LATEST TRAVEL GUIDANCE FOR UK TO CYPRUS

LATEST TRAVEL ADVICE FROM HMGOV UK AS AT 6TH NOV 2020

Still current at:7 November 2020Updated:6 November 2020Latest update:
Update to information on visas from January 2021 (‘Entry requirements’ page)

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:

the whole of Cyprus based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks.
The FCDO is not advising those already travelling in Cyprus to leave at this time. Travellers should follow the advice of the local authorities on how best to protect themselves and others, including any measures that they bring in to control the virus. You should contact your tour operator or airline if you have any questions about your return journey.

If you are returning to the UK from Cyprus, you will need to self-isolate on your return (unless you are exempt). Check the latest guidance for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

SOURCE  https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advic … =immediate

Source https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/12/20/coro … quD1Ma5ejk

Cyprus announced on Sunday that all passengers arriving from the UK must self-isolate for 14 days or 10 days provided they undergo a negative PCR test within that period.


The health ministry made the announcement after a number of EU countries banned UK flights when Britain said it had found a new strain of coronavirus.


The isolation requirement for passengers arriving at Larnaca or Paphos airports is irrespective of the PCR test arrivals must already have or undergo when they land, in the case of Cypriot nationals.

“This measure is complementary to the measure that is already in force for the presentation of a negative certificate of molecular test (PCR test) not older than 72 hours,” the ministry said, adding that the sampling of passengers at airports would also continue.

If symptoms occur during the self-isolation period people must call a doctor, the ministry said.

The regulation will take effect from Monday 6am.

“The new data is being evaluated by the scientific advisory committee and any new suggestions that may come up will be announced,” it concluded.

Literally just announced  - -

All UK arrivals will be taken to state allocated and sponsored quarantine hotels for seven days, the health ministry announced on Monday morning.


The measure is in effect from 6pm Monday (today).

The ministry had issued an advisory late Sunday saying anyone arriving from the UK would need to self-isolate following a ban on air traffic between several European countries and the UK after the government there said a mutation of Covid-19 was spreading fast.

The new health ministry statement also detailed that those under the age of 18 may self-isolate at home instead but hotels will be available to them if required – i.e., if they travelled with their parents, for example.

After seven days, those in the hotels will be required to take another PCR test and if the result is negative then they can self-isolate at home for another three days, raising the total period of self-isolation to ten days.

The health ministry confirmed that if the test taken on the seventh day is positive, the person will be treated as any other positive case and as such will be required to self-isolate at home for two weeks.

On the tenth day, as long as they have no symptoms, people can exit self-isolation. If people are symptomatic they must contact their personal doctor for further guidance.

Passengers will also have to take a PCR test upon arrival at the airport.

No more details were immediately available but further clarifications are expected throughout the day.

More later




source https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/12/21/coro … ne-hotels/

Clarification on quarantine
Coronavirus: Clarifications on new measures for UK travellers

https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/12/21/coro … ravellers/

UK now category c Britain has been moved to Category C. Users of the Cyprus Flight Pass are now no longer able to select United Kingdom as a country of origin, and it no longer appears in the lists of Category A and B countries.


The latest Category list is broken down as follows:



Countries in Categories A
Australia
Cyprus
Japan
Korea, Republic of
New Zealand
Singapore
Thailand
Countries in Categories B
China
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
Holy See (Vatican City State)
Hong Kong
Latvia
Lithuania
Norway
Rwanda
San Marino
Serbia
Sweden
Uruguay


The following passenger categories can still enter Cyprus from the UK (or any other Category C country)


Passenger Categories


Passengers travelling to the Republic of Cyprus from Category C Country (either direct flight or via intermediate Countries) or have stayed/lived in Category C Country(ies) within the past 14 days before their departure to the Republic of Cyprus or they will be passengers on an international journey from Category A or B Country via intermediate Countries of Category C with an overnight stay and belong to the following passenger groups, have the right to enter in the Republic of Cyprus as well as the option to request a COVID-19 test to be carried out on arrival in Cyprus:

Cypriot citizens, permanently residing in the Republic of Cyprus and their family members (foreign spouses and their minor children).
Persons legally residing in the Republic of Cyprus
Persons allowed to enter in the Republic of Cyprus under the Vienna Convention.
Persons, regardless of nationality, having a special permission by the Republic of Cyprus Persons, as defined under the infectious Diseases (Determination of Measures Against the Spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus disease) Decree (N.30), as amended.
If you try and fill in the Flight Pass and don't fit the above criteria you will get the following message:


You can not get a CyprusFlightPass

Only the following passenger Categories are permitted to fly to the Republic of Cyprus from country (ies) not included in the Category A and/or B Countries announced by the Ministry of Health.

Cypriot citizens, permanently residing in the Republic of Cyprus and their family members (foreign spouses and their minor children).
Persons legally residing in the Republic of Cyprus.
Persons allowed to enter in the Republic of Cyprus under the Vienna Convention.
Persons, regardless of nationality, having a special permission by the Republic of Cyprus, as defined under the infectious Diseases (Determination of Measures Against the Spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus disease) Decree (N.30), as amended
We are continually updating the classification of Countries and hope to welcome you to Cyprus very soon.




Source https://www.paphoslife.com/news/britain … isEFgb_6Ow

Latest

UK CAT C
If you phone the Covid team they will tell you that the UK is now Cat C. The Flight Pass no longer has UK in Cat B.
So no tourists allowed and all residents and MEU holders need to register on Connect2cy
Put your MEU number in where it says Cypriot ID and your passport number in where it says Cypriot passport number and it will produce an email.
Use the email to activate the account. Separate email for each adult.

At the moment that’s as far as I can advise you all.
Source https://www.paphoslife.com/news/britain … sOdSBGC348

it is indeed strange that the list includes Germany in cat B yet they are in a lockdown scenario

Am I right in saying that other than BA there are no flights coming to Cyprus from the UK for January. Looking at the schedule for Larnaca and Paphos AIrports, it looks like most incoming flights from UK are suspended until early February. The reason I ask is that A relation of mine who is Cypriot citizen is hoping to come over in early February, (she will have the Covid test done beforehand and will compy with Covid rules etc) but it looks like the flying options are very limited, other than with BA, who tend to be pretty expensive from my recollection..

having looked at the Hermes site for incoming UK flights for Larnaca and Paphos I cant see any flights at all from UK....

Thanks Toon,

yes same here, just I find one from Heathrow due into Larnaca next Sunday 17th..and when I look at the incoming schedule of flights for the next few weeks there's nothing until early February  see link below...I suppose we will just have to wait and hopefully things will gradually improve..

https://www.hermesairports.com/media/cm … 62D52.xlsx

Larnaca airport seems to be more more frequent from UK with BA continuing to come in from Heathrow..see link below

https://www.hermesairports.com/media/cm … FD0FE.xlsx

Schedules are only schedules it doesn’t mean they will fly... sadly jake this is where we are

To true.. Ill keep an eye it

I think its all you can do to be honest Jake

Latest from UK Gov




Source https://www.gov.uk/guidance/healthcare- … mmediately

Airports will be reopening in March with a colour-coded health risk assessment system, the ministry of transport announced on Thursday.

As of March 1, the existing category system will be replaced by the traffic-light system adopted by the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), whereby countries are classed as green, orange or red, with an added grey category for arrivals requiring a special permit.

EU member states and countries in the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) including Switzerland, will be sorted into the green, orange or red categories according to their epidemiological data.

In addition, the ministry of health will be evaluating data from third countries (United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Belarus) as well as those flagged by the ECDC as third countries to determine the category they should be classed in.

From April 1 Serbia, Qatar, Bahrain, United States, Armenia and Georgia will be added to the list.

Countries not included in the above list will be placed in the grey category.

In simple terms, the new system will roughly correspond to the A-B-C system currently in place in Cyprus.

The new categories, which will go into effect on March 1, are as follows:

Green Category

This category will include countries deemed low-risk by the health ministry according to their epidemiological data.

From March 1-31, passengers coming from countries in the Green category will be entitled to a free PCR laboratory test covered by the government.

From April 1, there will be no restrictions.

Orange Category

Passengers coming from countries in the orange category will be required to have a laboratory test within 72 hours before departure and to have a certificate proving a negative PCR test.

Red Category

Passengers flying from countries in the red category will be required to have a PCR test up to 72 hours prior to departure for Cyprus, and will need to undergo a second PCR test upon arrival.

No self-isolation will be required for those with negative results.

Grey Category

This category will concern countries not included on ECDC lists and those with unreliable epidemiological data.

Individuals coming from countries in the grey category will need to obtain a special permit to enter Cyprus.

They would also be required to enter compulsory self-isolation in accordance with the ministry of health’s instructions.

Cypriot citizens, persons lawfully residing in the Republic of Cyprus and European citizens will be exempt from having to obtain a permit if flying from a country in this category.



The ministry of health will continue reviewing the epidemiological picture of different countries and updating the categories on a weekly basis, but until further announcement, the rules announced on Wednesday following the latest health assessment will stay in place.

All passengers regardless of category will be required to undergo a PCR laboratory test prior to their arrival in Cyprus.

Random testing at airports will continue for all categories.

Finally, the transport ministry said it was extending until March 31 the mandatory seven-day quarantine of arrivals from the United Kingdom at a facility under the supervision of health authorities. That practice has been in place for British arrivals since December.

source - https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/02/18/coro … ht-system/

The health ministry on Saturday announced the updated list of countries under the traffic-light system in view of the reopening of airports on March 1.

The epidemiological picture of 19 different countries was re-evaluated by the surveillance unit of the ministry of health and classified into Green, Orange, Red categories based on the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) as well as an added Grey category for arrivals requiring a special permit.

All passengers, despite the country category are obliged to apply for the CyprusFlightPass within 24 hours before the departure of their flight, the health ministry said.

Moreover, random coronavirus tests will be carried out on selected passengers at the airport.

Low-risk countries are under the Green category and include Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Saudi Arabia. Passengers arriving from these countries do not require to self-isolate or carry a negative coronavirus test but they will undergo a PCR laboratory test upon arrival in Cyprus for the period March1 to 31, the cost of which will be covered by the republic.

As of April 1, there will be no restrictions for these countries.

Orange countries are those with low risk but probably more doubt than those in the Green category. Passengers are required to have undergone a PCR laboratory test within 72 hours before departure and to have a certificate proving they tested negative for the virus.

Denmark, Finland, Norway, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), South Korea, Thailand are under the Orange category.

Passengers from those countries may undergo the coronavirus test upon arrival at their own expense and remain in self-isolation pending the results if they are; Cypriot citizens or their family members (foreign spouses, and minor children), legal persons residing in the Republic, persons entitled to enter the Republic under the Vienna Convention, and persons regardless of nationality, where documented and following an announcement by the health ministry of Cyprus, or where the authorities of the country (Orange category) residing, do not provide laboratory analysis service.

Under the Grey category are third countries including the United Kingdom, Israel, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Belarus, and Rwanda.

Passengers arriving from these countries are allowed entry after the granting of special permission if they are Cypriot citizens and their family members (their foreign spouses and their minor children), European citizens or citizens of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland, legal persons residing in the Republic, persons entitled to enter the Republic under the Vienna Convention, and third-country nationals entitled to enter the Republic of Cyprus after special permission from the republic.

Apart from the special permission, passengers must have undergone a laboratory coronavirus test in the last 72 hours before their trip and have a certificate they tested negative for Covid-19.

Grey category passengers must remain in self-isolation for 14 days or for ten if they choose to carry out another coronavirus test with a negative result.

Up to March 31, people arriving from the United Kingdom must undergo a test upon arrival at Larnaca and Paphos airports, and are transported at state expense to hotels for a mandatory seven-day isolation. If they test negative after a week, those passengers are instructed to self-isolate for another three days at home.

The rest of the countries belong to the Red category and are considered high risk. Any arrivals from those countries must have conducted laboratory tests within 72 hours before departure and have a certificate proving the negative Covid-19 PCR test and undergo a laboratory coronavirus test upon arrival in the island. The cost of the test is covered by them and they will have to remain under isolation until the result is issued.

Exceptions are made for Cypriot citizens and their family members (their foreign spouses and their minor children), persons legally residing in the Republic, persons entitled to enter the Republic under the Vienna Convention who reside in Red country categories. People belonging in the above categories may travel to Cyprus and undergo a PCR test upon arrival but they must still self-isolate for 72 hours. After 72 hours they must undergo another PCR test at their own expense.

The ministry added that the categorization of countries can be changed at any time according to evolving differing data.

SOURCE https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/02/27/coro … vroBCjLsvM

Thanks for this great info, any idea where someone in the grey category would be able to apply for special permission?

Thanks

THE LINK TO REQUEST SPECIAL PERMISSION IS IN THE TEXT ON THE WEB PAGE

https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/en/special-permission

Αpplications for special permission cannot be submitted in the last 2 days prior to the expected travel date.
Please submit your applications early enough to avoid disappointment.
(Excluding aircraft crews, in cases where they are travelling as passengers for replacement purposes and seafarers)

Passengers, with nationality of third countries, travelling to the Republic of Cyprus from a country not included in Categories Green, Orange, Red are required to obtain beforehand a special permit as defined by the Infectious Diseases (Determination of Measures to Prevent the Spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus) Decree (No. 9) of 2021, as amended for the time being.

Exempt from this obligation are the following persons:

Cypriot citizens and members of their families (their alien spouses and under-age)
Persons legally residing in the Republic
Persons entitled to enter the Republic under the Vienna Convention
European citizens, citizens of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein) and Switzerland
Passengers’ applications for the granting of a Special Entry Permit must be submitted on line as of 04/08/2020 through the platform following the link https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/en/spec … on-request

It is emphasized that the obtaining of a Special Entry Permit to the Republic of Cyprus applies only to persons, with nationality of third Countries, travelling from countries not included in the Categories in Categories Green, Orange, Red, in accordance with the categorisation of countries as announced by the Ministry of Health, and shall be granted only in the following cases:

First degree relatives of persons who reside legally in the Republic and/or are economically active in the Republic (spouse, children, parents) for family reunion purposes
Persons whose arrival in the Republic is necessary for the purpose of implementing public projects or for honouring other important professional commitments
Domestic Workers or Workers that have already been granted an approval for any other work in the Republic by the competent Ministry or Department - Learn more
Workers in Agriculture and Livestock field - Learn more
Athletes/ Referees/ Supporting personnel, participating in professional sport activities and for Athletic Reasons
Changes of aircraft crews in the case where they are travelling as passengers for replacement purposes
Seafarers for the purpose of crew change or repatriation
Requests for the granting of a special permit may be submitted through the e-platform within 14 days prior to the expected travel date and the approval granted shall be valid for a month since the date of issue.

Upon the granting of the special permit a unique number will be sent exclusively connected to the passenger’s identity card number or passport number.

The passenger would then be able to use the said number in filling out his/her application for acquiring a CyprusFlightPass, by writing it down in the required space as special permit number.

With respect to requests for aircraft crew changes and seamen these shall be submitted to and become accepted ONLY by ground handling service providers and agents and must contain, amongst other, the following additional details:

Name of Ground Handling Service Providers and Airline Company Name or Aircraft Registration Number in the case of a private flight by which the crew members are employed
Ship’s name and Agent’s Details: (Name, Surname, Agent’s company, contact number)

Thanks very much

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/cypr … 22274.html

That is indeed good news for tourism but needs both doses though not just one.... and that could see many not being able to travel until after the second dose which on present timescales is 12 weeks after the first...  small numbers may make the may June slots maybe larger numbers after June....   However it does say there are talks taking place to allow for some flexibility to allow others without the vacc cert or 2nd dose to be able to travel  - what that entails i dont now yet  its a wait and see situation.

Cyprus is nowhere near the levels of vaccinations that the UK and other countries are  -  although there is a lot of antigen testing going on  but mainly for those who work.....
Currently authorities here are still doing 69 years old plus.

AFAIK the vaccination doesnt stop a person catching covid nor does it stop a person re-transmitting covid, but reduces the impact of it on the person so i think there is a potential problem.

Dont get me wrong I am not anti vacc - we will probably take it when we are  programmed to do so.. but thats a long way away for many of us