Vaccinated travellers planning to travel later this year may get caught out if they haven’t received a booster.
Around the world, more countries are recognising the necessity of booster shots after a certain time period and have introduced expiry dates on vaccine passports.
Therefore, travellers using a vaccine passport as a way to enter a country may be turned away if they became fully vaccinated too long ago and have not received a booster shot.
Greece
On January 5, Greece’s health minister Thanos Plevris also placed an expiry date of seven months on vaccine passports. Those who had their last dose of the vaccine more than seven months ago must receive a booster shot.
However, at the time of writing, Greece does not have a vaccine mandate to arrivals and visitors can instead show proof of a negative Covid test.
All travellers
You must complete an online Passenger Locator Form (PLF) before arriving in Greece. The form is in English, and is required whichever way you travel to Greece (including by ferry, road, rail or air).
Failure to do so in advance may result in your carrier not allowing you to travel, a 500 Euro fine on arrival or the Greek authorities not allowing you to enter or re-enter the country.
Every traveller, including children, must have their details included on a PLF. If you’re travelling with others outside of your household, you should all complete your own form. If you’re travelling together as a household, the Greek authorities ask for you to complete one form with all adults and children included. You can add additional members of your household at the top of the form before you submit.
Once you have completed the form, you will receive an email with a QR code. When you receive your code, make sure you either print it, or can show it on your mobile phone so you can show it to your airline / ferry company and the Greek authorities.
Additional restrictions on entry by air
Air connections with Greece are liable to suspension or amendment, sometimes at short notice. If you are due to fly to or from Greece, you should contact your airline or operator for the latest information.
Additional restrictions on entry by land borders
Greece’s land borders are subject to restrictions at present. Monitor official information from the Greek authorities on any changes to border arrangements. Arrivals must have completed a Passenger Locator Form prior to travel.
If you’re fully vaccinated
The requirements for entry to Greece apply regardless of your vaccination status. These measures are in place until at least 7 February. Precise rules are subject to change and you should follow any instructions given on arrival at immigration or airport testing facilities. For more information, check the Greek authorities’ advice.
You will need one of the following to enter Greece:
- proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test, undertaken within the 72 hour period before arrival into Greece, or
- proof of a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test from an authorised laboratory, undertaken within the 24 hour period before your arrival into Greece
These requirements are compulsory for all travellers aged 5 and above. The test provider must be certified by the competent national certification authority of the country in which you received the test, and must provide you with a certificate of your test result, in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian. The certificate must include the name of the person, as stated on the passport.
In addition, arrivals into Greece may be required to undergo a rapid COVID-19 test on arrival. If you test positive on arrival in Greece, you (and those you are travelling with) will have to self-isolate for at least 5 days at home or in quarantine hotels provided by the Greek state. If you have no symptoms on day 5, or your symptoms have improved (e.g. having no fever for the past 24 hours without the use of medicine), you will be allowed to end your quarantine. However, if you still have a fever you will be required to continue to quarantine until your fever drops.
The Greek government also “strongly recommends” that you take either a certified rapid test, or certified PCR test on both days 2 and 4 after arrival into Greece.
Travellers leaving quarantine are also legally required to wear an FFP2 / N95 mask, or double masks (at least one of which should be surgical), in all public indoor and outdoor spaces for at least 5 days after the end of their quarantine.
You should also be aware that if other passengers on your flight, bus, train or ferry later test positive, you may be subject to self-isolation requirements. These will be mandatory and you should comply with the Greek authorities’ requirements.
Travellers who are travelling from, or permanent residents of, certain countries may be required to take a further antigen or PCR test upon their arrival, or show a completed vaccination certificate or proof of recovery from Covid-19. Non-Greek nationals travelling from some countries may only be allowed to enter Greece for essential travel. You can find the list of which countries travellers can enter Greece from, and whether there are any further requirements from the Greek authorities.
If you’re not fully vaccinated
The requirements for entry to Greece apply regardless of your vaccination status. These measures are in place until at least 7 February. Precise rules are subject to change and you should follow any instructions given on arrival at immigration or airport testing facilities. For more information, check the Greek authorities’ advice.
You will need one of the following to enter Greece:
- proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test, undertaken within the 72 hour period before arrival into Greece; or
- proof of a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test from an authorised laboratory, undertaken within the 24 hour period before your arrival into Greece
These requirements are compulsory for all travellers aged 5 and above. The test provider must be certified by the competent national certification authority of the country in which you received the test, and must provide you with a certificate of your test result, in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian. The certificate must include the name of the person, as stated on the passport.
In addition, arrivals into Greece may be required to undergo a rapid COVID-19 test on arrival. If you test positive on arrival in Greece, you (and those you are travelling with) will have to self-isolate for at least 5 days at home or in quarantine hotels provided by the Greek state. If you have no symptoms on day 5, or your symptoms have improved (e.g. having no fever for the past 24 hours without the use of medicine), you will be allowed to end your quarantine. However, if you still have a fever you will be required to continue to quarantine until your fever drops.
The Greek government also “strongly recommends” that you take either a certified rapid test, or certified PCR test on both days 2 and 4 after arrival into Greece.
Travellers leaving quarantine are also legally required to wear an FFP2 / N95 mask, or double masks (at least one of which should be surgical), in all public indoor and outdoor spaces for at least 5 days after the end of their quarantine.
You should also be aware that if other passengers on your flight, bus, train or ferry later test positive, you may be subject to self-isolation requirements. These will be mandatory and you should comply with the Greek authorities’ requirements.
Travellers who are travelling from, or permanent residents of, certain countries may be required to take a further antigen or PCR test upon their arrival, or show a completed vaccination certificate or proof of recovery from COVID-19. Non-Greek nationals travelling from some countries may only be allowed to enter Greece for essential travel. You can find the list of which countries travellers can enter Greece from, and whether there are any further requirements from the Greek authorities.
If you’ve had COVID-19 in the past year
The requirements for entry to Greece outlined above apply regardless of your vaccination or recovery status. These measures are in place until at least 7 February. Precise rules are subject to change and you should follow any instructions given on arrival at immigration or airport testing facilities. For more information, check the Greek authorities’ advice.
