COVID-19 Destination Protocol, Cyprus – valid from 18th April ‘22

A. Entry into the country

Q1(a): What are the requirements for entry into the country?

Below is a summary of the entry requirements when somebody is traveling to Cyprus.

Persons Persons Non-

who are who are vaccinated
Entry requirements
fully recently and non-
vaccinated* recovered* recovered
Completion of passenger locator form No No No
prior to travel (Cyprus Flight Pass)
PCR test 72h or antigen rapid test 24h No No Yes
prior to departure (traveler-paid)
PCR test upon arrival to Cyprus No No No
(traveler-paid)

* Definition of fully vaccinated or recently recovered persons can be found in Q1(b)

Q1(b): What procedures are in place for persons who have been fully vaccinated or are
recently recovered from COVID-19?

Vaccinated or recovered passengers may enter the Republic of Cyprus, provided that
they fulfil one of the following conditions:

i. They hold a European Digital COVID Vaccination or Recovery Certificate, or

equivalent Vaccination or Recovery Certificate from third countries that have
joined the EU Digital COVID Certificate System (EUDCC).
ii. They hold a valid certificate of vaccination issued by the competent Authorities of
any third country.

It should be noted that, vaccination certificates issued by the competent authorities of:
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Croatia,
Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France,
Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia,
Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro,
Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates,
United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man),
Uruguay, Vatican City State, are only being accepted in digital form through the EU
Digital Covid Certificate or equivalent – see further information in Q2.

Cyprus considers as authorized for travel purposes, the following vaccines:

AstraZeneca, (Vaxzervia, COVISHIELD, SKBio), Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna,
Johnson&Johnson/Janssen, Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac), Sinopharm (BBIBPCOVID-

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 19), Sinovac (CoronaVac), Covaxin, Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19, CovaVax and
Sputnik Light (the latter only as a booster dose in the basic vaccination scheme).

Travelers aged 18 and over are considered fully vaccinated only if a period of 270 days
(9 months) has not elapsed, after administration of the 2nd dose of a two-dose vaccine
or the 1st dose of a single-dose vaccine. Otherwise, they should have received the
booster/3rd dose in the case of a two-dose vaccine or the booster/2nd dose in the case
of a single dose vaccine. Travelers aged under 18 are considered to have completed
their vaccination scheme if they have received the 2nd dose in the case of a two-dose
vaccine or the 1st dose in the case of a single-dose vaccine (in the latter case, two weeks
must have elapsed from administration of the vaccine).

Persons are considered to be recently recovered from COVID-19, 7 days after testing
positive and for a period of 180 days.

Travelers who can prove that they have received all necessary doses of an authorized
vaccine or that they have recently recovered from COVID-19, will not be required to
undergo any tests to visit Cyprus. It should though, be noted, that the Republic of Cyprus
still reserves the right to randomly test any arriving flight, and in such a case fully
vaccinated or recently recovered persons will not be exempted. For random testing, the
cost is always borne by the Cyprus government. In addition, adherence to all destination
protocols is expected by everyone, including fully vaccinated and recently recovered
travelers.

Q1(c): What procedures are in place for persons who are neither fully vaccinated nor recently
recovered?

Persons who are neither fully vaccinated nor recently recovered are required to undergo
either a molecular test (PCR) at a certified lab, with the sample taken within the last 72
hours prior to flight departure, or an antigen rapid test at a certified lab, with the sample
taken within the last 24 hours prior to flight departure. Children who arrive in Cyprus
before their 12th birthday, are exempted from testing.

Q2: What procedures are in place for persons who are holders of an EU Digital Covid
Certificate (EUDCC) or equivalent?

The following certificates are accepted as part of the EUDCC procedure:

a. Vaccination certificate (issued upon completion of a person’s full vaccination
program). Cyprus considers as authorized for travel, the following vaccines:
AstraZeneca, (Vaxzervia, COVISHIELD, SKBio), Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna,
Johnson&Johnson/Janssen, Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac), Sinopharm
(BBIBPCOVID-19), Sinovac (CoronaVac), Covaxin, Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19,
CovaVax and Sputnik Light (the latter only as a booster dose in the basic vaccination
scheme).
b. COVID recovery certificate (valid 7 days after testing positive and for a period of 180
days).
c. Negative PCR test, with the sampling being carried out within 72h prior to departure
or antigen rapid test, with the sampling being carried out within 24h prior to departure.
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 Vaccination certificates and recovery certificates issued by the competent authorities of:
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Croatia,
Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France,
Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia,
Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro,
Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates,
United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man),
Uruguay, Vatican City State, are only being accepted through the EUDCC or
equivalent.

Q3: What documentation is necessary for traveling to Cyprus?

a. A digital or hard copy of any of the following is required for travel to Cyprus
o EUDCC (see above for details)
o Vaccination certificate (see above for details)
o Recovery certificate (see above for details)
o Proof of negative test (see above for details)
b. Verification of the certificate’s authenticity, is the sole responsibility of border control
services in the country of departure. The traveler is responsible and personally liable
in the event of provision of untruthful information, and in such a case, will be subject
to penalties upon arrival to Cyprus.
c. Airlines will not permit passengers to board the aircraft and travel to the Republic of
Cyprus without possessing any of the above documents (however, checking the
validity of the documents provided is NOT an obligation of the airlines).
d. Immigration control services in Cyprus will also verify possession of any of these
documents, upon travelers’ arrival to Cyprus
e. Any travelers arriving to the Republic of Cyprus without possessing any of the above
documents will be subject to a fine of 300 Euros. Any travelers then refusing to
undertake a required PCR test upon arrival will be placed into mandatory 10-day
quarantine, with the cost of transport, lodging, meals and beverages paid by them.
f. It should be noted that self-test results are not considered valid documents for travel
to Cyprus.

B. Travel protocols

Q4: What protocols can be expected in Cyprus airports/port terminals?

a. Entrance or passage to these buildings is only allowed for travelers and staff
b. Travelers may have their temperature tested at the entrance of the terminal
c. Wearing masks is compulsory in all areas

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C. Movement within the destination

Q5: Are there any local restrictions on movement?

To enjoy certain services across the destination, where a large number of people
congregate, a local Safe Pass will be needed in the event of a check by an authorized
officer. Examples where a local Safe Pass is required for entry include churches,
conference venues, wedding venues, events venues, casinos, theme parks, children
play areas, mini cruises, nightclubs, discos, music dance venues, restaurants, coffee
shops, bars, pubs and other catering facilities (including catering facilities in shopping
malls) etc.

A Safe Pass is considered valid if proof of vaccination, proof of recent recovery from
COVID-19, a 72-hour PCR laboratory test or a rapid antigen test is presented (in the
latter case, the permitted duration of the test varies depending on the type of
establishment). An EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate (or equivalent) is also sufficient for
this purpose, provided that it is vaccination-based or recovery-based.

Places where the local Safe Pass does not need to be presented include beaches, picnic
sites, promenades, outdoor exercise areas, supermarkets, mini markets, bakeries,
kiosks, shopping malls, museums, archaeological sites and hotel facilities (the latter only
if someone is a hotel resident),

*Note that for Safe Pass purposes, the vaccination certificate is considered expired,
when a period of 7 months has elapsed from the second dose of a two-dose vaccine
or the first dose of a single dose vaccine. Also, for Safe Pass purposes, the recovery
certificate is considered expired when a period of 3 months has elapsed from testing
positive. After these periods, a test is required for movements within the destination
(see above). A list of available labs for PCR testing within the destination can be found
at the link https://www.visitcyprus.com/news/829-covid19-
approved_laboratories. With regards to rapid testing, this is widely available at
various labs, chemists and pharmacies across the island.

D. Destination protocols

Q6: General protocols

a. Enhanced health, safety and hygiene protocols have been devised for all hospitality
establishments, cultural sites and entertainment venues, and extensive training of
staff has taken place prior to the destination opening for visitors.
b. Physical distancing measures are followed, so that people who do not belong to the
same travel group maintain a reasonable distance from each other (the minimum
area occupied per person should be 2 sq. meters outdoors, and 3 sq. meters
indoors).
c. Adequate ventilation provisions are undertaken for all public indoor areas, so that
apart from air conditioning there will be regular input of fresh air.
d. Antibacterial gel/liquid is available in all establishments, at entrances, reception
areas, lounges, public toilets, lifts etc.

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 e. Use of masks is compulsory in all indoor areas (taxis, buses, diving/safari jeeps, lifts,
theatres, malls etc.). Areas where people are seated whilst consuming food and
beverage (restaurants, coffee-shops, bars, snack-bars, lobby bars, etc.) are
excluded from this provision. In any case, travelers should always consult the Visit
Cyprus website for the latest information on this matter, as procedures may change
at short notice.

Q7: Buses/rental vehicles/taxis/diving and safari jeeps/yachts

a. Frequent ventilation and disinfection

b. Disinfection of rental vehicles or yachts after their return (including keys)
c. Disinfection of all high frequency touch areas after every route (door handles, seats
etc.)
d. Capacity of tour buses is allowed at 100%

Q8: Swimming pools, beaches and water parks

a. Disinfection of sun beds, umbrellas and personal safe boxes after every use
b. Distance of 4m between umbrellas and 2m between sunbeds of persons not
belonging to the same group
c. Physical distancing does not apply to lifeguards who are called into urgent life-saving
action

Q9: Accommodation establishments

a. Use of masks and carrying out of appropriate hand hygiene, for all front-of-house
staff; for housekeeping staff gloves are also compulsory
b. Dispersion of guests at ‘group check-in’
c. Rooms will not be allocated to new arrivals, unless enough time has passed since
the previous occupants left, for appropriate cleaning, disinfection and aeriation
d. Disinfection of room keys/cards after every departure
e. Where food or drink is displayed on self-service stations, appropriate sneeze guards
or face masks are availed, and hand disinfection stations are installed; alternatively,
items could be served directly by the staff

Q10: Restaurants, bars, cafes, pubs and night clubs

a. Use of masks and carrying out of appropriate hand hygiene, for all back-of-house
and front-of-house staff
b. The maximum party size is set at 12 persons per table. In any case, travelers should
always consult the Visit Cyprus website for the latest information on this matter, as
procedures are likely to change at very short notice.
c. Menus are disinfected after every use, unless they are disposable; alternatively, they
will be displayed at various communal points of the establishment, or made available
digitally
d. Disinfection of all touch points is carried out after each use e.g. chairs, tables,
salt/pepper mills, sauce bottles, electronic payment machines etc.

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 e. An information sheet is made available at the entrance, displaying the maximum
number of guests allowed in place at any given time

E. Testing and quarantine procedures at the destination

Q11: Is random testing going to be done at the destination?

Entire flights are randomly asked to undergo a COVID-19 test upon arrival, irrespective
of where they flew from. The cost in such cases is borne by the Cyprus government.
Test results are available within a few hours on the digital platform www.covid-
testcyprus.com, and self-isolation is not required until the test becomes available.
Children who arrive in Cyprus before their 12th birthday, are exempted from testing.

Q12: How will we deal with travelers who test positive during their stay in Cyprus? What
happens to their close contacts? Who will cover the cost of hospitalization and treatment?

a. The Cyprus government is committed to taking care of all travelers who test positive
for coronavirus during their stay, as well as their close contacts. The government will
transfer these persons to separate facilities, covering the cost of lodging, food, drink,
and medication; the traveler will only need to bear the cost of their airport transfer
and repatriation flight, in collaboration with their agent and/or airline.
b. More specifically, a COVID-19 hospital with a surplus of available beds and intensive
care units equipped with respirators, has been made available exclusively for
travelers who test positive for coronavirus.
c. In addition, 300 rooms in dedicated quarantine-hotels are available for persons
deemed to be close contacts of persons who test positive for coronavirus, and these
can be increased at very short notice if required.
d. A person who tests positive or is considered a close contact, may alternatively
choose to self-isolate in a private home / apartment rental, at their own expense,
provided that their room is not shared with others and that they do not make use of
public facilities.

Q13: What is the definition of a close contact?

a. A close contact is defined as ‘somebody who came into close physical contact to a
person who has tested positive for coronavirus’ i.e. at a distance of less than 2m for
more than 15 minutes.
b. Contact tracing from an airplane only includes passengers from the same family.
c. Based on the protocol for close contacts of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases,
ONLY the following categories are placed in quarantine:
• Individuals who have not completed their vaccination scheme.
• Individuals who have completed their vaccination scheme and a period of 7
months has already elapsed.
• Individuals holding a Certificate of Recovery and a period of 90 days has already
elapsed.

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Q14: What is the quarantine duration for close contacts?
The normal duration of quarantine is 5 days. Travelers are tested (rapid test) on days 3
and 5 and if negative in both instances, they are released. The duration of quarantine
can be reduced further if a traveler has an earlier return flight; in such a case, the traveler
needs to test negative for coronavirus on the day prior to their departure (test should be
PCR and the cost borne by the individual). Note that during the quarantine period, it is
mandatory for the traveler to self-isolate in their room or designated spaces at all times.

Q15: What is the isolation duration for positive cases?

The duration of isolation for positive cases is 7 days from the date of testing positive and
they are then released without the need to test negative. The duration of isolation can
be reduced further if a traveler tests negative for coronavirus on the 5th day after testing
positive (test should be PCR and the cost borne by the individual). Note that during the
isolation period, it is mandatory for the traveler to self-isolate in their room or designated
spaces at all times.

F. Further information
Q16: How can travelers be kept up-to-date with the latest developments, and informed about
protocols implemented at the destination?
a. A dedicated email address has been set up by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism for this
purpose at [email protected]
b. A dedicated team of destination experts will reply to traveler queries on Facebook
Messenger (main page www.facebook.com/VisitCyprus.cy). Additional pages are
available in the following countries: UK, DE, RU, SWE, FR, AT, GR, IT, UKR, NED,
POL, BEL, ES, CH, ISR.
c. All relevant information will be made available on the website www.visitcyprus.com.