Re-opening of Greek tourism - rules for arrivals
tourism
31 May 2020
/ 11:33
ATHENS. All destinations will open in three stages - clarification from the Foreign Ministry.
From 15 June there will be mandatory tests and quarantine only for travellers of whatever nationality from airports in countries that have a high risk of infection according to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). There will be no restrictions for other travellers - just sample testing on arrival.
Stage 1 - Until 15 June
International flights are allowed only at Athens Airport. All visitors undergo a coronavirus test on arrival and have to stay overnight at a designated hotel. If the test is negative, the visitor may undergo self-isolation for 7 days. If it is positive, the visitor is placed in monitored quarantine for 14 days.
Stage 2 - 15 June to 30 June
International flights are allowed only at Athens and Thessaloniki airports. If the visitor arrives from an airport in areas designated by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), there is only a sample test on arrival.
If the visitor arrives from an airport in an area designated by EASA, they will undergo a coronavirus test on arrival and have to stay overnight at a designated hotel. If the test is negative, the visitor may go into self-isolation for 7 days. If it is positive, the visitor is placed in monitored quarantine for 14 days.
Stage 3 - From 1 July
International flights are allowed at all Greek airports. There will be random tests on arrival. Additional measures for specific countries will be announced later.
Land arrivals
Arrivals at land borders - Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria - will be allowed from 15 June. There will be sample tests on arrival.
Arrivals by ship are allowed from 1 July and there will be random testing on arrival.
Greece retains the right at any stage to amend the above if circumstances change.
Q & A
Q: The EU recommends that member states limit non-essential travel to third countries until 15 June, 2020. Does this apply to Greece?
A: Yes. Non-essential travel to Greece from third countries is restricted until 15 June.
Q: Until 15 June all arrivals in Greece have to undergo mandatory COVID-19 tests and quarantine. Does this apply to all nationalities?
A: Yes. All travellers, regardless of nationality and including EU and Schengen Plus Zone citizens, are tested and put in quarantine. The same also applies to arrivals who are Greek citizens. If the test is negative, they are placed in self-isolation for 7 days. If the test is positive, they are put in quarantine for 14 days. These measures are to protect public health and apply to all travellers without exception.
Q: Are there international commercial flights to all the Greek airports?
A: Throught the COVID-19 crisis there have been direct international flights from several airports in the Schengen Plus Zone. Until 15 June these flights only come to Athens Airport. From 15 June they will also arrive at Thessaloniki Airport and from 1 July they will be able to travel to all Greek airports. Domestic flights are allowed at all airports.
Q: What will change on 15 June?
A: On 15 June the gradual return to 'normality' begins. There will be mandatory tests and quarantine only for travellers of whatever nationality from airports in countries that have a high risk of infection according to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This list is being continuousl updated and travellers should check before they travel (https://www.easa.europa.eu/SD-2020-01/Airports#group-easa-downloads). There will be no restrictions on other arrivals and there will be random tests.
Q: What will change on 1 July?
A: There will be random tests on arrival. Additional measures for specific countries will be announced later.
Q: Is there any difference if the journey is direct or via other locations?
A: No. The same regulations apply whether travel is direct or otherwise.
Stage 1 - Until 15 June
International flights are allowed only at Athens Airport. All visitors undergo a coronavirus test on arrival and have to stay overnight at a designated hotel. If the test is negative, the visitor may undergo self-isolation for 7 days. If it is positive, the visitor is placed in monitored quarantine for 14 days.
Stage 2 - 15 June to 30 June
International flights are allowed only at Athens and Thessaloniki airports. If the visitor arrives from an airport in areas designated by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), there is only a sample test on arrival.
If the visitor arrives from an airport in an area designated by EASA, they will undergo a coronavirus test on arrival and have to stay overnight at a designated hotel. If the test is negative, the visitor may go into self-isolation for 7 days. If it is positive, the visitor is placed in monitored quarantine for 14 days.
Stage 3 - From 1 July
International flights are allowed at all Greek airports. There will be random tests on arrival. Additional measures for specific countries will be announced later.
Land arrivals
Arrivals at land borders - Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria - will be allowed from 15 June. There will be sample tests on arrival.
Arrivals by ship are allowed from 1 July and there will be random testing on arrival.
Greece retains the right at any stage to amend the above if circumstances change.
Q & A
Q: The EU recommends that member states limit non-essential travel to third countries until 15 June, 2020. Does this apply to Greece?
A: Yes. Non-essential travel to Greece from third countries is restricted until 15 June.
Q: Until 15 June all arrivals in Greece have to undergo mandatory COVID-19 tests and quarantine. Does this apply to all nationalities?
A: Yes. All travellers, regardless of nationality and including EU and Schengen Plus Zone citizens, are tested and put in quarantine. The same also applies to arrivals who are Greek citizens. If the test is negative, they are placed in self-isolation for 7 days. If the test is positive, they are put in quarantine for 14 days. These measures are to protect public health and apply to all travellers without exception.
Q: Are there international commercial flights to all the Greek airports?
A: Throught the COVID-19 crisis there have been direct international flights from several airports in the Schengen Plus Zone. Until 15 June these flights only come to Athens Airport. From 15 June they will also arrive at Thessaloniki Airport and from 1 July they will be able to travel to all Greek airports. Domestic flights are allowed at all airports.
Q: What will change on 15 June?
A: On 15 June the gradual return to 'normality' begins. There will be mandatory tests and quarantine only for travellers of whatever nationality from airports in countries that have a high risk of infection according to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This list is being continuousl updated and travellers should check before they travel (https://www.easa.europa.eu/SD-2020-01/Airports#group-easa-downloads). There will be no restrictions on other arrivals and there will be random tests.
Q: What will change on 1 July?
A: There will be random tests on arrival. Additional measures for specific countries will be announced later.
Q: Is there any difference if the journey is direct or via other locations?
A: No. The same regulations apply whether travel is direct or otherwise.
