Mandatory tests upon arrival to Greece from 16 countries

Conditions of entry into Greece for passengers from abroad, which is aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19, was extended until 6 a.m. on Friday, September 3rd.

The NOTAM includes the obligation of people who have NOT been vaccinated travelling from the following 16 countries to undergo mandatory tests upon arrival, regardless of nationality:

Egypt, Albania, Argentina, Bulgaria, Brazil, Georgia, Cuba, the United Arab Emirates, India, China, Libya, Morocco, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey. Nationals from countries other than the European Union and the Schengen Agreement area are banned from entering Greece for non-essential travel.

Passengers travelling for essential reasons and permanent residents of the following 35 countries are exempted from this rule.

These countries are Australia, North Macedonia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Belarus, Bahrain, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Ukraine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Japan, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Jordan, Moldova, Turkey and Kosovo.

According to the directive, people travelling from all other countries are prohibited from entering Greece.

Do I need COVID-19 documents to travel between the Greek islands?

Yes, you’ll need to present your digital COVID cert or, if you’re a non-EU resident, an official health form to confirm your vaccination, recovery or testing status. You’ll also need to fill in a sea travel COVID-19 declaration form. The rules apply to adults and children between the ages of 12 and 17. Minors between the age of five and 12 are also expected to show a negative COVID-19 test result before boarding but that can be done through a self-test.

What vaccines does Greece accept from travelers?

Accepted vaccines include Pfizer BioNtech, Moderna, Astra Zeneca/Oxford, Novavax, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac Biotech, Gamaleya (Sputnik), Cansino Biologics and Sinopharm.

Do children need to be vaccinated to enter Greece?

No, children under 12 can enter Greece without any COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements. However, children over the age of 12 must show a vaccination certificate, a certificate of recovery or a negative PCR/antigen test result.

What else is required?

All arrivals are required to fill in a passenger locator form before arrival, regardless of their COVID-19 status or point of departure. And travelers should be aware that they may be selected to undergo a mandatory antigen test upon arrival as part of the enhanced screening measures at airports.