Cyprus: Authorities to amend COVID-19 country risk assessments from Aug. 5 /update 44

Event

The government will reclassify several countries from Aug. 5 according to its assessment of the local COVID-19 threat. Officials have upgraded the risk assessment for Azerbaijan, France, Iceland, Japan, Switzerland, and the US to red, and for Italy and Lithuania have upgraded it to orange. Official have downgraded Lebanon, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Qatar, and Taiwan to orange, and Liechtenstein, Monaco, and the Vatican City to green.

Authorities use a three-tier color-coded system for classifying countries by the risk of disease transmission. The tiers include the same “red”, “orange”, and "green" levels as the European Centre for Disease Control's (ECDC) categorization system; nonessential travel from countries not included in any of these categories is prohibited. All international arrivals must register online through the official Cyprus Flight Pass website within 48 hours before departure from their point of origin. For a complete list of the countries in each category, click here.

As of Aug. 3, all visitors to Cyprus must take a PCR or rapid antigen test every seven days after arrival; persons who have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and those who have recovered from the virus in the past six months are exempt.

Passengers from red countries must present a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure and take a second PCR test upon arrival at their own expense. These travelers must also self-isolate while waiting for the results of the second test.

Passengers from orange countries must present a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure. Cypriot citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate family members who have received at least the first dose of the two-dose vaccines, or have a medical reason to not get vaccinated may instead take a PCR test upon entry at their own expense and self-isolate while waiting for the results.

Travelers from green countries, which are considered low risk, may enter without restrictions.

Permitted travelers from all other countries must present a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure and self-isolate for 14 days on arrival; travelers without appropriate accommodations will be placed in government quarantine facilities. The isolation period can be ended early following a negative result to a test taken on or after day seven of isolation.

Authorities have lifted COVID-19 entry restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers from certain countries, including EEA-associated countries, Armenia, Bahrain, Belarus, Canada, China, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Ukraine, UAE, the UK, and the US. Travelers must upload a copy of their vaccine certificate to their Cyprus Flight Pass profile. All citizens of Cyprus who hold valid certificates of vaccination issued by their country of residence may enter Cyprus without restrictions.

Residents crossing between Cyprus and Northern Cyprus are no longer subject to quarantine, provided they can present a negative result from a PCR COVID-19 test or a rapid antigen test taken within the last seven days.

Domestic Restrictions
A "SafePass" is required at all locations where more than 10 people gather indoors or outdoors; this applies to venues including shops, catering establishments, and public services; limited exceptions are in place for open public spaces such as beaches and parks. A SafePass is defined as evidence of vaccination against COVID-19, recovery from COVID-19 in the previous six months, or a negative PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours. Gatherings are capped at 450 people outdoors and 500 people indoors. Facemasks are mandatory in indoor and outdoor public spaces.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.