The Mediterranean island of Cyprus is the third most populous and largest country in the region and has many places worth visiting for curious and inquisitive visitors. The country is known for the presence of about 40 beaches marked with a blue flag, and the European Environment Agency ranks these resorts at the top of the list of clean bathing water.
The country is associated with places named in mythology, such as the Baths of Adonis, a beautiful waterfall near Kriya Vrisa, and it is known as the birthplace of the Greek goddess of love Aphrodite.
Hirokoitia, painted churches in the Troodos and Paphos regions are three Cypriot sites protected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Before booking a trip to Cyprus, here is a short guide with the proposed entry requirements.
Who can enter Cyprus?
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the country updates the risk assessment list every Monday, listing the countries in three different categories, which set out the rules for travelers arriving in Cyprus from each country.
Green indicates low-risk countries, orange indicates moderately high risk, and red is a very high-risk area.
A recent risk assessment by the Cypriot government shows that green countries whose travelers are free from any testing or self-isolation requirements include the following:
Austria
Bulgaria
Germany
Latvia
Hungary
Poland
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Czech Republic
Liechtenstein
Norway
Australia
Northern Macedonia
Jordan
Canada
New Zealand
Singapore
However, in addition to “green” countries, fully vaccinated travelers, regardless of their nationality, can travel to the Republic of Cyprus without isolation or testing requirements. However, the required form must be completed within 24 hours of arrival in the Republic of Cyprus.
Travelers who can enter but need a COVID-19 test result
Unlike green travelers, those arriving from orange countries must present a negative PCR test certificate, which indicates that the owner has tested negative for coronavirus in the last 72 hours before arriving in Cyprus.
Orange countries, as the latest list of risk assessments shows, are as follows:
Belgium
Greece
Italy
Croatia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Sweden
Finland
Vatican
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qatar
China
Hong Kong
Macau
Taiwan
Bahrain
Serbia
Saudi Arabia
Passengers arriving from Orange countries who are citizens of Cyprus and members of their families, legally residing on the island or have the right to enter in accordance with the rules of the Vienna Convention, may undergo a medical examination upon arrival.
In addition, people whose country of residence does not provide laboratory research services, after the issuance of the document by the Ministry of Health of Cyprus, can conduct them, but their costs must be covered by the passenger, who must remain self-isolated until the announcement of the result.
Who is banned from entering Cyprus?
Travelers coming from the red category can enter only for absolutely necessary purposes. They must pass the double test requirements, ie the traveler must provide a certificate of negative PCR result obtained 72 hours before entering Cyprus, and conduct a second test upon arrival. In addition, the traveler must cover the cost of the test and stop self-isolation after the issuance of test results.
The countries of the red category presented in the following list include:
France
Denmark
Estonia
Ireland
Spain
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Portugal
Andorra
Monaco
San Marino
Egypt
Switzerland
Iceland
Azerbaijan
United States
Japan
Israel
Lebanon
Albania
Armenia
Georgia
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Kuwait
Belarus
Montenegro
Moldova
Brunei
South Korea
Ukraine
Russia
In addition to travelers from the red countries, arrivals from the “gray” zone, which can fly to Cyprus only with a special permit, are also prohibited and must undergo mandatory self-isolation for 14 days. This time can be reduced by passing a PCR test on the seventh day of quarantine. Those who test positive for coronavirus will be quarantined for 14 days, and children under the age of 12 are not required to be tested.
What to expect when visiting Cyprus in a pandemic?
From July 30, the country introduces a mandatory requirement for a face mask for indoor activities involving more than one person, and for outdoor activities involving more than two people.
Parks, beaches, restricted areas, zoos and trails are open to the public, while public events such as gatherings, demonstrations, parades, concerts and festivals are prohibited.
Fees in private homes should not exceed the limit of 20 people, but the limit may be 450 people for vaccinated, subject to health regulations.
Buy travel insurance before visiting Cyprus
Anyone planning to visit Cyprus this summer is advised to purchase travel insurance to ensure that money is not lost in the event of an outbreak of epidemic and pandemic situations due to the coronavirus situation.
Before buying travel insurance for travel to Cyprus, everyone should check whether it includes medical benefits and low cost discounts, and it covers at least 30,000 euros for emergency medical expenses.
Offers for cost-effective travel insurance for travel to Cyprus or any other EU country can be found at MondialCare, AXA Assistance or Europ Assistance.
The situation with COVID-19 and vaccination in Cyprus
Recent data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) show that Cyprus has reported three deaths caused by coronavirus and 389 positive cases with the virus in the last 24 hours. Since January 2020, 441 people have died in the country, 105,982 people have been infected with the virus.
Cyprus is conducting a successful vaccination campaign, with 74.6% of the population vaccinated with a single dose of COVID and 66.7% fully immunized against coronavirus, according to the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention.