The Ministry of Tourism of Greece has issued an English translation of the recent government decision to allow international travelers into Greece from five nations outside the European Union, as well as all EU nations, effective Monday, April 19.
The official clarification details the process involved for international visitors from the United States and other countries to lawfully enter Greece.
The Pappas Post received the official statement from the Ministry of Tourism.
The full statement from the Greek Ministry of Tourism is below:
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 you to know that we have done our utmost for you to feel safe in our country and be well. Your health is our absolute priority and this is non-negotiable.
Greece is opening its borders gradually, in a safe and feasible manner. The soft opening, on the 19th of April, comes with a few travel requirements, that will soon be lifted for the full opening next month.
In the following paragraphs, we provide a step-by-step guide on how to prepare before traveling to Greece as of the 19th of April.
Updated information relating to the full opening, by the 14th of May, will be announced in due time.
We have set out the following guidelines to ensure the protection of your own health, that of your family, as well as all those involved in offering you a safe hospitality experience:
-As of the 19th of April, every traveler coming to Greece from abroad should possess a negative PCR certificate from a testing laboratory for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure. This test is mandatory for all travelers (including children over the age of 5), regardless of the epidemiological situation existent in the country of departure.
-If the traveler has completed his/her vaccination (i.e., 14 days have elapsed since the last vaccination, depending on the doses required) and holds a vaccination certificate, then proof of a negative test is not required.
-Vaccination certificates for the vaccines Sputnik, Sinovac, etc., not approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) also exempt visitors from the obligation of producing a negative PCR test. The list of acceptable vaccines is Pfizer BioNtech, Moderna, Astra Zeneca/Oxford, Novavax, Johnson + Johnson/Janssen, Sinovac Biotech, Gamaleya (Sputnik), Cansino Biologics, Sinopharm.
Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless of the certificate in their possession, may undergo a random health screening. If selected, the screening is mandatory. Otherwise, authorities reserve the right to refuse entry into the country. The selection is made through a targeted sampling system, based on the EVA system used in the summer of 2020.
-Important clarification: The entry of travelers in Greece is not subject to vaccination. Presenting a vaccination certificate greatly facilitates the formalities 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: all member states of the European Union, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Rwanda, Singapore, USA, UK, Israel, Serbia and UAE.
-Travelers are allowed to enter the country through 9 airports (Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Corfu, Rhodes, Kos, Chania, Mykonos, Santorini) and from the land borders of the country through the land entry gates of Promachonas and Nymphaio.
-As of the 23rd of April, blue cruising – i.e., cruising with no intermediate stops in ports– and yachting will be allowed with some restrictions, which will be the same for both Greek and foreign citizens.
OBLIGATIONS FOR EVERY VISITOR IN GREECE
Before arrival:
-Every traveler must fill out the special PLF (Passenger Location Form) no later than 23:59 of the day before arriving in Greece. For more information click here.
The traveler must ensure prior to departure that he/she carries some kind of certification of their health condition. The alternatives for that are as follows:
-PCR negative test result from a laboratory, for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure
-Vaccination certificate from a certified authority.
All certificates must include the critical information in English and the person’s full name must match with the name listed on the passport or other travel document.
Upon arrival:
For travelers arriving in Greece, the following are provided:
-Sampling RAPID antigen tests at the entrance gates for selected 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 accommodated to 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, and they will undergo new tests again. The expenses of the accommodation in quarantine hotels are covered by the Greek state.
Compliance with the health protocols during tourist transport and throughout your entire stay in Greece is the key factor that will allow for all of us to stay safe and return to normalcy.
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 vacation destination. We look forward to welcoming you to Greece.
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3 comments
All the requirements applies for Mexican Tourists?
Hi, is there a way to verify this information–that is, is this statement available on an official Greek website and if so, would you mind linking it? Thank you.
What is ‘certification’ of vaccination? From the UK, the NHS app with details of a person’s vaccination?