NOTAM: Coronavirus: entry into Greece with negative test result regardless of vaccination

A NOTAM has been published stating that everyone arriving in Greece, regardless of nationality and vaccination status, must be diagnosed negative by PCR within the last 72 hours or, alternatively, negative by a rapid test within 24 hours before arriving in Greece.

The new entry conditions will take effect from 06:00 on the morning of December 19, 2021, will be valid until January 10, 2022 and are aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 diseases, as well as the Omicron strain, announced the Civil Aviation Service of Greece.

International flight instructions state that all persons arriving in Greece, irrespective of nationality and vaccination, must be diagnosed with a PCR test within the last 72 hours, or, alternatively, a diagnosis must be made using a rapid test in within twenty four 24 hours prior to their arrival in Greece. The new measures will also affect children aged five and over.

In particular, after the above condition is met for checking the arrival in Greece from all foreign travelers, the air instructions, which will be valid until 01.10.22, are as follows:

Prohibitions for third-country nationals: According to the new aviation directive, the entry into the country of third-country nationals outside the EU and the Schengen agreement, including their spouses or persons with whom they have entered into a cohabitation agreement, remains in force. And this also applies to their minor children. Passengers traveling for important reasons and permanent residents of the following 42 countries are excluded from the list: Australia, North Macedonia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Belarus, New Belarus, Bahrain, South Bahrain, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Ukraine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Japan, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Jordan, Moldova, Moldova, Moldova Turkey, Argentina.

PLF Form: All travelers to Greece, regardless of nationality, fill out an electronic PLF (Passenger Locator Form) by email https://travel.gov.gr any time before your flight to Greece. The confirmation of the completion of the electronic PLF form, which the system automatically sends to the passenger by e-mail, is considered a necessary travel document.

Screening for children five years and older: Entry conditions to Greece apply to children five (5) years of age and older.

Traveler Sampling: All overseas passengers will additionally undergo a rapid test upon arrival in accordance with the procedure provided in the Passenger Search Form (PLF). If the rapid test is positive, a second test with a PCR test will be performed immediately. If the tests show that the passenger is positive, the traveler will be quarantined for 10 days, and if the foreign passenger is vaccinated and an express test on arrival shows that he is positive for the disease, he will remain in isolation for 7 days. In both cases (10 or 7 days of the temporary restriction), in order to cancel the quarantine, persons undergo compulsory laboratory testing by the PCR method on the last day of their temporary restriction.

All foreign passengers must strictly follow the instructions of the health authorities of our country.

Directive for nationals of Argentina, Russia, India, Uruguay, the Sultanate of Oman, Mexico and Chile arriving by air: Permanent residents of these third countries, in addition to all other conditions for entry into Greece provided for by the foreign directive, are subject to an additional condition that they must pass testing at the airport of arrival (PCR or Rapid) regardless of their vaccination status.

Mandatory arrival test for travelers, regardless of citizenship, from the following 16 countries: passengers departing from Egypt, Albania, Argentina, Bulgaria, Brazil, Georgia, Cuba, United Arab Emirates, India, India, China, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey , regardless of their citizenship must have a test upon arrival at the airports in Greece. If the rapid test is positive, a second PCR test will be performed immediately. This airline directive will only apply to passengers who have not been vaccinated, as there is an exception for travelers / passengers who have been vaccinated or infected with Covid-19.

Direct international flights for travelers from South Africa: strict restrictions on entry to Greece remain: entry into Greece is prohibited, especially for passengers departing from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatu and Zawai. Only Greek citizens, their family members and citizens of other countries who are traveling for important reasons and who meet the following conditions are not subject to the Air Transport Directive if they:

Have tested negative for COVID-19 coronavirus by PCR within the past seventy two (72) hours, regardless of their vaccination status. Foreign nationals, whose flights depart from nine (9) African countries, in order to be accepted in Greece, must obtain permission from the local embassies, consulates and consular authorities of other countries representing Greece in the absence of an embassy in Greece. All travelers from nine (9) African countries will be required to take a rapid Covid-19 test upon arrival in Greece. Upon entry into the country, a ten (10) day quarantine will be imposed for a quarantine hotel designated by the competent authorities, and passengers will be re-examined after ten days and the end of the quarantine subject to negative molecular control (PCR). Exceptions for specific passengers from nine (9) African countries do not exempt travelers from any other conditions of entry into Greece that are already in force.

The use of a mask is mandatory: when arriving and departing at airports, as well as during air travel, staff and passengers must wear a face shield. Passengers must also follow the instructions of the permanent and temporary airport or airline personnel responsible for overseeing, crowd control and passenger assistance to maintain proper distances and avoid boarding and waiting to avoid overcrowding.

Verification of the above documents is carried out by airline employees and by sampling by the police authorities. Airlines are required to check the passenger before boarding to confirm that he has the necessary documents, and in the event of a violation, they are required to repatriate the passenger at their own risk and expense.

Until Sunday, December 19, 2021 and until 06:00 a.m., the previous instructions for overseas flights will be valid as they were published in the CAA press release on 10/12/21 and for the period from 5/12/21 to 19/12 .21. the existing notes have been extended.

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