The European island of Cyprus is set to remove all of its Covid-19 related restrictions for travelers in the coming few months. A picturesque island in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, tourism is a key part of the country’s economy, and so news of their impending easing of restrictions is bound to be welcomed by both those working in the Cypriot travel industry and intrepid, travel-starved travelers alike.
However, whilst fully vaccinated travelers will be able to enter Cyprus without much in the way of restrictions, those who are not vaccinated are still set to face a few barriers when it comes to their entry. Here’s a closer look at how travel to Cyprus is set to change for fully vaccinated travelers, what restrictions unvaccinated travelers will have to face and an overview of the Covid-19 situation in the country.
Restriction Free Entry – What Travelers Should Know
Cyprus is set to join the growing list of travel destinations in Europe and around the world that have eased their Covid-19 related travel restrictions in the past few weeks. It was revealed on Wednesday by the Tourism Minister that the island is preparing to ease its entrance restrictions from March 1st for fully vaccinated travelers – a move that has been popular amongst European countries over the past few months – making entry into the country much easier for many.
At present, entry into the popular Mediterranean island requires all travelers, regardless of their vaccination status, to either show a negative RT-PCR test report or self-quarantine upon arrival – a requirement that is off-putting to many travelers who would rather visit countries with fewer hoops to jump through. However, in just a few weeks, this is set to change, and it will make Cyprus one of the easiest countries to visit in the process.
From March 1st, it is planned that all testing and quarantine requirements will be removed for those who are fully vaccinated. Travelers may simply show their proof of vaccination – such as the NHS app or the EUDCC – and they can benefit from the lack of entry restrictions. However, it should be noted that those whose last Covid-19 vaccine shot was more than 9 months ago will no longer be classed as fully vaccinated by the country.
The Transport Minister for Cyprus, Yiannis Karousos, confirmed that unvaccinated adults would still be able to enter the country – providing they comply with the testing and quarantine requirements that will be based on their country of departure. Cyprus is set to introduce a color-coded system for departure countries, which will see travelers face different entry requirements based on where they’re flying from.
Such requirements include:
- Unvaccinated travelers from “green” countries – will need to take a PCR test 72 hours prior to boarding or a rapid antigen test (also known as a lateral flow test) 24 hours before departure.
- Unvaccinated travelers from “red” countries – will also need to take a PCR test on arrival to Cyprus at their own expense
- Travelers from “grey” countries – will need special permission to enter
The start of the month saw cases of Covid-19 in Cyprus spike massively, reaching a high of almost 5,500 cases in a single day. The past week however has seen a decline in case numbers, with a daily average of just over 2,400 over the past week.
