Greece travel rules: What are the latest restrictions for holidaymakers?

Holiday seasons to Greece are synonymous with relaxation. Perenially sunny and breezy from spring to autumn, blessed with quaint architecture and shimmering seas, this is someplace you appear to laze, try to eat, swim and repeat.

So the Covid-19 pandemic was a rollercoaster for Greece lovers: the state imposed a number of waves of demanding border regulations, such as demanding proof of vaccination and, at 1 issue, a PCR instead than antigen examination for site visitors.

Greece’s government has also been one particular of the more careful in lifting its Covid-similar limits. Nonetheless, with tourism a huge part of the country’s revenue – it accounts for 18 per cent of its GDP, employing some 900,000 people – ministers have at some point relaxed the rules for holidaymakers.

So what do you need to have to do ahead of a excursion to Greece, and what are the rules on the ground?

Here’s everything you have to have to know.

Do I need to have evidence of vaccination or a take a look at to take a look at Greece?

No, neither. The Mediterranean idyll removed all of its remaining Covid limitations on 1 May.

Travellers will no for a longer time need to have to display evidence of vaccination or a adverse PCR exam final result on entry. The policies are the exact same for equally vaccinated and unvaccinated site visitors.

The region also suspended the use of Covid Passes (proof of vaccination), which had previously been in use to enter specific indoor venues on the ground.

Even so, Greece’s authorities has been very clear that they see the elimination of all Covid rules currently being a temporary suspension somewhat than a guaranteed conclude issue to the limits.

The country’s overall health minister, Thanos Plevris, explained in April that the rules would be suspended from 1 Could until eventually the close of August, with ministers examining the Covid predicament to the finish of summer in order to make selections going ahead.

Showing on Tv set in late April, Mr Plevris explained: “The steps will be reviewed all over again in September.”

Do I need to have to fill in a passenger locator kind for Greece?

No. Greece ended its passenger locator form on 15 March.

Quite couple nations around the world now require the wellness monitoring kinds, beforehand a staple of pandemic-era vacation.

Most European international locations ended their Covid overall health kinds for the duration of spring 2022.

The international locations to keep some sort of electronic form or health app include things like the Maldives, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea.

Do I will need to put on a mask whilst on holiday getaway in Greece?

A month immediately after the finish to its vaccination and screening guidelines, Greece suspended its nationwide mask necessity (in most configurations) on 1 June.

The only scenarios in which site visitors to Greece need to have put on a deal with mask is on public transport and in hospitals or other professional medical and health care amenities.

As Greece still needs men and women to dress in masks on community transport, you will also will need to wear a mask on your flight from the United kingdom.

Has Brexit modified the regulations for traveling to Greece?

The rule changes that could vacation you up on a pay a visit to to Greece in 2022 are additional possible to be Brexit-similar than Covid-relevant. Because the Uk remaining the European Union, there are new policies concerning size and frequency of visits to nations in the Schengen Location (together with Greece), as perfectly as regulations close to passport stamps and validity.

To take a look at an EU region publish-Brexit, your passport should be:

There is also now a time limit on how long and how typically you can check out Greece, visa cost-free. The Overseas Place of work advises: “You can travel to countries in the Schengen place for up to 90 days in any 180-day period of time without having a visa.

“To continue to be for a longer time, to do the job or study, for small business or for other causes, you will want to meet the Greek government’s entry demands.”

You ought to also have your passport stamped on arrival and on exit from the nation. Make sure this normally takes location at passport manage to stay clear of any confusion above how extended you have been there.

You may well also will need to show a return or onward ticket to indicate when you are leaving Greece, and could be asked to display that you have enough cash to aid yourself for the duration of your stay.