Trevor Kucheran- 24Shares
Last Updated
Greece has officially reopened for tourism starting June 15 to select countries, and to additional countries from July 1, 2020.
Many important updates have happened since the original publishing of this article. We have updated information below. Please scroll down to the July 1 update
Beginning on June 15th, Greek officials said that the country will not restrict travelers coming from 29 countries.
Travelers who arrive from countries that are NOT on the list will be subject to mandatory testing for Covid-19 upon arrival and a quarantine period of one or two weeks.
Greece is taking steps to welcome more visitors in time for the summer vacation season. Starting June 15, international flights will be able to land at two airports in the country.
Passengers arriving from the pre-approved 29 country list: No quarantine measures or mandatory testing. Passengers could still face random testing.
The 29 countries on the pre approved list are: Albania, Australia, Austria, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Estonia, Japan, Israel, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lebanon, New Zealand, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, South Korea, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Finland.
The two-tiered policy from the Greek government will be in effect from June 15th until June 30th but could be extended further.
IMPORTANT UPDATE JULY 1
As of July 1, 2020 Greece has decided to open its borders to tourists from all EU/EFTA nations, as well as 15 third-party nations suggested by the EU.
As of July 1, here is who can visit Greece:
EU/EFTA nations allowed to travel into Greece:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lichtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Third-Party countries allowed entry into Greece
- Algeria
- Australia
- Georgia
- Japan
- Canada
- Morocco
- Montenegro
- New Zealand
- Republic of Korea
- Rwanda
- Serbia
- Uruguay
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- China **only based on reciprocity
Read more about what countries can currently visit Greece, plus the entry requirements.
Starting July 1, all Greek airports that can handle international traffic will reopen to flights from abroad. At that time, random screening for the virus will apply to all arriving passengers unless public health considerations dictate stricter testing, a tourism ministry official said.
Entry Requirements as of July 1
Before arriving, ALL visitors are obliged to submit the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) which is available online, up to 48 hours before travelling. The visitors will receive a QR code which will be scanned upon arrival. QR code screening personnel direct passengers, depending on their QR code, either to the Covid-19 testing area or the exit. Visitors subjected into testing are obliged to self-isolate at the address of their final destination as declared on their passenger locator form (PLF) for 24 hours until the testing outcome. In case they are tested positive to Covid-19, they will have to stay isolated for 14 days to the dedicated quarantine hotels across the country.
“Greece at any stage retains the right to modify any of the above in light of changing circumstances,” the Foreign Ministry document states.
Greece imposed a lockdown early in its coronavirus outbreak, a move credited with limiting infections. The country had a total of 175 deaths and 2,915 confirmed cases as of Saturday. No cases have been detected on the vast majority of the Greek islands, which are popular vacation spots.
Tourism and related industries make up around 20% of the Greek economy, and the government has been anxious to ensure the tourist season is not lost this year. According to the Tourism Ministry, 350,000 jobs depend directly on tourism, as many as double that number indirectly.
Disclaimer: Greece’s reopening news is ever-changing and being updated constantly. We do our best to keep this article up to date with all the latest information, but the decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling.
Read More: See our complete guide of countries now reopen for international tourism, which countries are expected to be able to travel to the EU, and more information about entry requirements into Greece
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A version of this article first appeared on USAToday
Sources: Government of Greece
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