greece travel requirements for us citizens

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Greece Travel Restrictions

Traveler's COVID-19 vaccination status

Traveling from the United States to Greece

Open for vaccinated visitors

COVID-19 testing

Not required

Not required for vaccinated visitors

Restaurants

Not required in public spaces and public transportation.

Greece entry details and exceptions

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Can I travel to Greece from the United States?

Most visitors from the United States, regardless of vaccination status, can enter Greece.

Can I travel to Greece if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from the United States can enter Greece without restrictions.

Can I travel to Greece without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from the United States can enter Greece without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter Greece?

Visitors from the United States are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering Greece.

Can I travel to Greece without quarantine?

Travelers from the United States are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in Greece?

Mask usage in Greece is not required in public spaces and public transportation.

Are the restaurants and bars open in Greece?

Restaurants in Greece are open. Bars in Greece are .

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Entering Greece: New Covid-19 Rules for International Travelers

Photo source: HCAA

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) on Sunday released an updated aviation directive (NOTAM) with new rules concerning international arrivals from abroad.

According to the updated directive, inbound travelers to Greece from EU/Schengen member states and from 33 non-EU countries (mentioned below) that hold a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate will not be subject to additional restrictions (such as testing before travel for the fully vaccinated).

[Since February 1, following a European Commission announcement , the certificates for those vaccinated against COVID-19 with two doses and without a booster shot should be valid for a period of 270 (9 months) for travel.]

All other inbound travelers to Greece (including children over 5 years old) that do not have an EU Digital COVID Certificate, regardless of nationality, Covid vaccination status or proof of recovery, must present a negative PCR test result (performed within 72 hours before travel) or a rapid antigen test result (performed within 24 hours before travel).

The new rules will run until February 21.

Following are Greece’s entry rules in detail.

Travel rules for international arrivals

Photo source: European Commission / Photographer: Yorgos Karahalis

Passenger Locator Form (PLF)

All travelers to Greece , regardless of their nationality, must submit the mandatory Passenger Locator Form (PLF)  any time before the departure of their flight.

EU Digital Covid Certificate (EUDCC) holders

The new NOTAM foresees entry into Greece without additional restrictions (such as the prior Covid-19 testing before travel requirement for vaccinated) for European Union Digital Covid Certificate (EUDCC) holders coming from:

– the EU and Schengen zone countries – the following 33 non-EU countries and territories that have joined the EUDCC system: San Marino, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, the Vatican, Northern Macedonia, Georgia, Switzerland, El Salvador, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Lebanon, Morocco, Montenegro, Moldova, Monaco, Norway, New Zealand, Ukraine, Uruguay, Panama, Cape Verde, Serbia, Singapore, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Tunisia, Faroe Islands and Chinese Taipei.

The EU Digital Covid Certificate must include information on one of the following:

1) a vaccination certificate valid for nine months since full vaccination for Covid-19, and without validity limit for travelers who have received the booster dose

2) a recovery certificate valid for 180 days after its issue date

3) a  negative PCR test  performed within 72 hours before travel or a  negative rapid antigen test performed within 24 hours before travel.

The rule is also in force for children aged 5 and over.

Non-EUDCC holders: Mandatory testing before entering the country

All other inbound travelers to Greece that do not have an EUDCC (including children over 5 years old) and regardless of their Covid vaccination status must present a negative PCR test result (performed within 72 hours before travel) or a rapid antigen test result (performed within 24 hours before travel) upon arrival.

UPDATE: Travelers from US, Canada & Australia

All travelers from the United States of America, Canada and Australia may enter Greece provided they have one of the following:

3) a negative PCR test performed within 72 hours before travel or a negative rapid antigen test performed within 24 hours before travel.

For further information, press here .

Random rapid testing on arrival

Photo: Shutterstock

Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless if they are a holder of the EU Digital Covid Certificate, may be subject to random COVID-19 rapid test at the airport (depending on the data provided on the PLF forms and based on the ‘EVA’ system).

If a passenger is selected for a rapid test and is positive for the coronavirus then he/she must quarantine for a total of five days at home or in a temporary facility as indicated by Greek authorities. The isolation period begins the next day, after diagnosed positive for Covid-19.

The mandatory quarantine can end after five days as long as passengers have no symptoms or their symptoms have subsided (no fever for the last 24 hours without the use of antipyretics). Self-isolation is extended in case fever persists and until it subsides. These passengers are required to wear only a high filtering respirator mask (FFP2 or N95) or a double mask (surgical and fabric) for at least another five days after the end of the self-isolation period.

Wearing a mask is mandatory

At the arrival and departure areas inside airports, as well as during all domestic and international flights, staff and passengers are required to wear a face mask at all times.

Passengers are also required to comply with the instructions of the permanent and temporary staff of airports or airlines responsible for supervising, crowd management and passenger assistance, in order to maintain the necessary distances and to ensure safe boarding/disembarkation to avoid overcrowding.

The compulsory travel documents passengers must have with them are checked by airline staff. According to the HCAA, airline staff is obliged to ascertain that travelers have all the necessary documentation before they board flight to Greece. In the case of violation, the airline will have to to repatriate the passenger at its own expense.

The Greek government has detailed information on a  dedicated website  with the entry rules to Greece. The website includes frequently asked questions.

Travelers are advised to contact their travel agent or airline to confirm the requirements before their trip. Those in need of specific details on the travel rules for passengers of international flights are advised to contact their embassy or the  General Secretariat for Civil Protection .

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About the Author

Covid-19: facilitating meetings and events tourism next on greece’s agenda, sky express joins ‘worldwide by easyjet’ partner network, 12 comments.

greece is acting under the orders of the WEF you have lost your country…what happened to oxi? these measures are in direct contradiction to any and all scientific advice or truth. get online and check out other countries…we are all alive…healthy and alive and not masked or jabbed.

Why aren’t Australians on EUDCC list. What happens on internal flights and ferries for Australians?

What are the time frame for Covid recovery certificate post date of infection for 1) entry into the country 2) entry into restaurant and bars. Iv seen various timelines from 180 days, 3 months and 4 months ? My son had covid in October so hes within 180 days but not the other 2

Can fully vaccinated plus booster shot South Africans tourists visit Greece in May/June 2022? Will we be issued visas? Thank you

I am currently visiting Greece from South Africa and this is what I found: 1. if you have a 72 hour PCR test, it’s good enough to come into the country, provided you have the Passenger Locator Form. 2. South African Vaccine certificate does not scan in Greece.I am fully vaccinated and have my Southa frican certificate but the QR code is not recognized in Greece. Subsequently, I found out that South Africa vaccine certificates can not be used globally as the technology is too expensive and South Africa has not bought into it. Every time you go to a coffee shop or restaurant you are asked for your vaccine certificate or a covid rapid or pcr test. 3 You need to fill a Passenger locator form before departing South Africa. This is found on the Greek Government site. https://travel.gov.gr/#/ You need to carry this form with you wherever you go. Print a few and keep them on you-or electronically 4. I was asked for the PCR test and the passenger locator form at all the airports, and when entering Greece 5. They do random screening at the airport as well as you enter.

It becomes expensive if you need testing every time you go into an establishment, PCR or rapid is 7 to 10 euro–the testing is more expensive than going out to get a coffee, so not worth it. You can do the tests at a pharmacy but need your passports and Passenger Locator forms to get a valid GR certificate. I do not think there will be an issue with visas. You need to keep checking the greek government site for updates—https://travel.gov.gr

It was great to hear those information,l’am wondering why is that a person had a PCR test abroad +plus PLF before departure and submit all the requirement documents.Come to the country of destination has to be required for above document and forced to have a test again at Airport. Is that a new law !

What are the rules for South African passport holders entering Greece for holidays in June 2022?

I am Canadian with 3 shots of pfizer vaccine. Travelling to Greece in May. Do I still need the preflight PCR test?

I too would be interested in this answer, as I also am hoping to go to Greece in May 2022.

Can citizens of Trinidad and Tobago enter Greece as yet?

Greece will continue to have covidfascist measures even when covidfascism is over everywhere else.

So has Greece got rid of the wretched list of countries whose citizens and residents were allowed entry? For example can Colombians now visit Greece for tourist purposes?

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Visa Requirements for Greece

Slow Images / Getty Images

If you're thinking of taking a Mediterranean excursion to Greece , you most likely do not need a travel visa. Citizens of the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Australia, Japan, and a host of other countries   are permitted to enter Greece without a visa for up to 90 days within a six-month period. In fact, that rule applies to visiting most countries in Europe. All you need is a passport that's valid for at least three months after the date you intend to return to your home country, so be sure your passport isn't about to expire.

Greece is a party to the Schengen Agreement , which covers 26 European countries where internal border checks have—for the most part—been abolished for short-term tourism, a business trip, or transit to a non-Schengen destination. The 26 countries that make up the Schengen Area are: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The 90-day limit for staying in Greece actually applies to the entire Schengen Area. That means if you're planning a Euro-trip to Greece, France, Spain, Germany, and other Schengen countries, the 90-day limit applies to all of the countries together, not just Greece.

There are two broad categories for getting a visa to go to Greece. The first one is for citizens from a non-exempt country   who plan to visit Greece and need a Schengen Visa. The Schengen Visa gives holders the same privileges as citizens from a visa-exempt country, meaning they can freely travel around the Schengen Area for a period of 90 days. If you need a Schengen Visa and you're visiting multiple countries, be sure to apply at the right consulate. If you'll be spending the majority of your time in Greece, apply at the Greek Consulate. If your time between countries is evenly distributed but Greece is the first country that you're visiting, you should also apply at the Greek Consulate.

The second category of visas is for foreign nationals who plan to stay in Greece for longer than 90 days, whether for work, studying, or visiting family members. Anyone who doesn't have an EU passport must apply for a visa if staying for longer than 90 days.

Schengen Tourist Visa

Only citizens from non-exempt countries are required to apply for Schengen Tourist Visa, which allows them to travel around the entire Schengen Area for up to 90 days. Depending on the type of visa you are granted, you may be allowed to leave the Schengen Area and come back with the same visa or be allowed to only enter one time, so pay attention to what your visa says.

Visa Fees and Application

The fee for a Schengen Visa is 80 euros, payable at the current exchange rate in the currency of where you're applying (in the U.S., it's about $92). However, discounts are available for certain groups. Citizens of European countries that aren't EU members—such as Russia—pay about half that price, while students and young children pay nothing.  

You apply in-person at the local Greek Consulate of where you legally reside. After making an appointment, prepare all of the necessary documents, including:

• Schengen Visa application
• Valid passport (and should be valid for at least three more months from when you plan to leave the Schengen area).
• Two identical photos (35 millimeters by 45 millimeters)
• Travel insurance policy
• Roundtrip flight itinerary
• Proof of accommodation (hotel reservations or notarized letters from hosts in Greece)
• Proof of financial means (e.g., bank statements, pay stubs, proof of employment, etc.)
• Proof of paid visa fee

During the appointment, you'll be interviewed by an immigration official with basic questions about your trip, such as why you're traveling, how long you'll be in Europe, where you're planning to stay, and so forth.

You should have an answer within about 15 days, although it sometimes takes longer. You should apply for your visa at least three weeks before you are set to depart, although you can apply as early as six months in advance.

Student Visa

Students who have been accepted into a program of study in Greece will need to apply for a long-term national visa. You'll need all of the standard visa documents, including your passport, two 35-millimeter-by-45-millimeter color photos, a medical certificate, and proof of health insurance, in addition to a letter of acceptance into a Greek school or program and proof of adequate funds to sustain yourself. If your program is primarily in Greek, you may also need a certificate that attests to your language abilities.

All long-term visas that are valid for a year or longer are good for entering Greece once, but you'll need to apply for a Greek residency card once you arrive in the country. You'll need to make an appointment at a Greek police station once you're settled in and bring all of your same documents with you.

Long-Term Employment Visa

If you're moving to Greece for work, the process is similar to applying for a student visa, but with a few important differences. In addition to the standard documents, you'll also need a work contract to be granted a visa, meaning you have to already have a job offer before applying—you can't get a visa and then go to Greece to look for a job. If the job requires any special skills or education, you'll also need to turn in copies of the relevant degrees or certificates that validate those.

Since this is a long-term visa, you'll need to apply for a Greek residency card once you're settled into the country. You'll need to make an appointment at a Greek police station and present all of the same visa documents again.

Short-Term Employment Visa

When applying for a work visa, the consulate may decide to grant you a short-term visa instead, which is any visa with a validity period for more than 90 days but less than 365 days. Those who might receive short-term visas include seasonal workers, fish workers, artists, athletes and coaches, tour guides, or interns. You're still required to turn in all of the documents of a standard work visa, so be sure you have a work contract or something that substantiates what you plan to do in Greece.

The processing fee for this visa is only 75 euros, but there is an additional cost. Because the short-term visas don't require you to apply for and pay for a residency card when you arrive in Greece, these recipients have to pay a 150-euro consular fee in addition to the 75-euro visa fee. It seems like a lot to pay upfront, but it saves you the headache of having to navigate the Greek bureaucratic system upon arrival.

Family Reunification Visa

Family members of a Greek resident who are not Greek or EU citizens themselves can apply for a long-term visa. However, the relation is only applicable to spouses are who legally married or in civil partnerships (including same-sex couples) or children under the age of 18. In addition to the standard application documents, you'll also need to show the relation through the relevant certificates, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or adoption certificate. If these documents are not from a Greek authority, you'll likely need to get them translated, notarized, and apostilled.

The fee for the family reunification visa is 180 euros, and all newly-arrived family members will have to apply for a Greek residency card upon once they arrive in the country by making an appointment at the local police station.

Visa Overstays

Whether you have been granted a travel visa or you are from a country that is visa-exempt, such as the U.S., you can only be in the Schengen Area for 90 days during a 180-day period. If you aren't sure, start on the date you are planning to leave the Schengen Area and count back how many days you were in a Schengen country during the previous six months; if it's less than 90, you're fine.

If you overstay your visa, the consequences can be severe. They vary based on the country where you get caught and the exact situation, but you can expect a fine and deportation. Overstaying your visa also makes it more difficult to get a Schengen visa in the future, and you may be turned away on future trips if you attempt to come back.

Extending Your Visa

If you need to stay in the Schengen Area longer than the allowed 90 days, you can apply for a Visa Extension, although these are only granted in extreme circumstances.   You can request an extension for humanitarian reasons, such as to receive medical treatment or stay for an unexpected funeral; for reasons due to force majeure, such as a natural disaster or conflict in your home country; or personal reasons, such as an unplanned wedding. In all cases, the decision is at the discretion of the official who helps you.

You'll need to head to the nearest police station in Greece and bring your passport, a photo of yourself, proof of adequate funds, health insurance, and documents that show why you're requesting an extension. This must be done before your current visa expires or your 90 days run out; if you've already overstayed your time in the Schengen Area, the application will be denied and you'll likely be deported immediately.

Eur-Lex. " Regulation (EU) 2018/1806. " July 11, 2020.

The Hellenic Republic. " Visa Fees. " July 10, 2020.

Schengen Visa Info. " How to Extend a Schengen Visa while being within Schengen Area. " July 11, 2020.

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‘We Cannot Wait Until June’: Greece’s Reopening Gamble

In easing its restrictions, the country, largely dependent on tourist dollars, has jumped ahead of a broader European Union plan to welcome visitors from outside the bloc.

By Paige McClanahan

Greece has reopened to many overseas visitors, including from the United States, jumping ahead of most of its European neighbors in restarting tourism , even as the country’s hospitals remain full and more than three-quarters of Greeks are still unvaccinated.

It’s a big bet, but given the importance of tourism to the Greek economy — the sector accounts for one quarter of the country’s work force and more than 20 percent of gross domestic product — the country’s leaders are eager to roll out the welcome mat.

And although the U.S. State Department recently added Greece to its long list of countries with the designation “ Level 4: Do Not Travel ,” Greek officials maintain that — with social distancing measures and testing protocols, alongside the warming weather — tourism in the country will be safe, for visitors and residents alike.

Pushing the timeline

In easing its border restrictions, Greece has jumped ahead of a broader European Union reopening to tourists from outside the bloc, but the country is not alone in pushing the timeline. Among European Union members, Croatia and Cyprus have also already opened to vaccinated and Covid -negative tourists, including from the United States. And President Emmanuel Macron of France announced last week that, if the country’s epidemiological situation allows, the country will open on June 9 to all non-European Union visitors, provided that they carry a “health passport,” details of which have yet to be announced. Outside the European Union, but still within Europe, Iceland , Montenegro and Serbia have already taken steps to ease their border restrictions, including for American visitors.

“We welcome a common position” on restarting tourism in the European Union, Greece’s tourism minister, Harry Theoharis, said in an interview. “All we’re saying is that this has to be forthcoming now. We cannot wait until June.”

According to the current rules, visitors arriving from the United States, the European Union, Britain, South Korea, Australia and a handful of other countries are now allowed quarantine-free entry into Greece, on the condition that travelers provide proof of Covid vaccination or a negative PCR test taken up to 72 hours before their arrival. Arriving visitors may also be subject to random, obligatory rapid tests at the airport; anyone with a positive result will be required to quarantine at a Greek hotel along with their traveling companions for at least 10 days, at the expense of the Greek government.

The new terms of entry were applied to tourists from the United States and several other countries as of April 19; they are expected to be extended to all visitors on May 14.

A “wait and see” mode

Anyone coming from the United States will have plenty of ways to get to Athens. On May 28, Delta Air Lines is resuming direct daily service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and the Greek capital; American Airlines, United and Emirates will follow suit in early June, offering direct service from New York-area airports. Direct flights to Athens from Chicago, Washington Dulles, Atlanta and Philadelphia will also come online for the summer travel season.

But how many of those seats will be filled remains to be seen.

“A lot of people are still in a ‘wait and see’ mode,” said Chantel Kyriakopoulou-Beuvink, the director of Natural Greece , a tour operator based in Athens that works primarily with clients in the United States and Europe. She noted that several bookings for May tours had been canceled, although most clients had asked for their payments to be put toward future trips. She added that reservations have already come through for summer and autumn tours, but many potential clients are still holding off on booking.

“They’re interested, but they’re still waiting for more clarity,” she said.

They may not have too long to wait. The summer ferry schedules to the Greek islands have recently been published — earlier than usual, Mrs. Kyriakopoulou-Beuvink noted. She added that the ferry services have increased compared to the 2020 summer season, and that the Sporades Islands — which include Alonissos, Skiathos and Skopelos — were particularly well served. All ferry passengers will be required to complete a health status questionnaire before boarding, and occupancy will be kept to about half of the normal numbers, although that limit may be adjusted as the public health situation evolves.

Expect social distancing, masks and sanitizer

On the ferries or otherwise, anyone who decides to make the trip to Greece should expect to see plenty of public health measures in force.

Greece has been in various stages of lockdown since November, with residents subject to a curfew and limits on movement within the country. Shops, schools and cultural institutions have been forced to close, while restaurants and bars have been limited to takeaway service only.

The restrictions gutted the lively cafe culture in Athens, where the past winter was even quieter than usual, said Georgia Nakou, a political and economic analyst for the media outlet MacroPolis. But compliance with the rules has slackened as the weather has warmed, and many Greeks have begun congregating in large numbers in the squares of central Athens. Everyone, it seems, is ready for a break.

“People know that they’re going to be released, and they’re already mentally partying,” Ms. Nakou said.

While Greece’s lockdown restrictions are due to be lifted by the time the country fully opens to tourists on May 14, visitors should still expect to encounter social distancing measures, the country’s tourism minister said. Tables will be widely spaced at restaurants; lounge chairs will be farther apart on the beach; masks may be obligatory on some city streets; hand sanitizer will be in plentiful supply.

Open-air archaeological sites like the Acropolis in Athens have already reopened to the public, with masks required of all visitors. Museums — including the National Archaeological Museum and the Acropolis Museum — will reopen on May 15 with social-distancing measures that are still being determined, a spokeswoman from the tourism ministry said.

Hotels are also subject to public health protocols, including weekly rapid testing of staff and mandatory mask wearing in common-use areas. The minister stressed that all social-distancing rules and other public health measures will apply to visitors and residents alike.

“Tourism — and food — is our only industry”

Protecting Greek citizens from the coronavirus is a priority, the minister said, but so is shielding them from the devastating effects of a prolonged economic decline. And last year’s plunge in tourism numbers hit the country hard: The national economy shrank by 8.2 percent in 2020, making Greece among the worst-hit countries in Europe. The tourism sector took the brunt of the blow: In 2020, Greece’s revenue from foreign tourism fell to a quarter of the more than 18 billion euros (nearly $22 billion) registered the year before.

“The last year felt like a nuclear explosion in our society,” said Kostas Tzilialis, a co-owner and co-worker at Locomotiva Cooperativa , a cafe and bookshop in central Athens. Mr. Tzilialis estimated that, before the pandemic, tourists accounted for up to 40 percent of daytime guests at the cafe. The business has managed to survive the pandemic by offering takeaway service, processing online book orders and receiving some government support — but it hasn’t been easy, he said, adding that many of his friends have suffered severe financial and psychological problems over the past year. On the reopening of tourism, he thought the government didn’t have a choice.

“Unfortunately, after more than 10 years of economic hardship, tourism and food is our only industry,” Mr. Tzilialis said. “We don’t produce cars or machines. So we have to open our industry right now. Let’s hope that people will be careful and the vaccines will protect us.”

Most Greeks — who have endured months of lockdown — would agree with that sentiment, said Ms. Nakou, the analyst. “I think there is little alternative, to be honest, given the importance of the sector in the economy,” she said.

But Ms. Nakou noted that Covid case numbers rose after the country’s opening to tourists last summer, and that many Greeks associated the arrival of visitors with an increase in the circulation of the virus. She noted that in a survey conducted among Greeks last fall, tourism was the most commonly cited factor in causing the second wave, ahead of people flouting lockdown rules, as well as congestion in public transport or in restaurants.

“I think that is at the back of a lot of people’s minds locally,” said Ms. Nakou. “They’re pleased to see the economy reopening; they’re also quite worried about this.”

In terms of daily new infections, Greece’s worst moment of the pandemic came in early April of this year, when the country was averaging more than 3,000 cases per day; intensive care admissions reached their peak about two weeks later. On a per-capita basis, Greece’s experience pales in comparison to the worst moments of the pandemic in the United States, Britain, France or Italy, but because Greece’s medical system has suffered from years of underfunding, it is particularly vulnerable to strain. The country’s intensive care units were 87 percent full as of April 21, even as lockdown measures were due to be peeled away.

At the same time, vaccination is picking up. J ust over 20 percent of the country’s population had received at least one dose of vaccine by the end of April. The coverage is much higher in some of the Greek islands, which were targeted early in the country’s vaccination campaign in part because of their geographical isolation and limited medical facilities. But local leaders also hope that the image of heavily vaccinated, “Covid-free islands” will help to lure tourists back.

“It’s a very important step that guarantees the launch of the tourist season and sends a message of optimism,” Efi Liarou, the mayor of the island Elafonisos, told Agence-France Presse last month.

However many people end up traveling to Greece this summer, it’s clear that this year’s peak tourist season will be unlike any other.

“ I think anyone coming here should acknowledge that it’s not going to be like 2019,” said Ms. Nakou. “Don’t expect that you’re going to be able to blow off steam like this never happened. Because it’s not over yet.”

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