Note: Last update of this article occurred on December 16th.
1. Can I travel to Greece?
As of November 11, 2020 all people traveling to Greece from foreign countries will be required to have a negative molecular test result (PCR) for COVID-19, performed up to 72 hours before their entry to Greece. This includes air and land arrivals to Greece.
People traveling to Greece should be aware that as of November 6, 2020 Greece is in lockdown. More information about transport and movement permits within Greece is available here
This applies to Greek citizens, permanent residents of Greece and travellers for essential professional reasons.
Please also be aware that ALL travelers entering Greece from December 18th, 2020, to January 7th, 2021 will be required to self-isolate (at their home or temporary residence, for example hotel) for three (3) days upon their arrival.
As of November 10, 2020 permanent residents of Greece who travel by land or air to foreign countries are required to fill in the electronic form PLF (Passenger Locator Form) with their contact details in Greece before their departure from the country and to show at the border checkpoint the proof of completion of the electronic PLF form that is automatically sent by e-mail to each traveller electronically.
The most recent information can be found here
2. Test certificates
Travellers should be laboratory tested with RT-PCR of oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal swab. Only travellers who carry a certificate of a negative RT-PCR test result will be allowed by the border authorities to enter the country. The certificates should be written in English and bear the name and passport/national ID number of the traveller. Children under 10 years old are not subject to the obligation to a PCR test.
The Laboratories that perform the RT-PCR testing should be: National Reference laboratories, National Public Health Laboratories or Private laboratories which are accredited from the respective national accreditation authorities (not necessarily specifically for COVID-19).
Certificates that do not fulfil the above criteria will not be accepted. Certificate forgery is punished by Greek Law. All travellers will still have to complete and submit their PLF form and may be subject to random testing upon arrival to the Greek border.
3. Passenger Locator Form
All travelers must complete their Passenger Locator Form(PLF) until the day before entering the country, providing detailed information on their point of departure, the duration of previous stays in other countries, and the address of their stay while in Greece. In case of multiple stays, they are required to provide the address for the first 24 hours at least. One PLF should be submitted per family.
- Travelers will receive a confirmation email upon submission of the PLF.
- Travelers will receive the PLF with their unique Quick Response (QR) code on the day of their scheduled arrival in Greece (at midnight) and will be notified via email (the QR code will be provided in a link in the confirmation email).
- Travelers boarding or embarking on the previous day of the arrival will be allowed to do so upon showing the confirmation email, since they will receive their QR code during their flight or voyage.
The PLF can also be found on the Visit Greece app and on Greece’s General Secretariat for Civil Protection’s website
4. Who can enter Greece?
The following countries are allowed entry to Greece:
- 🇪🇺 European Union
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇱🇮 Lichtenstein
- 🇮🇸 Iceland.
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇨🇳 China (subject to confirmation of reciprocity)
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇷🇼 Rwanda
- 🇸🇬 Singapore
- 🇰🇷 South Korea
- 🇹🇭 Thailand
- 🇦🇪 UAE*
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
* Permanent residents of the UAE may arrive only by direct flights in Greece from 9.11.2020 until the 30.11.2020. In order to enter the territory of Greece, permanent residents of UAE need to present to the air border control authorities:
- Proof of permanent residence in the UAE
- Return tickets and hotel reservations.
- Health Checks (PCR COVID-19 test 72h before departure)
- Passenger Locator Form (PLF)
- Travel insurance
5. Protocols for air arrivals
- Arrival at the entry gate.
- Transfer to the area where the screening personnel are located. Travelers are requested to show their QR code either on their mobile phone screen or in print. If travel departure begins prior to the day of arrival, travelers are allowed to board after showing the confirmation email (and not necessarily the QR code which is scheduled to arrive during their trip.)
- Depending on their QR code/confirmation, travelers are directed either to the screening area where they will be tested for the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 by a trained health team or to the exit (to baggage claim area or passport control).
- Upon completion of the test, travelers are directed towards the exit (to baggage claim area or passport control).
- The test results are expected to become available within 24 hours. During that time, passengers who are tested are advised to practice social distancing according to local guidelines and self monitoring for symptoms that could indicate COVID-19. In case of such symptoms, medical advice and/or contact with the National Public Health Organization (EODY) Operations Centre should be immediately sought. Only in case they test positive, the authorities will contact them and proceed with the health protocol in place. Otherwise, they may continue with their holidays, adhering to the general public health safety guidelines.
- If travelers plan to have multiple stop-overs in Greece, they must declare this and report their initial destination and their travel itinerary for the next 7 days.
6. Protocols for sea arrivals
- Arrival of incoming travelers on foot at the main entry gate.
- Incoming travelers arriving in vehicles are directed to the special entry gate.
- Transfer to the area where the screening personnel are located. Travelers are requested to show their QR code either on their mobile phone screen or in print. If travel departure begins prior to the day of arrival, travelers are allowed to board after showing the confirmation email (and not necessarily the QR code which is scheduled to arrive during their trip.)
- Depending on their QR code/confirmation, travelers are directed either to the screening area where they will be tested for the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 by a trained health team or to the exit (to baggage claim area or passport control).
- Upon completion of the test, travelers are directed towards the exit (to baggage claim area or passport control).
- The test results are expected to become available within 24 hours. During that time, passengers who are tested are advised to practise social distancing according to local guidelines and self monitoring for symptoms that could indicate COVID-19. In case of such symptoms, medical advice and/or contact with the National Public Health Organization (EODY) Operations Centre should be immediately sought. Only in case they test positive, the authorities will contact them and proceed with the health protocol in place. Otherwise, they may continue with their holidays, adhering to the general public health safety guidelines.
- If travelers plan to have multiple stop-overs in Greece, they must declare this and report their initial destination and their travel itinerary for the next 7 days.
7. Protocols for arrivals at land borders
- Arrival of persons at the checkpoint.
- Passport and customs control are carried out.
- Transfer to the area where screening personnel is located. Travelers are requested to show their QR code either on their mobile phone screen or in print.
- Screening personnel direct travelers, depending on their QR code, either to the screening area where they will be tested for the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 by a trained health team or to the exit. Upon completion of the screening, tested travelers are also directed towards the exit.
- The screening results are expected to become available within 24 hours. During that time, passengers who are tested are advised to practise social distancing according to local guidelines and self monitoring for symptoms that could indicate COVID-19. In case of such symptoms, medical advice and/or contact with the National Public Health Organization (EODY) Operations Centre should be immediately sought. Only in case they test positive, the authorities will contact them and proceed with the health protocol in place. Otherwise, they may continue with their holidays, adhering to the general public health safety guidelines.
- If travelers plan to have multiple stop-overs in Greece, they must declare this and report their initial destination and their travel itinerary for the next 7 days.
- As of Wednesday July 15th, 2020 at 00:01 (GMT+3), all travelers entering Greece for non-essential reasons through Promachonas border station, are obliged to present upon arrival a negative molecular test result (PCR) for COVID-19, performed up to 72 hours before their entry to Greece.
- Travelers should be laboratory tested with RT-PCR of oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal swab.
- Only travelers who carry a certificate of a negative RT-PCR test result will be allowed by the border authorities to enter the country. The certificates should be written in English and bear the name and passport/national ID number of the traveler.
- The Laboratories that perform the RT-PCR testing should be: National Reference laboratories, National Public Health Laboratories or Private laboratories which are accredited from the respective national accreditation authorities (not necessarily specifically for COVID-19).
- Certificates that do not fulfill the above criteria will not be accepted. Certificate forgery is punished by Greek Law.
- Travelers will still have to complete and submit their PLF form and may be subject to random testing upon arrival to the Greek border.
More information can be found here
