Blog

Entry into the country 

Q1: How will travelers be able to enter the country (from 1^st March 2021 onwards)? 

As from March 1^st Cyprus is changing the way it categorizes countries, and will instead be following a colour-coded system harmonized with ECDC evaluation standards. Therefore, only countries not included on ECDC lists, will be evaluated separately by the Cyprus government. Below are the entry requirements when somebody is traveling to Cyprus.

i. Persons traveling from GREEN countries will not need to demonstrate a negative PCR test for COVID-19 when traveling to Cyprus; they only need to provide certain information and solemn declarations.

ii. Persons traveling from ORANGE countries are required to undergo a molecular test at a certified lab, with the sample taken during the last 72 hours prior to flight departure, and upload a certificate that demonstrates a negative PCR for COVID-19, on the Cyprus Flight Pass Platform. Children below the age of 11.99 are exempted from testing. All travelers will also need to provide certain information and solemn declarations. The following persons will be allowed to enter the Republic of Cyprus, having undergone a lab test at their own expense, upon entry to the Republic of Cyprus:

1. Cypriot citizens and members of their families (foreign spouses and children)
2. Legal residents of the Republic
3. Passengers entitled to enter the Republic under the Vienna Convention
4. Persons in countries where the authorities duly substantiate and following an announcement by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus, are not in a position to offer Covid-19 testing to those wishing to travel.

iii. Persons traveling from RED countries are required to undergo a molecular test at a certified lab, with the sample taken during the last 72 hours prior to flight departure, and upload a certificate that demonstrates a negative PCR for COVID-19, on the Cyprus Flight Pass Platform. They will also need to pay for and undergo a molecular PCR test upon arrival to Cyprus, the cost of which is 30 Euros at Larnaca airport and 32 Euros at Paphos airport; results of the test will be available within 3 hours, and will be shared with the traveler by SMS after his or her departure from the airport. Only children below the age of 11.99 are 2 exempted from testing. All travelers will also need to provide certain information and solemn declarations. The following persons will be allowed to enter the Republic of Cyprus having undergone a lab test at their own expense, upon entry to the Republic of Cyprus:

1. Cypriot citizens and members of their families (foreign spouses and children)
2. Legal residents of the Republic
3. Passengers entitled to enter the Republic under the Vienna Convention

These persons may choose to undergo only one lab test, namely upon their arrival to Cyprus, but must then remain in a status of obligatory self-isolation for three (3) days. On day 4, they need to undergo a second PCR test for Covid-19, again at their own expense. The result of the lab test must be submitted to the electronic address monada@mphs.moh.gov.cy

iv. Persons traveling from GREY countries are required to undergo a molecular test at a certified lab, with the sample taken during the last 72 hours prior to flight departure, and upload a certificate that demonstrates a negative PCR for COVID-19, on the Cyprus Flight Pass Platform. In addition, they will remain in a status of obligatory self-isolation / quarantine for fourteen (14) days or a status of obligatory self-isolation / quarantine for ten (10) days, provided they undergo another PCR test for Covid-19 on the 10th day, at their own expense. The result of the lab test must be submitted to the electronic address monada@mphs.moh.gov.cy. Children below the age of 11.99 are exempted from testing. All travelers will also need to provide certain information and solemn declarations.

Travel from GREY countries, is allowed only for: 

o Cypriot citizens and their family members (spouses and children) 

o Persons legally residing in the Republic of Cyprus

o EU citizens, citizens of European Economic Area (Island, Lichtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland

o Persons allowed to enter the Republic of Cyprus in accordance with the Vienna Convention

o Citizens of third countries, provided they obtain prior special permission from the Republic of Cyprus, as defined under the Infectious Diseases Decree (N.2/2021 8.1.21), as amended. The application for a Special Permission must be submitted on the Cyprus Flight Pass Platform (https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/en/special.permission).

Note: European Union citizens, citizens of European Economic Area (Island, Lichtenstein, Norway), citizens of Switzerland and citizens of third countries, must undergo a molecular test prior to departure, as stipulated above. The other categories of passengers have the choice of either taking the test prior to their departure or taking it upon entry to the Republic of Cyprus, at their own expense.

v. The full list of categorized countries can be found on www.cyprusflightpass.gov.cy). Travelers should constantly visit this platform in order to remain up to date about possible changes that may affect their trip.

Q2: What other documentation is necessary for traveling to Cyprus? 

a. A ‘Cyprus Flight Pass’ is available on the website www.cyprusflightpass.gov.cy, which can be accessed and filled in electronically. All passengers traveling to the Republic of Cyprus need to fill in and submit in advance, all required information and documents; use of the platform is obligatory for anyone who wishes to fly to the Republic of Cyprus. ONLY in the event of a technical problem or scheduled maintenance of the electronic platform (officially announced on the electronic platform) will passengers be allowed to fill in the required forms, in writing. These can be downloaded from https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/en/download-forms. In this case, travelers have to carry with them, in paper form, the required documentation.

b. The flight pass will include the following points: a) personal information of the passenger, b) declaration whether or not a person has traveled to/from/through or stayed/lived in a country with less favourable epidemiological criteria compared to the country of departure within 14 days before their arrival to the Republic of Cyprus, c) confirmation that a person has not experienced one of the following symptoms – fever, cough, fatigue, headache, muscle or body aches, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, congestion or runny nose within the last 14 days or he/she has not been in close contact with a COVID-19 confirmed case within the last 14 days, d) disclaimer that travel is taking place at a person’s own responsibility, and that the Republic of Cyprus or businesses operating within it, cannot be held liable for infection at any point during the travel process, e) disclaimer that upon return to their country of origin, a person will notify the Health Authorities of Cyprus, should they display COVID-19 disease in the 14 days after leaving the island, f) request form for citizens of third countries travelling from Grey Category Countries, wishing to acquire special permission, by submitting their requests electronically through the following link: https//cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/el/special-permission-request.

c. Airlines will not permit passengers to board the aircraft and travel to the Republic of Cyprus without a Cyprus Flight Pass (however, checking the validity of the information included in the Cyprus Flight Pass by travelers is NOT an obligation of the airlines). Any travelers arriving to the Republic of Cyprus without a Cyprus Flight Pass, will be subject to a fine of 300 Euros.

Q3: What procedures are in place for persons who have been vaccinated for COVID-19?

Information on this will be provided at a later date, once official guidance is available from European and international organizations such as ECDC and WHO. Until then, the same travel procedures will apply as for non-vaccinated persons.

Q4: What criteria is taken into consideration by the Cyprus government, for the categorization of countries which do not feature on ECDC lists?

In order to categorize the specific countries, a panel of experts considers amongst others, the same criteria used by ECDC for the production of the lists (daily number of 4 performed tests per 100,000 population, cumulative 14-day impact per 100,000 population, positivity rate, testing rate).

Travel protocols 

Q5: What protocols can be expected on airplanes?

a. Prior to boarding, travelers will need to show their ‘Cyprus Flight Pass’

b. Travelers’ temperature may possibly be taken prior to boarding

c. Wearing of masks is compulsory during the flight

Q6: What other protocols can be expected in Cyprus airports/port terminals?

a. Entrance or passage will only be allowed to travelers and staff

b. Travelers will have their temperature taken in the terminal

c. Wearing of masks is compulsory in all areas

Destination protocols 

Q7: Are there any general protocols that will apply to the whole destination?

a. Enhanced health, safety and hygiene protocols have been devised for all hospitality establishments, and extensive training of staff has taken place prior to the destination opening for visitors.

b. Physical distancing measures are followed in all parts of the destination, so that people who do not belong to the same travel group maintain a reasonable distance from each other (the minimum area occupied per person should be 2 sq. meters outdoors, and 3 sq. meters indoors).

c. Frequent ventilation is taking place in all indoor areas, so that air conditioning can be enhanced with regular input of fresh air.

d. Antibacterial gel is available in all establishments, at entrances, reception areas, lounges, public toilets, lifts etc.

e. Use of masks is compulsory in all indoor areas (taxis, buses, diving/safari jeeps, lifts, theatres, malls, etc.) and outdoor public places. Areas where people are seated whilst consuming food and beverage are excluded (restaurants, coffee-shops, bars, snack-bars, lobby bars, etc.). Also exempted are beaches, swimming pools and instances where persons are exercising. In any case, travelers should always consult the Visit Cyprus website for the latest information on this matter, as procedures are likely to change at very short notice. 

Q8: Buses/rental vehicles/taxis/diving and safari jeeps

a. Frequent ventilation and disinfection of buses

b. Disinfection of rental vehicles after their return (including keys)

c. Disinfection of all touch points after every route, for taxis and diving/safari jeeps (door handles, seats etc.)

d. Capacity of tour buses is allowed at 100%

Q9: Archaeological sites, museums, theme parks, mini cruises, diving sites, water sports

Disinfection of all touch points after every use (artifacts, touch screens, rides, door handles, seats, diving equipment, water sports equipment etc.)

Q10: Swimming pools, beaches and water parks

a. Disinfection of sun beds, umbrellas and personal safe boxes after every use

b. Distance of 4m between umbrellas and 2m between sunbeds of persons not belonging to the same group

c. Physical distancing will not apply to lifeguards who are called into urgent life-saving action

Q11: Accommodation establishments

a. Use of masks and carrying out of appropriate hand hygiene, for all front-of-house staff; for housekeeping staff gloves are also compulsory

b. Dispersion of guests at ‘group check-in’

c. Rooms will not be allocated to new arrivals, unless enough time has passed since the previous occupants left, for appropriate cleaning, disinfection and aeriation

d. Disinfection of room keys/cards after every departure

e. Where food or drink is displayed on self-service stations, appropriate sneeze guards or face masks are availed, and hand disinfection stations are installed; alternatively, items could be served directly by the staff

f. The minimum area occupied between persons not belonging to the same party, is 2 square meters outdoors, and 3 square meters indoors.

Q12: Restaurants, bars, cafes, pubs and night clubs

a. Use of masks and carrying out of appropriate hand hygiene, for all back-of-house and front-of-house staff

b. The maximum party size is set at 6 persons per table. In any case, travelers should always consult the Visit Cyprus website for the latest information on this matter, as procedures are likely to change at very short notice.

c. The minimum area occupied between persons not belonging to the same party, is 2 square meters outdoors, and 3 square meters indoors

d. Menus are disinfected after every use, unless they are disposable; alternatively they will be displayed at various communal points of the establishment, or made available digitally

e. Guests are encouraged to pay by card and not by cash

f. Disinfection of all touch points is carried out after each use e.g. chairs, tables, salt/pepper mills, sauce bottles, electronic payment machines etc.

g. An information sheet is made available at the entrance, displaying the maximum number of guests allowed in place at any given time

Testing and quarantine procedures at the destination

Q13: Is random testing going to be done at destination level?

Entire flights are randomly asked to undergo a COVID-19 test upon arrival, irrespective of where they flew from. Children under the age of 11.99 are exempted. The cost in such cases is borne by the Cyprus government.

Q14: How will we deal with travelers who test positive during their stay in Cyprus, and what is our capacity to do so? What happens to their close contacts? Who will cover the cost of hospitalization and treatment?

a. The Cyprus government is committed to taking care of all travelers who test positive for coronavirus during their stay, as well as their close contacts. The government will transfer these persons to separate facilities, covering the cost of lodging, food, drink, and medication; the traveler will only need to bear the cost of their airport transfer and repatriation flight, in collaboration with their agent and/or airline. Using separate facilities will not only ensure that patients are properly taken care of, but it will also provide peace of mind to other travelers, that their accommodation establishment is free of COVID-19. Should an establishment be found to host a person who has tested positive for coronavirus, it will thus not be ordered into a 14-day quarantine.

b. More specifically, a COVID-19 hospital with a surplus of beds has been made available exclusively for travelers who test positive for coronavirus, and these can be increased at very short notice if required. If travelers show critical symptoms, a significant number of intensive care units and respirators are available for their treatment.

c. In addition, 300 rooms in dedicated quarantine-hotels are available for close contacts of persons who test positive for coronavirus, and again these can be increased at very short notice if required.

Q15: What is the definition of a close contact?

a. A close contact is defined as ‘somebody who has come within very close physical contact of a person who has tested positive for coronavirus’ i.e. at a distance of less than 2m for more than 15 minutes. This may include for example, persons from the same family, co-travelers sharing the same room or even persons greeting each other by using physical contact.

b. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), for confirmed cases of COVID-19 it is recommended that contact tracing from an airplane, includes passengers seated two seats in all directions around the index case.

Q16: What is the quarantine duration for close contacts?

The normal duration of quarantine is 10 days, provided that the traveler tests negative on day 10 (cost of testing is borne by the individual). The duration of quarantine can be reduced further if a traveler has an earlier return flight; in such a case, the patient needs to test negative for coronavirus on the day prior to their departure. Note that during the quarantine period, it is mandatory for the traveler to self-isolate in their room at all times.

Further information

Q17: How can travelers be kept up-to-date with the latest developments, and informed about protocols implemented at the destination?

a. A dedicated email address has been set up by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism for this purpose at travel2020@visitcyprus.com

b. A dedicated team of destination experts will reply to traveler queries on Facebook Messenger (main page www.facebook.com/VisitCyprus.cy). Additional pages are available in the following countries: UK, DE, RU, SWE, FR, AT, GR, IT, UKR, NED, POL, BEL, ES, CH, ISR.

c. A dedicated call centre has been set up for the assistance of travelers who may have queries regarding the use of the “CyprusFlightPass”. The hours of operation of the help desk will be: Monday- Sunday 08:00- 20:00 Cyprus time

Queries via telephone: Calls within Cyprus: 1474 / Calls from abroad: +357 22 285 757

For queries in writing through the e-platform via the link: https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/en/contact-us 

d. All relevant information will also be made available on the websites www.visitcyprus.com and www.cyprusflightpass.gov.cy 

Source: Deputy Ministry of Tourism (March 2021)