New Rules to Enter Greece with COVID-19 Recovery Certificate
Following the decision to shorten the validity of the recovery certificates, the Greek authorities have revealed detailed rules for travelers arriving in Greece.
Now, those who have recovered from COVID-19 and hold a recovery certificate must be aware that its validity is 3 months.
Content:
Shortening the validity of recovery certificates
From this week, holders of coronavirus recovery certificates can travel to Greece but need to remember that their document remains valid only for 90 days.
Those travelers who are holders of recovery certificates issued from 15th July to 30th November can use the certificates until their expiration.
Greece also issued a NOTAM regarding domestic flights asking visitors to hold a recovery or vaccine certificate. The first one needs to be issued no earlier than 1 month after receiving the positive COVID-19 test result. This regulation applies to travelers departing from 42 countries.
Requirements to enter Greece
Every passenger arriving in Greece must submit one of the following documents to enter the country:
- a recovery certificate confirming being tested positively for COVID-19 at least 30 days before a trip to Greece (the certificate stays valid for 90 days from the date of issue);
- a vaccination certificate confirming that the last dose of full coronavirus shot (approved by Greek authorities) has been administered at least 14 days prior to arrival in Greece;
- EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate;
- COVID-19 PCR negative test performed 72 hours before departure time, or alternatively a rapid test taken 48 hours of the flight.
Foreign nationals must have one of the abovementioned documents translated into English, French, Greek, Spanish, German, Russian, or Italian issued by a competent authority.
The Greek government also provides a self-test that must be taken by every child aged from 4 to 17 years.
Greek Passenger Locator Form
Since 14th May 2021, Greece introduced an additional safety measure - passenger locator form. This health-related declaration helps the Greek authorities to control coronavirus cases and reduce their spread.
All persons who wish to visit Greece must complete this form by 23:59 of the day preceding their entry to the country (the time is counted according to the Greek time zone). That is why travelers need to fill out the online form maximally 24 hours before the planned arrival time.
In practice, an applicant can start filling the online form earlier but must remember that the form requires providing such details as the flight number.
Failure to obtain a PLF to Greece can result in denying entry to the Greek territory.
Covid-19 statistics in Greece
The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed the covid-related data according to which there were over 36,000 positive cases and over 650 deaths during the last week.
As it comes to the vaccination rate, over 18% of the Greek population already has been administered the third shot, while 67% has received the first COVID-19 vaccine dose, and nearly 63% has been vaccinated with two doses. All the data comes from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
