Greece has issued the joint ministerial decision on the mandatory negative Covid-19 test for tourists entering Greece via the Promachonas border-crossing with Bulgaria. The JMD was published in the official gazette on Saturday, July 11, 2020.
Foreign tourists must show documents certifying a negative Covid-19 test at the checkpoint of Promachonas crossing.
The measure goes into effect at 00:01 Wednesday, July 15, 2020, and is valid for 15 days, that is until 00:01 Wednesday, July 29, 2020.
The measure does not affect Greek citizens entering Greece via Promachonas.
According to the decision, the requirements for the test are the following:
The test has to have been diagnosed negative in a recognized laboratory for COVID-19 test and for the diagnosis, the PCR method has been performed by taking an oral-pharyngeal or nasopharyngeal smear within the last seventy two (72) hours before their arrival in Greece.
The test must have been carried out by reference laboratories of the country of origin or transit or public or private laboratories in that country, provided that these private laboratories have been certified by the competent national certification authority of the country.
The diagnosis certificate must have a translation in English and will have to include also the name and the passport number or ID card of the person that has been negative diagnosed.
The test result has to be shown to the teams of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection and the National Agency for Public Health (EODY) in charge of medical examinations, reports state-run news agency amna.
Greece decided to impose restrictions in form of a mandatory negative test for those entering the country via Promachonas, after dozens of tourists were tested positive last week.
Furthermore, Greece decided to temporary ban Serbs from entering the country due to an increase of infections in the Balkan country.
A total of 132 Serbian tourists left for their country over the weekend after 9 of them were tested positive and the rest of the two groups in Evia had to remain in self-isolation.
PS Why do I have the feeling that the Greek government politely tells tourists form Central Europe and especially the Balkans to ..stay home? Due to the extra cost.
Any info why I can’t register for PFL via land borders?
Have you read this on the travel.gov.gr website:
“Travelers will still have to complete and submit their PLF form and may be subject to random testing upon arrival to the Greek border.
In order for these changes to be implemented, the PLF system will not be available for travel through Promachonas until Tuesday, 00:01 hours. Travelers who had already issued their PLF forms will still be able to cross the Promachonas border crossing, but travelers without a PLF form will not be allowed to enter and should reschedule their trip for Wednesday July 15th.
The other land border stations remain closed for non-essential travel.”