Cyprus Presents New Categorisation of Countries Based on Their COVID-19 Situation

Cyprus’ Epidemiological Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of Health has reassessed the COVID-19 situation in other countries and has decided to publish a new categorization of countries according to the current epidemiological situation in their territory.

The Council of Ministers’ decision concerning the plan for a steady restart, the re-opening of airports, and the categorization of countries will be effective, starting on March 18, 2021.

Taking into account a country’s epidemiological risk, the Health Ministry has made a division into Green, Orange, Red, and Grey categories, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

The new categorization of countries announced by the government is as follows:

Green Category representing countries with a low risk includes Iceland (Schengen Member State), Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia (third countries).

All passengers coming from these countries are not required to submit a COVID-19 certificate or stay self-isolated. However, they have to undergo a PCR test upon arrival in Cyprus from March 1 to March 31, 2021, covered by the Republic of Cyprus.

Orange Category representing countries with a lower risk includes Denmark and Portugal (EU Member States), Norway (Schengen Member State), and China, South Korea, and Thailand (Third Countries).

All passengers coming from this category must undergo a PCR test 72 hours before departure and have a certificate that shows a negative Coronavirus result.

It was also noted that all persons coming from the countries of this category, which are Cypriot citizens, legal residents in the Republic, entitled persons who enter under the Vienna Convention, or persons whose countries do not provide testing services might undergo the molecular examination after entering Cyprus.

They should pay themselves for the examination costs.

Red Category that represents countries with a higher risk than the Green and Orange Categories includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Ireland, Croatia, Luxemburg, Romania, Spain, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Finland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Germany, Greece (EU Member States), Andorra, Monaco, Vatican City, San Marino (micro-states), Switzerland, Liechtenstein (Schengen Member States).

All passengers coming from this category must undergo a PCR test 72 hours before departure and a second test after entering Cyprus. The examination cost should be borne by travelers themselves.

Only Cypriot citizens and family members, legal residents, and persons entitled to the Vienna Convention can enter Cyprus after undergoing a Coronavirus test upon their arrival.

Grey Category represents countries with special permission to enter, including the United Kingdom, Israel, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Belarus, and Rwanda (Third countries). For the countries belonging to this group, only the following categories of passengers are allowed to enter:

–          Cypriot citizens and family members

–          European citizens and European Economic Area countries citizens

–          Legal residents of the Republic

–          Entitled persons by the Vienna Convention

–          All persons with special permission issued by the Republic of Cyprus

All persons entering Cyprus from the Grey Category countries must stay self-isolated for 14 days. Those who provide a negative COVID-19 test on the tenth day are not required to self-isolate any longer.

The Ministry also highlights that all persons, no matter their country of origin, should submit an application for the CyprusFlightPass 24 hours before entering Cyprus.