Health Alert – Vaccination Requirements for Entry to Facilities in Greece

Event: Vaccination Requirements for Entry to Facilities in Greece

Increased Restrictions for Unvaccinated Individuals in Greece

As of Monday, November 22, 2021, the Government of Greece is restricting access for unvaccinated individuals to many categories of businesses and public services if they cannot prove vaccination or recovery from COVID-19. Customers seeking access to these facilities are required to present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or documentation of recovery from COVID-19.

Under the new rules, unvaccinated adults:

Cannot access/enter: Enclosed eating areas, entertainment facilities (cinemas, theaters), museums, exhibition centers, fitness centers and sports venues. These facilities may be accessed only by those who are fully vaccinated or have documentation of recovery from COVID-19.
Can enter only with a negative lab rapid test or PCR test: Unvaccinated individuals seeking access to churches, schools, public and private sector places of work, retail shops, hair salons, or outdoor eating areas may enter by presenting a negative laboratory rapid test no older than 48 hours OR a PCR test no older than 72 hours.
Can enter with no documentation required: Unvaccinated individuals can enter supermarkets, bakeries, sweet shops, pharmacies, and urban public transportation.

Children aged 4 to 17 may access the top two categories of facilities with a negative self-test taken within the last 24 hours, documented via the Self-Test Declaration form. Children under four do not need to show any documentation.

COVID Documentation Required for Entry to U.S. Mission Greece Facilities

The U.S. Mission in Greece is adopting the following guidelines and entry procedures in compliance with Greek restrictions as well as Executive Order 14043. Effective Monday, November 22, 2021, people ages 5 and older are required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result to enter U.S. Embassy Athens and Consulate General Thessaloniki. Visitors, including passport and notarial applicants, are required to provide proof of vaccination (the Greek or EU digital COVID certificate, VAMS vaccination certificate, CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card, or Vaccine Attestation Form) or other documentation as listed below, according to age category. Individuals requesting emergency assistance from the Consular Section will not be prevented from doing so regardless of vaccination status.

What do I need to provide?

Ages 5-11: A negative self-test no older than 24 hours, documented via the form at https://self-testing.gov.gr/covid19-self-test-print.pdf.
Ages 12-17: Proof of vaccination or a negative lab rapid test no older than 48 hours or PCR no older than 72 hours.
Ages 18+: Proof of vaccination or a negative lab rapid test no older than 48 hours or PCR no older than 72 hours.
Or a certificate of recovery issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory not older than 180 days.

Options for people who are unvaccinated or unable to prove vaccine status

People who are unvaccinated or cannot prove vaccination status will be required to show proof of a negative laboratory antigen test no older than 48 hours or PCR no older than 72 hours and wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Additional information, including COVID-19 testing sites, is available in English at travel.gov.gr and GreeceHealthFirst.gr, and in Greek at the Civil Protection website and the Greek government’s COVID-19 Measures website.

Please be advised that the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Athens will be closed on Wednesday, November 24 and Thursday, November 25, 2021.

Actions to Take:

For full details, visit the COVID-19 page on our website.
If you develop a fever and/or respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath or cough, stay indoors and immediately seek medical attention by contacting the National Public Health Organization by dialing 1135.
Visit the CDC’s webpage on Travel and COVID-19. Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before any international travel.
Read the country information page for Greece.
Follow the instructions of local authorities.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.