International visitors to Greece will no longer have to submit a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) as of Tuesday, March 15, 2022, the Civil Aviation Authority said in an air directive on Monday.
This Covid19-related air directive (notam) facilitates the entry of all passengers from abroad from any departure country, the CAA added.
The PLF was introduced in spring 2020 as a way to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and allow for contact tracing for tourists who tested positive with coronavirus while in Greece.
Scrapping the PLF was announced by Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias together with the scrapping of some other measures in hospitality sector. (details here.)
In a notam issued on March 5 which is valid March 7-21, 2022, the CAA said that the PLF from is scrapped for all travellers independent of nationality on March 15, 2020.
It noted, however, the following too:
Travelers with European Digital Certificate COVID-19 without arrival test: Entry of travelers holding certificates (are nationals), from the Member States of the European Union (EU) and the Schengen Agreement, as well as from the thirty five (35 ) countries outside the EU that have acceded to the European Union Digital Covid Certificate (EUDCC), namely: San Marino, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Vatican, Northern Macedonia, Georgia, Switzerland, El El Salvador, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Lebanon, Morocco, Montenegro, Moldova, Monaco, Norway, New Zealand, Ukraine, Uruguay, Panama, Greenland, Cape Verde, Green Cape , Benin, Jordan, Faroe Islands and Chinese Taipei *, is permitted upon presentation of the European Digital Certificate COVID-19, which contains information on one of the following:
a) Vaccination certificate valid for up to nine (9) months after the completion of the basic vaccination and without time limit for travelers who have received the booster dose.
b) Certificate of illness lasting up to one hundred and eighty (180) days.
c) Certificate of negative result, with the PCR method within the last seventy two (72) hours or alternatively to have been diagnosed negative in rapid test within twenty four (24) hours before their arrival in Greece.
No Tests Required in the USA, Australia or Canada demonstration alternatively of one of the following documents:
a) Vaccination certificate valid for up to nine (9) months after the completion of the basic vaccination and without time limit for travelers who have received the booster dose.
b) Certificate of illness lasting up to one hundred and eighty (180) days.
c) Certificate of negative result, with the PCR method within the last seventy two (72) hours or alternatively to have been diagnosed negative in rapid test within twenty four (24) hours before their arrival in Greece.
With negative test entry into Greece regardless of vaccination for all other travelers: All other travelers to Greece, except EU countries and Schengen Agreement, travelers from Australia, the United States of America (USA), Canada and the thirty-five (35) non-EU countries that have acceded to the EU COVID-19 digital certification system, including their spouses or persons with whom they have entered into a cohabitation agreement, as well as their minor children , regardless of their vaccination status, must have been diagnosed negative by PCR within the last seventy two (72) hours or alternatively have been diagnosed negative by rapid test within twenty four (24) hours prior to arrival in Greece .
Checks on children from five (5) years old and over: The obligation of the conditions for entering Greece is valid for children from five (5) years old and over.
Sampling of travelers and temporary isolation of five (5) days in case of infection:: In addition to all international passengers will be sampled (PCR or rapid test) upon arrival, based on the procedure provided by the Passenger Locator Form. In case the tests find a passenger positive, the quarantine / isolation will be valid for five (5) days, at home or in a suitable place of temporary residence indicated by the competent authorities. The temporary restriction starts from the next day of their diagnosis as COVID-19 coronavirus positive. After five (5) days and if there are no symptoms or the symptoms have improved, with complete remission of the fever for twenty-four (24) hours without the use of antipyretics, the temporary restriction ends. If the fever persists after five (5) days, the temporary restriction is extended until the fever has completely subsided. These passengers are only required to wear a mask with a high respiratory protection.
When will Greece recognise covid vaccine certificates from other countries other than those mentioned above? I am double vaccinated and have had a booster shot….yet still have to take a PCR before flying to Greece.