The European Union is assessing Beijing’s rollback of its strict anti-infection controls but refrained Thursday from immediately following EU member Italy in requiring coronavirus tests for airline passengers coming from China. Health officials from the 27-member bloc promised to continue talks on seeking a common approach to travel rules. However, …
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Coronavirus: Advice for travelers to/from Greece
The National Health Care Organization EODY issued on new instructions for travelers traveling to and from Greece. In a press release issued on 31. October 2022, EODY points out that the risk of transmission of the coronavirus varies, depending on the country of destination. According to the announcement, people who …
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Travel receipts in Greece up 92.1% in Jan-Aug 2022
Τhe balance of travel services in August 2022 showed a surplus of 3,828.3 million euros, up from a surplus of 3,018.6 million euros in August 2021, according to provisional data released by the Bank of Greece on Monday. More specifically, travel receipts in August 2022 rose by 28.1% to 4,042.9 …
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Digital IDs, driving licenses in use as of Oct 1; travel restrictions
Digital identity cards IDs and driving licenses can be used in banks and other credit institutions as well as mobile and landline telecommunications companies starting as of 1. October 2022, a joint ministerial decision issued on Wednesday announced. Until then, citizens will have to present the paper versions, the decision …
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Greece Civil Aviation scraps Passenger Location Form (PLF) on March 15
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 …
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EU advises further relaxing of Covid travel rules for foreigners
European Union member countries agreed Tuesday that they should further facilitate tourist travel into the 27-nation bloc for people who are vaccinated against the coronavirus or have recovered from Covid-19. The European Council is recommending that EU nations next month lift all testing and quarantine requirements for people who received …
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Foreign Ministry urges Greeks to not travel to Ukraine, to contact Greece’s diplomatic representations (lists)
Greece’s Foreign Ministry advises Greek nationals to not travel to Ukraine for the time being. In an announcement issued early Tuesday afternoon, February 22, 2022, the Ministry encourages Greek nationals who are currently in the country to contact Greek diplomatic representations in Kiev, Mariupol and Odessa. Greek authorities in Ukraine: …
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Greece’s official travel rules: PCR/RAPID test for all Dec 19-Jan 10
Greece published in the Official Gazette the new travel rules that make mandatory Covid-19 test for entry in the country over the Christmas and holiday season. The conditions for mandatory PCR or RAPID test are valid from Sunday, 19. December 2021, until 10. January 2022. According to the decision published …
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Greece changes again travel rules: Mandatory PCR 72 hours or Rapid Test 24 hours
For the fourth time in 24 hours, Greece changed again the travel rules for all passengers arriving from abroad and now allows entrance also with negative Rapid test, next to the PCR test. Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga said at the coronavirus live briefing on Thursday evening that next to …
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Greece introduces mandatory PCR test to all travelers from abroad UPDATE2
Greece Health Ministry announced on Wednesday evening that all travelers will have to show a mandatory negative PCR test. The measure affects all travelers, whether they are vaccinated against Covid-19 or not and independently of the country of departure. Only exception is for travelers from Greece who have been in …
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5 Greeks in quarantine due to Omicron variant; Emergency travel directive south African countries(Notam)
Five Greek citizens, who arrived το Athens from south African countries, have been placed on a ten-day precautionary quarantine, according to the new protocol due to Covid-19 Omicron variant. The five citizens, all sailors, came from south Africa and Zimbabwe via a stopover in the United Arab Emirates. Upon arrival, …
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Botswana Variant Greece: Special permission, quarantine, 3 tests for travelers from 9 south African countries (UPD)
Greece’s Epidemiologists’ Committee has decided to implement a strict hygiene protocol to travelers from South Africa and 8 of its neighboring countries, amid fears over a newly discovered Covid-19 variant, the B.1.1.529 or Botswana variant that is considered highly transmissible and potentially very dangerous. At an extraordinary meeting Friday afternoon, …
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Greek PM proposal to EC: Booster shot for all over 60 for travel within EU
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis proposed to European Commission that booster shot with vaccines against Covid-19 becomes a “precondition” for a valid EU digital certificate for traveling citizens aged over 60. In a letter sent to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday, Mitsotakis proposed that a third dose …
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EU kicks off debate on need for booster shots to travel
European Union governments kicked off a debate on Tuesday about how long vaccines are effective against Covid-19 and whether evidence of a booster dose will be required to maintain free travel across the bloc as cases spike. The executive European Commission is due to present a proposal this week to …
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Modified Covid-rules for domestic travel in Greece go into force Sept 13
Modified Covid-19 rules concerning travel to all mainland and island destinations in Greece by airplane, train and long-distance coach (KTEL) are coming into effect on Monday, September 13, 2021. Anyone aged 12 or over will have to present either a negative PCR test taken up to 72 hours prior to …
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Greece updates Covid-regulations to travel to islands per ferry/airplane
With a new ministerial decision, regulations for traveling to/from the Greek islands and between islands by ferry, ship or airplane have been updated. The new regulations come into force on Monday, July 5, 2021, with the aim to contain the spread of Covid-19. For traveling from mainland to islands Ferry/Ship …
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New Covid-regulations to travel to/from Greek islands from July 5
Head of Civil Protection and Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias announced on Thursday new rules and Covid-certificates for traveling to/from the Greek islands. He said that these are the recommendations of the epidemiologists’ committee. From Monday, 5. July 201, for travel to the Greek islands required will be: For adults either …
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EU’s Digital COVID Travel Pass officially comes into force on July 1
The EU-wide travel pass, aiming to facilitate movement across the bloc during the coronavirus pandemic, officially comes into force on Thursday, July 1, 2021.. The Digital Covid Certificate — or Digital Green Certificate — is to be used as proof that travellers have been vaccinated against Covid-19, received a negative …
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Merkel, Macron scold Greece & other EU countries for lax travel rules
Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron blasted Greece and other tourism-dependent nations for freely accepting visitors who were inoculated with less effective Chinese and Russian vaccines, signaling the possibility of additional curbs on travel ahead of the peak tourist season. During a summit of European Union leaders behind closed doors in …
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Greece accepts Rapid Test for international passengers, adds non-EU countries
Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) extended the air travel restriction but at the same time announced that travelers can enter the country also with a Rapid test carried out 48 hours before arrival. In a statement issued late on Sunday, the CAA said it extends the air directives (notams) for …
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