Entrance of Albanian citizens in the Greek territory will be done only by having a negative PCR test that was performed within 72 hours before the trip, or with a quick negative test that must be performed within 24 hours before departure, starting from this Sunday.

This measure applies to all adults but also to young people and children over five (5) years old, excluding cases of vaccinated, according to the Greek Embassy in Albania.

“From December 19, 2021 at 06.00 until January 10, 2022 and at 06.00, the entry of Albanian citizens in the Greek territory will be done ONLY with negative PCR within 72 hours or with a quick negative test within 24 hours.

The measure applies to adults and adolescents over five (5) years of age, excluding vaccination”, highlighted the Hellenic Embassy to Tirana.

On Friday, the new measures regarding traveling to Greece for citizens of countries other than those of the European Union, were published in the Official Gazette, increasing the entrance criteria needed to be fulfilled about entering the Hellenic state until January 9, 2022.

The first decision prohibits the entry of all citizens of foreign countries in Greece during the period 19 December 2021 - 10 January 2022.

"Temporary ban on entry into the country of all third-country nationals from any point of entry into the country and in any way or means, including air, sea, rail and road links, for reasons of public health protection from the most further COVID-19 in the Greek territory", is written in the decision of the Ministry of Health of Greece.

But, the Greek Ministry of Health has made some exceptions to this decision. The first exception relates to citizens of European Union countries. All of them will be able to enter Greece despite the above restrictions.

However, entry into Greece for these citizens will be conditional. The first condition is related to filling out a form at the address: https://travel.gov.gr before appearing at the border crossing point.

After completing this form, the system will automatically send them the application in the given e-mail, which will then be shown to the police at the moment of crossing the border. Without this form, no one will be able to enter Greece.

Likewise, all those who will be imported from third countries must have a negative PCR test done during the last 24 hours. The test is a condition during the period 19 December 2021- 10 January 2022 regardless of the vaccination certificate.

Special care should be taken by travelers to perform the PCR test in laboratories certified by the Ministry of Health after the data is passed to the system and then verified by border agents.

“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 to inform you that we have done everything in our power to make sure you stay safe during your stay in Greece. Your health is our absolute priority.

On May 14, Greece opened its borders in a safe and attainable manner.

In the paragraphs follow, we provide a step-by-step guide on how to prepare before traveling to Greece as of May 14th. These guidelines are in place to ensure the protection of your health, as well as the health of your loved ones and all those involved in offering you a safe hospitality experience:

- As of May 14th, travelers arriving in Greece are required to have either a negative PCR certificate from a testing laboratory, for a Covid-19 test taken no later than 72 hours before arrival or a negative antigen (rapid) certificate taken no longer than 48 hours before arrival.

This test is mandatory for all tourists (including children over the age of 12), regardless of the epidemiological situation in the country of departure.

- Proof of a negative test is not required however for all travelers who have completed their vaccination (i.e., 14 days have elapsed since the last vaccination, depending on the doses required) and hold a vaccination certificate.

Acceptable vaccines are: Pfizer BioNtech, Moderna, Astra Zeneca / Oxford, Novavax, Johnson + Johnson / Janssen, Sinovac Biotech, Gamaleya (Sputnik), Cansino Biologics, Sinopharm among others.

- Proof of a negative PCR test is not required if the traveler was tested positive with COVID-19 in the past 30 to 180 days. This can be proved either by presenting a positive PCR molecular or an antigen test result performed by an authorized laboratory or a medical certificate confirming that the holder was tested positive with SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. The certificate is issued 30 days after the day of the first positive COVID-19 test and is valid for 180 days after it.

- Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless of the certificate in their possession, may undergo a random health screening. If you are selected, please keep in mind that screening is mandatory. In case of refusal, authorities reserve the right to refuse entry into the country. The selection is made through a targeted sampling system ”EVA” used also in the summer of 2020.

- Important clarification: Entry of tourists in Greece is not subject to vaccination. Presenting a vaccination certificate greatly facilitates the procedures 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: EU ++ (Andorra, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican, the Principality of Monaco), USA, UK , Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, China, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo * (This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 / 1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence), Kuwait, Lebanon, Moldova, Montenergro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Qatar, the Russian Federation *, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Turkey, UAE, Ukraine.

* For the Russian Federation, from 30.6 passengers must carry a negative PCR molecular test result from a testing laboratory taken up to 72 hours before arrival, or a negative antigen (rapid) test result taken up to 48 hours before arrival regardless if they are vaccinated or not.

- Non EU citizens are strongly advised to choose direct flights to Greece. In any other case, travelers should abide by the stop-over country requirements.

Passengers are allowed to enter the country through all international airports and all ports.

Travelers are allowed to enter from the land borders through the entry gates of Promachonas, Ormenio, Evzonoi, Nymfaia, Niki, Doirani, Kristallopigi, Kipi *, Kakavia, Kastanies * and Exohi in a 24h basis.

* For Kipi and Kastanies land borders, there is limit of 1500 passengers per week.

Cruising and yachting is allowed. Maritime connections with Turkey are temporarily restricted.

REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITORS

Before arrival:

- Tourists must fill in the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) before arriving in Greece. For more information, please click here.

Prior to departure, all travelers must ensure that they carry an acceptable form of certification of their health condition. Acceptable documents include:

- A negative PCR molecular test result from a laboratory; the test must be taken up to 72 hours before entry.

- A negative antigen (rapid) test result from a laboratory; the test must be taken up to 48 hours before entry.

- A vaccination certificate issued by a certified authority.

- A certificate of recovery from the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory. The certificate is issued 30 days after the day of the first positive COVID-19 test and is valid for 180 days after it.

- Proof that the traveler was tested positive with COVID-19 in the past 30 to 180 days. This can be proved either by presenting a positive PCR molecular or an antigen test result performed by an authorized laboratory or a medical certificate confirming that the holder was tested positive with SARS-CoV-2 virus infection.

All certificates must include the critical information (i.e. number of doses and their respective dates) in English, German French, Italian, Spanish, Russian and the person’s full name must match the name on the passport or any other recognized travel document.

Upon arrival:

Travelers arriving in Greece are subject to:

- Sampling RAPID antigen tests at the entrance gates for selected individuals drawn from a targeted sampling system, based on the “EVA” system.

- Mandatory isolation if they test positive for SARS-Cov-2, following a sampling test. In this case, the travelers and their travel companions are accommodated in quarantine hotels, where they will undergo further PCR testing to confirm the initial diagnosis. Guests will stay in seclusion hotels for a maximum of 10 days. The expenses of the accommodation in quarantine hotels are covered by the Greek state.

Compliance with the health protocols during transport and throughout your entire stay in Greece is the key factor that will allow all of us to stay safe and return to normality.

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 holidays.

We look forward to welcoming you to Greece”, said the Greek Ministry of Tourism.