After two years of travel bans and restrictions, and with all the specially required documents, forms and medical tests prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic, planning an overseas trip now comes with a different mindset, and a sense of disbelief: will you really be able to go?

As for traveling to Greece this summer, the answer is appearing more and more certain: yes, you can! In addition, vacations in Greece this year may finally start to resemble pre-pandemic holidays, with fewer restrictions in place, and nearly 85% of the local population being vaccinated.

The majority of travelers only need to provide one Covid-19 related document (see below), while the previously required Passenger Locator Form (PLF) with information about your destination has been abolished. Most travelers can even carry the single certification needed in their phone.

Meanwhile, once in Greece, very few restrictions are likely to be in place this summer, according to recent statements by Health Minister Thanos Plevris. Speaking to the media on Monday, he said that the measures that remain in place (the need for proof of vaccination to enter restaurants and entertainment venues, and Covid certificates and face masks to enter stores and other indoor venues) will not be abolished before May 1st. However, after that, the government is expecting to lift them for the summer, keeping only the requirement for masks in some areas such as hospitals, public transport and supermarkets. While keeping safe distance is still obviously recommended, restaurants and bars are already back to operating as usual, without music bans or curfews barring summer parties from continuing through the night.

A meeting is to be held on the timetable for the removal of mandatory face masks, as well as the duration of quarantine for those suffering from coronavirus, next week.

Plevris also informed media that due to concern that the coronavirus may return stronger in September, all measures for the pandemic which will be suspended over the summer will be re-examined then.

Traveling to Greece

Most people traveling to Greece need only present one document related to Covid-19. Specifically, all travelers who can provide an EU Digital COVID Certificate don’t need anything else. Travelers from Australia, Canada and the US have three options; they may enter Greece either with a valid vaccination certificate, a valid proof of recovery, or results from a negative PCR or Rapid Antigen test (performed up to 72 hours or 24 hours respectively before scheduled arrival).

Travelers from other countries must provide a PCR or Rapid Antigen test regardless of their vaccination status.

The PLF is no longer required, however there is a simplified version of it which travelers may choose to complete, in order to then issue an EU Digital COVID Certificate via a government website.

You can find detailed information about the document you need, and how to use the PLF to issue a Covid certificate if you don’t have one, here.