
REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITORS
Before arrival:
– Tourists must fill in the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) no later than 23:59 (11.59 PM) of the day before arriving in Greece. For more information, please click here.
Prior to departure, all travelers must ensure that they carry an acceptable form of certification of their health condition. Acceptable documents include:
– A negative PCR molecular test result from a laboratory; the test must be taken up to 72 hours before entry.
– A vaccination certificate issued by a certified authority.
– A certificate of recovery from the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory.
– A certificate of a positive PCR molecular test result, confirming that the holder recovered from the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, performed at least 2 months before arrival, and no later than 9 months before arrival.
All certificates must include the critical information (i.e. number of doses and their respective dates) in English, German French, Italian, Spanish, Russian and the person’s full name must match the name on the passport or any other recognized travel document.
Upon arrival:
Travelers arriving in Greece are subject to:
– Sampling RAPID antigen tests at the entrance gates for selected individuals drawn from a targeted sampling system, based on the ”EVA” system.
– Mandatory isolation if they test positive for SARS-Cov-2, following a sampling test. In this case, the travelers and their travel companions are accommodated in quarantine hotels, where they will undergo further PCR testing to confirm the initial diagnosis. Guests will stay in seclusion hotels for at least 10 days. The expenses of the accommodation in quarantine hotels are covered by the Greek state.
Compliance with the health protocols during transport and throughout your entire stay in Greece is the key factor that will allow all of us to stay safe and return to normality.
We appreciate your understanding and apologize in advance for any additional inconvenience.
We extend a warm thank you for the cooperation, and for choosing our country for your holidays.
We look forward to welcoming you to Greece.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR THE OPENING OF TOURISM 2021
- How can one travel to Greece?
- What are the health protocols for the people working in the tourism sector?
- Which vaccines are acceptable for the vaccination certificate?
- What applies to international flights?
- What will apply to land travel?
- What about ferry connections?
- How can the visitors move to or from their hotel?
- What will apply to guests during their stay?
- Will there be business activity protocols?
- Will there be quarantine hotels?
- What will apply to minors under the age of 12?
- When will the departure and arrival of private yachts be allowed and from which countries?
- What will apply to cruise ships?
- What if the visitor’s country requires a test for his/her return?
Source:
Ferries
Following the instructions of the Greek Authorities for dealing with the spread of COVID-19, please see below the revised Pre-Boarding Passenger form.
Pre-boarding health declaration questionnaire (pdf)
The revised form includes the addition of questions regarding the results of tests and vaccinations, as posted on the official website of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy (https://www.ynanp.gr/el/gr-epikoinwnias-enhmerwshs/odhgies-kai-erwthmatologia-epibatwn-gia-ta-ta3idia-me-thn-aktoploia/)
All passengers mustcomplete the Passenger Pre-Boarding form and deliver it together with their ticket, to the vessel’s Chief Purser during boarding, before the vessel’s departure. Passengers have to present the necessary documents (in electronic or printed form) certifying the tests’ results or prior vaccination.
Documents when boarding the ship, include:
- Vaccination Certificate or
- Negative result of PCR Test not older than 72 hours or
- Negative result of Rapid Test not older than 24 hours or
- Negative result of a 24 hour Self-Test, the result of which must be declared on the Pre-Boarding form or
- Confirmation of Covid-19 infection minimum two months and maximum nine months, before the departure date.
The obligation to present a negative PCR Test, Rapid Test or Self-Test result, if there is no Vaccination Certificate, is valid for all passengers over the age of 5 and only for departures from Mainland Greece ports (Piraeus, Rafina, Lavrio, Kavala, Volos and Thessaloniki) to island destinations.
The use of a protective mask during boarding / disembarking, as well as during the trip, is mandatory.
Source: https://www.bluestarferries.com/en-gb/news/2021/revised-pre-boarding-information-form?fbclid=IwAR0i66gEeAyY9hC40OooqW18luujVMJ3hDhBi-Pr2jPAofJx8VuX2-HDo28