What documents are needed to travel from the Czech Republic to Greece? Confusion may be cleared up Friday

This week’s announcement made one thing clear: due to a growing number of COVID-19 cases in Czech Republic, Czech residents traveling to Greece will need to submit a negative molecular PCR COVID-19 test no older than 72 hours before entry starting on Monday, August 17. All travelers arriving through Greece’s land borders, including Greek citizens, need to provide a negative COVID-19 test.

Greece plans to announce formal rules outlining the issues on Friday. Czech officials continue discussions with their counterparts in Greece to understand what the regulations will look like.

“We are negotiating with the Greek authorities, we have connected epidemiologists and hygienists on both sides so that they can better inform themselves about the situation and developments in the Czech Republic. I believe that these restrictions will not last long,” Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček (ČSSD) told Czech Television.

Until Friday, though, officials do not know for sure what Czech residents will need to provide.

Along with Croatia, Greece has been one of the most popular summer holiday destinations for Czech travelers this summer and an estimated 32,000 Czech tourists visit the country each summer, according to Jarmila Rážová, the Czech Republic’s chief hygienist.

Many Czechs began to worry once Greece announced their new restrictions because COVID-19 tests in Czech Republic can be costly, despite the 1,674 CZK cap on the test cost, and some tests can take days to come back with results. For example, many testing points do not operate on weekends and will not be able to test people within the required time frame if they plan to head to Greece on Monday, August 17, when the requirement takes effect.

Some facilities do not accept people who pay for their test at all. At Brno Bohunice University Hospital, self-paying testers can only be tested on Mondays and Wednesdays, and empty slots book up quickly, so tourists traveling next week may struggle.

The Ministry of Health has began responding to the Greek government’s decision and plans to work with travel agencies to facilitate trips to the country. One proposal includes sending lists with tourist names, addresses and dates of departure to cities in advance to ensure they are given priority and tested for COVID-19 in time.

Travel agencies have also been caught off guard by the Greek announcement and some have announced that they will help cover the cost of the COVID-19 test to facilitate their travelers. Greece is one of the most popular spots for travel agencies.

CK Alexandria, for example, will cover the cost of a COVID-19 test up to 1,674 CZK, the maximum test amount set by the Ministry of Health. CK Čedok will also contribute 1,500 CZK towards a COVID-19 for trips purchased from August 17 onward. CK Fischer and Exim Tours will cover the full cost of the tests. However, in reality, some private practices and regional hospitals may charge more for testing and testing may not be readily available.

The Association of Travel Agencies of the Czech Republic (ACK) said on Wednesday that the COVID-19 tests have to be cheaper and loser to 500 CZK for most people to reasonably afford them. In addition, the association argued, the results should be available within 24 hours to make life easier for travelers.