Cyprus has officially reopened its borders for tourists since June 2020. It started by allowing travelers from EU member states, as well as those coming from member countries of the European Economic Areas. Hotels and resorts in Cyprus have also opened, and international air travel has commenced.
To ensure the safety of everyone, travel restrictions have been implemented by the Cypriot government. The restrictions will be based on a traffic-light system of country categorizations, with entry requirements varying according to the category of country the traveler came from.
If you plan on visiting Cyprus soon, then read on, to find out the latest travel restrictions.
Who Can Enter Cyprus?
As mentioned, the restrictions for travelers entering Cyprus will be based on the categorization of the countries they came from. Countries are categorized according to their epidemiological situation, with the green countries having the most favorable epidemiological condition.
All travelers must fill out the Cyprus Flight Pass at least 24 hours before departure.
As of July 2021, here are the categorization of countries:
Green Countries
- Australia
- Austria
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Germany
- Holy See (Vatican City State)
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jordan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Romania
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Switzerland
All travelers coming from the Green countries can enter Cyprus with no need to undergo testing or quarantine upon entry.
Orange Countries
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- China
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Ireland
- Japan
- Lebanon
- Liechtenstein
- Macao
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- United States
Travelers coming from the Orange countries are required to submit a negative result of Covid-19 taken through PCR test and must be taken at least 72 hours prior to departure. However, they no longer need to be tested upon entry and will not be required to undergo quarantine.
Red Countries
- Albania
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brunei Darussalam
- Egypt
- Georgia
- Korea, Republic of
- Kuwait
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova, Republic of
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Russian Federation
- San Marino
- Spain
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
Travelers coming from the Red countries are required to submit a negative result of Covid-19 taken through PCR test and must be taken at least 72 hours prior to departure. They are also required to undergo testing upon arrival into Cyprus at their expense. But they no longer need to quarantine upon entry.
Countries that were not in any of the list above will be categorized as “Grey Countries”. Any traveler coming from the Grey countries will require special permission to enter Cyprus.
Vaccination Status of Travelers
Vaccination is not a prerequisite for travel to Cyprus. However, for people coming from any of the countries on the above list, vaccination certificates can be accepted as an additional facilitator.
The Cypriot government will honor the vaccination certificate as a travel requirement if the vaccines are any of the following – Janssen/Johnson & Johnson, Vaxzervia (AstraZeneca), Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Sputnik (Gam-COVID-Vac), and Sinopharm (BBIBP COVID-19).
Travelers who can provide proof that they have received the full doses of the vaccines will no longer be required to undergo testing upon entry, regardless of the categorization of the country they came from. In addition, they will not be asked to undergo quarantine even if they have been found to be close contacts of a positive case.
Protocols and Safety Measures
To ensure the safety of all visitors, there are new protocols and safety measures that were put in place by the Cypriot government. Here are some of them:
- First, travelers should expect temperature checks at border controls.
- Travelers should wear face masks at all times.
- A COVID-19 Information Desk will be available to assist all travelers upon arrival.
- Safety and hygiene protocols are implemented for all hotels, resorts, and other hospitality establishments.
- Physical distancing measures are all in public places.
- Antibacterial gels can be found at entrances, lounges, and reception areas of all establishments.
- A distance of at least 4 meters must be maintained between umbrellas and loungers at swimming pools and beaches.
- The government encourages everyone to pay using a card instead of cash.
Travelers must be updated with the latest developments when visiting Cyprus. The Ministry of Tourism of Cyprus has set up a dedicated email address for visitors who needed assistance. So if you have any questions or concerns related to your trip, you can send an email to travel2020@visitcyprus.com.
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