All you need to know to find your way through the Greek Vaccination Program and simple instructions on how to use the available platforms to book your vaccination appointment!
As an Expat living in Greece you do not need to return to your country of origin to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Follow the steps in our guide below to check for eligibility at the current vaccination phase and arrange for your appointment.
The Greek Social Security number (AMKA) is necessary for the vaccination procedure. The Greek authorities advice citizens who do not have an AMKA number, to visit a KEP (citizens service center) near them to apply for one as soon as possible. If you cannot get an AMKA or your AMKA number cannot be identified by the systems below see here.
This guide consists of the following sections:
1. HOW TO CHECK IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINATION
- Option A: Go online at emvolio.gov.gr/eligibility
- Option B: Send a text message (SMS) to 13034
- Option C: Wait for your auto-notification via SMS (if you are registered to the Paperless/Intangible Prescription Platform)
2: HOW TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINATION
- Option A: Go online at emvolio.gov.gr/app
- Option B: Visit a local pharmacy or KEP
- Option C: Wait for your auto-scheduled appointment (if you have registered to the Paperless/Intangible Prescription Platform)
3: HOW TO MODIFY YOUR APPOINTMENT
4. IMPORTANT NOTES FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS
5: USEFUL TIPS
General Information
The Greek National Vaccination Campaign for COVID-19 has started in January 2021. The vaccine is approved for its safety, quality and effectiveness by the relevant international and national organizations, the World Health Organization, the EMA and the FDA.
Vaccination is at the time of writing (8 Feb 2021) in progress for people in the front line of health, for those aged 60-64 and for people over 80 (phase 2). The goal is to vaccinate the entire population over 18 years of age (phase 3). The vaccine is free for all and is optional, but necessary to protect ourselves and our fellow human beings.
The website dedicated for the Greek vaccination program is emvolio.gov.gr. It provides information as well as an appointment management application for the vaccinations. Unfortunately, it is only available in Greek thus this guide can help expats in Greece find their way through the process and get vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus.
1. HOW TO CHECK IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINATION
In order to check for eligibility at the current vaccination phase (priority group) you can:
The website is available only in Greek so use the English translation image below to help you fill in the eligibility form.
TIP: Use our instructions for TRANSLATING WEBPAGES from GREEK to ENGLISH directly in your browser and you will be able to see and fully operate the vaccination website in English!
Fill in the above form using your AMKA number in combination with your Last Name (“Επώνυμο”) or Greek VAT Number (“ΑΦΜ”) and click the Submission Button to check for your eligibility instantly.
If you are not eligible for the current vaccination phase you will see a “red” message like this one:
You can click on the green “objection form” button if you believe that you should be vaccinated at this phase or your AMKA is not found. Find instructions for this case here.
If you are eligible for the current vaccination phase you will see a “green” message like this one:
See here for instructions on how to book your vaccination appointment.
1.2 Eligibility Check - Option B: Send a text message (SMS) to 13034
Any citizen can check if he belongs to some of the priority groups by sending to 13034 a text message (SMS) with his AMKA and surname (AMKA <space> Surname).
Immediately, the citizen will receive a written message, informing him if he is entitled to vaccination based on the population prioritization of the national vaccination program. Then, the citizen can enter the online vaccination platform (emvolio.gov.gr) to schedule his appointment.
1.3 Eligibility Check - Option C: Wait for your auto-notification via SMS if you are registered to the Paperless/Intangible Prescription Platform
Citizens who have registered to the intangible prescription platform (ehealth.gov.gr), and when they become eligible for vaccination, will automatically receive a text message (SMS) on their mobile phone from the number 13034, notifying them that they are eligible along with a pre-booked appointment for their vaccination.
The text message will indicate the Appointment Number, the date and time of vaccination and the recommended vaccination center. The closest available vaccination center is pre-selected based on the declared Postal Code in the ehealth.gov.gr plaform.
2: HOW TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINATION
If you found that you are eligible for vaccination using any of the above methods, you can now schedule your appointment as follows:
If you have registered for TAXISnet you will already have your credentials for use in several Greek Government e-Services (tax return, etc).
Visit the vaccination appointment website here emvolio.gov.gr/app and login using your TAXISnet credentials in the form shown below (“Χρήστης” is the Username, “Κωδικός” is the Password):
You may need to confirm that all your details are correct (mobile phone number, e-mail, postcode) and then you will enter the vaccination scheduler for the first dose and second dose of the vaccine.
Below you can see a screen from the appointment scheduler application:
At this point it is not possible for us to translate and provide screenshots of all possible screens shown in this system. You are advised to try our TIP for TRANSLATING WEBPAGES in order to use a real-time translator for this website to translate everything in English for you while you move through the different screens. If this is not working for you please visit a Pharmacy or KEP to have your appointment scheduled for you (option B below).
At the end of the appointment booking process you will see a screen similar to the one below and you will receive an email and SMS with the details of your appointments (dose 1 and dose 2 of the vaccine) along with an Appointment Numbers (also as QR code). The Appointment Number or the QR code will be required to have it with you when you visit the vaccination center so keep this information safe.
2.2 Appointment Schedule - Option B: Visit a local pharmacy or KEP
If you cannot use the online platform emvolio.gov.gr you can book an vaccination appointment at a local pharmacy or KEP (citizens service center).
This can also be done by a representative with the required documentation (AMKA, Mobile phone number and ID photocopy of the applicant) if someone is unable to get there.
Once you book you will receive an Appointment Number (also as a QR Code) along with the appointment details.
2.3 Appointment Schedule - Option C: Wait for your auto-scheduled appointment if you have registered to the Paperless/Intangible Prescription Platform
Citizens who have registered to the intangible prescription platform (ehealth.gov.gr), and when they become eligible for vaccination, will automatically receive a text message (SMS) on their mobile phone from the number 13034, notifying them that they are eligible along with a pre-booked appointment for their vaccination.
The text message will indicate the Appointment Number, the date and time of vaccination and the recommended vaccination center. The closest available vaccination center is pre-selected based on the declared Postal Code in the ehealth.gov.gr platform.
The citizen has the opportunity to confirm his pre-booked appointment within 120 hours. The confirmation of the pre-booked appointment can be done by the citizen in one of the following two ways:
- By sending the Appointment Number via text message (SMS) to 13034. In case the user does not enter the Appointment Number correctly (for example, due to a typo), he will receive a reply SMS informing him that the Appointment Number is incorrect.
- By entering the emvolio.gov.gr/app platform and confirming the pre-booked appointment (TAXISnet credentials are required to login).
Finally, in case the citizen does not confirm his appointment (with or without modification) within 120 hours, the pre-booking is released and the citizen has the opportunity to later schedule a new appointment through the platform emvolio.gov.gr/app.
3: HOW TO MODIFY YOUR APPOINTMENT
f you have booked an appointment for vaccination using any of the above methods, you can cancel or modify your appointment 72 hours before the vaccination. This can be done only once, so be careful!
Visit the vaccination appointment website here emvolio.gov.gr/app and login using your TAXISnet credentials. There you have the opportunity to see and modify your appointment according to the availability per vaccination center and confirm it.
The process is the same as booking your appointment that we have described in Section 2 above.
Once you modify it you will receive a new Appointment Number (also as a QR Code) along with the new appointment details.
3.2 Appointment Modification - Option B: Visit a local pharmacy or KEP (citizens service centers)
If you cannot use the online platform emvolio.gov.gr/app you can modify an appointment at local pharmacy or KEP (citizens service centers).
This can also be done by a representative with the required documentation (AMKA, Mobile phone number and ID photocopy of the applicant) if someone is unable to get there.
Once you modify it you will receive a new Appointment Number (also as a QR Code) along with the new appointment details.
4. IMPORTANT NOTES FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS IN GREECE
- The citizen can be informed about the details of his scheduled appointment (date and time of vaccination, vaccination center), by sending an SMS to 13034 with the Appointment Code or the AMKA and his surname (AMKA <space> Surname). In any case, the citizen will receive an additional three (3) automated SMS reminder of his appointment (3 days before the appointment, 1 day before the appointment and at 7 am on the day of the appointment).
- Citizens will be notified three days ahead of their appointments via email and SMS indicating exact hour and date and including a link for information regarding preparation ahead of inoculation as well as guidelines.
- Appointments can be changed once up to 72 hours before the planned appointment.
- It is noted that those to be vaccinated will be required to present the appointment number sent to them or the QR Code and proof of identification (ID card or passport) at the vaccination center. Citizens will then be required to answer a questionnaire.
- Vaccination will be carried out at 1,018 centers and at set hospitals around the country.
- People will not be able to select which vaccine they receive.
- Those vaccinated will receive a certificate in digital form, which will be for their personal use.
In case you belong to the current vaccination phase and do not have a Greek Social Security Number (AMKA) or your AMKA number cannot be identified by the system, please fill out this form emvolio.gov.gr/aitisi. Your case will be checked, and you will receive information with instructions. Use our TIP for TRANSLATING WEBPAGES so that you can fill out this form correctly see the translated form here.
5: TIP: TRANSLATING WEBPAGES FROM GREEK TO ENGLISH
Translating a web page from one language to another in most cases will break the page functionality.
The best way to translate a web page to English or any other language, is to use the Google Chrome browser on a personal computer.
Google Chrome has an embedded translator that will translate a web page in your preferred language while the web page will retain full functionality. The buttons, forms and all other web elements will work in most of the cases.
If you use an online translator like the online Google Translator (translate.google.gr), it will also translate a web page BUT the web elements will not be functional (buttons, forms, etc) and you will not be able to achieve your end results.
So, to be able to translate the emvolio.gov.gr website and still be fully functional follow these steps:
- Download Google Chrome in your language of preference i.e. English
- Install Google Chrome on your PC
- Go online at emvolio.gov.gr
- Right Click anywhere on the page and select the option “Translate to English” or “Translate to” …<your default language>. See here for a screenshot of this right-click option.
- The web page will be displayed in English. When you click on a link or button the new page will appear in English but in some case it may go back to Greek. It this case you will have to right click again to translate this page too and so forth…
Try the vaccination eligibility form from Google Chrome and see that it works!
6. REFERENCES
For more information on the COVID-19 vaccination Campaign in Greece please visit the following web sites:
