Cyprus Has Reopened to Tourists

Last updated: October 9, 2020

Cyprus has officially reopened its borders to tourists in June but has only allowed travelers from certain nations. Hotels and resorts in Cyprus have also opened, and international air travel has commenced. The country is so keen to welcome tourists back that they offered to refund the travel costs for tourists who will test positive for Covid-19 after their visit.

To clarify, the Cypriot government split countries into two categories, Category A and Category B, based on the global epidemic data. That is to say, category A countries have the most favorable epidemiological status and are known as low-risk.

As of September 11, authorities in Northern Cyprus are suspending all inbound commercial flights to Ercan Airport starting midnight, Wednesday, September 9 due to lack of COVID-19 quarantine accommodation capacity. The suspension of flights will run until the end of this week, September 13.

Who Can Enter Cyprus?

Firstly, only travelers from the following countries can enter Cyprus. Below the conditions for each category are described.

In addition starting August 1, the United Kingdom has been included in the list of countries under Category B.

October 9 update: Lithuania has been removed from the “safe-countries list” of Cyprus. Starting October 9, travelers coming from Lithuania must present a negative Covid-19 test taken 72 hours before arrival. Meanwhile, Belgium, Slovakia, and Georgia were downgraded to “Category C”, which means travelers from these countries must go on a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Cyprus.

Entry Requirements for Travelers to Cyprus

In other words, travelers who came from countries under Category A do NOT need to undergo a COVID test, and quarantine is NOT applicable. However, those who came from countries under Category B would need to have a coronavirus test (PCR test) conducted within 72 hours of departure.

In addition, all passengers are required to apply for a Cyprus Flight Pass, where you need to create an account and provide your personal details including flight details to Cyprus. When the application is approved, a Cyprus Flight Pass will be issued. The flight pass is required before the passengers will be allowed to board their flight.

New Protocols and Safety Measures

For instance, 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:

Firstly, travelers should expect temperature checks at border controls.
Travelers should wear face masks.
A COVID-19 Information Desk will be available to assist all travelers upon arrival.
Safety and hygiene protocols are implementing for all hotels, resorts, and other hospitality establishments.
Physical distancing measures are all in public places.
Meanwhile, the antibacterial gels are 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.
Certainly, the use of masks and gloves are required for all restaurant and hotel staff.
Above all, the government is encouraging for all the guests to pay using a card instead of cash.

Travelers must be updated with the latest developments when visiting Cyprus. That is to say, Deputy Ministry of Tourism set up a dedicated email address for visitors who needed assistance. So if you have any questions or concerns related to your trip to Cyprus, you can send an email to travel2020@visitcyprus.com.