Press Releases

The Ministry of Health clarifies that, as of the 4th of January at 23:00, passengers over the age of 12 arriving in the Republic of Cyprus must undergo a PCR laboratory test within 48 hours prior to departure.

• The decision concerns all passengers regardless of vaccination history.
• It is understood that the above requirement also applies to passengers who travel on January 4th or later and have completed the CyprusFlightPass within 48 hours before January 4^th.
• It is recalled that all passengers, upon arrival, regardless of vaccination history, must undergo a PCR laboratory test, the cost of which is borne by themselves.
• In addition, passengers must undergo a rapid antigen test upon the completion of 72 hours after their arrival. Passengers holding proof that they have received the booster/3rd dose of a vaccine are an exception.

The above applies to passengers from the following countries:

• European Union member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Estonia, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Czech Republic, Finland
• Small states: Andorra, Monaco, Vatican City, San Marino
• Schengen members: Switzerland, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway
• Third countries: Australia, Egypt, Argentina, Armenia, Georgia, United States of America, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Japan, Indonesia, Jordan, Israel, Canada, Qatar, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Colombia, Kuwait, Belarus, Lebanon, Bahrain, New Zealand, South Korea, Oman, Ukraine, Uruguay, Peru, Rwanda, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Chile.

Grey Category countries (Special Permission):
Countries that are not included in the aforementioned list are considered to belong in the Grey Category (Special Permission).

For the Grey Category countries, entry into the Republic of Cyprus is only allowed for the following categories of passengers:

(i) Cypriot citizens and family members (alien spouses and their underage children),
(ii) European citizens and citizens of European Economic Area countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland,
(iii) Persons legally residing in the Republic,
(iv) Persons entitled to enter the Republic under the Vienna Convention, and
(v) Third country nationals who are allowed to enter the Republic of Cyprus following a special permission from the Republic, as this is defined in the Quarantine Decree (N.9) of 2021, as this is modified each time.

It is understood that all passengers (aged 12 and above) travelling from the Grey category coutries, regardless of vaccination history, as of the 4^th of January at 11 pm, must undergo a PCR laboratory test within 48 hours prior to departure, as well as upon arrival (the cost is borne by the passenger).

In addition, passengers arriving in the Republic of Cyprus from the Grey Category countries (Special Permission) shall remain in mandatory self-isolation or mandatory quarantine for a period of fourteen (14) days or alternatively, in mandatory self-isolation or mandatory quarantine for a period of seven (7) days provided that they undergo another Covid-19 test (at their own expense) on the 7th day and the result comes back negative.

Taking into consideration data arising regarding the new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 Β.1.1.529 virus that was originally traced to Botswana and which is alarming due to the large number of mutations it presents, and in order to safeguard public health, as of 26 November, 2021, the Ministry of Health informs that:

i) In addition to the already applicable measures, which remain unaffected, all persons entering the Republic through airport, regardless of the country of departure and whether or not they hold a valid certificate of complete vaccination or a valid certificate of recovery from COVID-19 or negative laboratory test at their departure, from 6 December 2021 (00:01 am) until 10 January 2022 (23:59 pm) they will undergo a PCR diagnostic test for COVID-19 during their arrival at the airports of the Republic. The cost of the PCR diagnostic test for COVID-19 will be borne by the passenger.

ii)The arrival and/or entry into the Republic of any person who, during the last 14 days before his/her arrival in the Republic, either resided or passed through the territory of the following countries is prohibited:

• South Africa,
• Namibia,
• Lesotho,
• Kingdom of Eswatini,
• Zimbabwe,
• Mozambique,
• Malawi
• Botswana

For further information on people who are exempt from the prohibition and the procedure they should follow please visit: https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/uploads/26112021_entrytoCyprusprohibitednewstrain_EN.pdf

It is also noted that all passengers, regardless of the country’s category, including those holding a valid certificate of vaccination, are obliged to apply for the CyprusFlightPass within 48 hours before the departure of their flight. Moreover, for the protection of public health and the monitoring of the epidemiological situation, passengers of selected flights (including passengers holding a vaccination certificate) may undergo a random laboratory molecular testing carried out by the Ministry of Health.

(MV)