A new revised epidemiological risk assessment of the countries was carried out by the Ministry of Health, according to which five countries change category.
In particular, Italy is classified from the Orange Category to the Green Category, Poland from the Green Category to the Orange Category while Finland, Hungary and Luxembourg are classified from the Orange Category to the Red Category.
It is noted that the specific differences come into force on Thursday, October 21, 2021.
According to the announcement of the Ministry, following a decision of the Council of Ministers, dated 18 February 2021, regarding the Action Plan for the gradual resumption of flights and the reopening of airports, the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Health re-evaluated the epidemiological as to the disease COVID-19.
The classification for the countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) including Switzerland in the Green, Orange or Red Categories is based on that of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Regarding third countries (United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Belarus, Qatar, Serbia, United States of America, Armenia, Georgia, Bahrain, 1/6) / 21 Kuwait and Canada as well as any additional countries included in the updated list of Recommendation of the European Council (EU) 2021/89, for the phasing out of temporary restrictions on unnecessary travel to the EU, are assessed epidemiologically by the Ministry Health and are classified into Green, Orange and Red.
The following categorization of countries, based on epidemiological risk assessment, is extremely dynamic and can change at any time as the pandemic evolves and epidemiological data change. To this end, new data will be announced and the list of countries will be updated frequently.
Green countries - Low risk countries at this stage
Member States of the European Union: Italy, Malta
Schengen Members: Liechtenstein
Small States: Vatican City
Third Countries: United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia
Please note that for passengers coming from Green Category countries, a laboratory test certificate is not required. COVID-19, but neither is self-restraint.
Orange Category Countries - Countries with potentially low risk but more doubtful compared to the Green Category
Member States of the European Union: France, Denmark, Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Czech Republic
Small States: Andorra Monaco,
Schengen area members: Iceland, Norway
Third Countries: Australia, Japan, Qatar, China (including Hong Kong, Macau), Bahrain, Uruguay, Rwanda, Chile
Please note that all passengers from the Orange countries are required to have a PCR laboratory test within 72 hours prior to departure and to have a certificate showing a negative PCR test for the virus.
It is also clarified that Cypriot citizens, their foreign spouses and their minor children, as well as passengers legally residing in the Republic from countries of the Orange Category, provided that they meet one of the following conditions may perform the molecular examination upon arrival. in the Republic:
They are passengers who have had at least the first dose of vaccines accepted by the Republic,
They are passengers aged 16 to 18 who have taken at least the first dose of vaccines accepted by the Republic, or
They are minor passengers 12 to 15 years old, or
They are passengers who for medical reasons can not be vaccinated, upon presentation of a relevant certificate from the Ministry of Health of the Republic.
It is noted that the cost of the examination is covered by them and in addition these people should remain under house arrest until the result is issued.
Red Countries (Red) - Countries at higher risk compared to Green and Orange Countries
Member States of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland
Small States: San Marino
Schengen Area Members: Switzerland,
Third Countries: Egypt, Armenia, Georgia, United States of America, United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Belarus, Lebanon, South Korea, Ukraine, Russia, Serbia, Singapore
It is noted that all passengers coming from the Red Category countries are required: a) to have a laboratory test within 72 hours before departure and to have a certificate proving a negative PCR test for the virus and b) to perform in a laboratory test upon arrival in the Republic of Cyprus.
It is noted that the cost of the exams is covered by them and in addition these people will have to remain under house arrest until the result is issued.
It is also clarified that Cypriot citizens, their foreign spouses and their minor children, as well as passengers legally residing in the Republic from countries of the Red Category, provided that they meet one of the following conditions falling within the following categories may fulfill the molecular examination upon arrival in the Republic:
They are passengers who have undergone at least the first dose of vaccines accepted by the Republic, or
They are passengers aged 16 to 18 who have taken at least the first dose of vaccines accepted by the Republic, or
They are minor passengers 12 to 15 years old, or
They are passengers who for medical reasons can not be vaccinated, upon presentation of a relevant certificate from the Ministry of Health of the Republic.
In such a case, the persons referred to in points 1-4 above remain in a compulsory self-restraint regime for 72 hours after their arrival and after the end of 72 hours undergo a molecular examination (PCR) at their own expense. If the result of the re-examination is negative, they are released from self-restraint.
Gray Category Countries (Special Permission):
Countries not listed above in the Green, Orange and Red categories are considered to be in the Gray category (Special Permission). For Gray Category countries, entry into the Republic of Cyprus is allowed only to the following categories of passengers:
Cypriot citizens and their family members (their foreign spouses and their minor children),
European citizens, 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, who are entitled to enter the Republic of Cyprus, after a special permit from the Republic of Cyprus as determined by the Deinfection Program COVID-19) Decree (No. 9) of 2021, as amended from time to time.
It is noted that passengers coming from the countries of this Category must have undergone a laboratory test by a recognized laboratory, with the sampling carried out during the last 72 hours before their trip to the Republic of Cyprus and have a certificate, proving negative PCR for COVID-19.
It is also clarified that Cypriot citizens, their foreign spouses and their minor children, as well as passengers legally residing in the Republic from Gray Category countries, provided that they meet one of the following conditions falling within the following categories may fulfill the molecular examination upon arrival in the Republic:
They are passengers who have undergone at least the first dose of vaccines accepted by the Republic, or
They are passengers aged 16 to 18 who have taken at least the first dose of vaccines accepted by the Republic, or
They are minor passengers 12 to 15 years old, or
They are passengers who for medical reasons can not be vaccinated, upon presentation of a relevant certificate from the Ministry of Health of the Republic.
Passengers arriving in the Republic of Cyprus from Gray Category (Special Permission) remain in a state of compulsory self-restraint or quarantine for fourteen (14) days or alternatively in a state of compulsory self-restraint or compulsory isolation (7) ) days after being re-tested for the disease COVID-19 (at own expense) on the 7th day and have a negative laboratory result.
It is noted that the above categorization of countries will be valid from October 21, 2021.
Conditions for vaccinated passengers:
The Ministry of Health clarifies the following that apply from 10 May for vaccinated passengers arriving in the Republic of Cyprus through the entrance gates:
Persons regardless of nationality, holding a valid vaccination certificate for the disease COVID-19 and arriving in Cyprus from abroad, regardless of the country of departure, will be exempted, for entry purposes, from the obligation to perform laboratory tests, as well as the obligation for self-restraint / quarantine, provided that the following conditions are met:
They hold a valid vaccination certificate from the following countries:
the Member States of the European Union (including Cyprus),
the countries of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway),
Switzerland,
Israel,
the UK,
Russia,
the United Arab Emirates,
Saudi Arabia,
Ukraine,
Jordan,
Lebanon,
Egypt,
Belarus,
Serbia,
Qatar,
Bahrain,
the United States of America,
Armenia,
Georgia,
Canada,
Kuwait and
China
They have been vaccinated with either one of the European Medicines Agency approved vaccines (Pfizer / BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Janssen), the Sputnik V vaccine, or the Sinopharm vaccine (BBIBP). COVID-19) or with Sinovac and have completed the vaccination regimen. It is noted that in the case of two-dose vaccines the person should have been vaccinated with both doses, while in the case of the Janssen vaccine (single-dose vaccine) 14 days should have elapsed between the vaccine dose and the travel date. More information is available at https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/en/vaccinated-passengers.
Finally, it is stated that all passengers, regardless of the country category, including those holding a valid vaccination certificate, must apply to CyprusFlightPass within 48 hours before the departure of their flight. In addition, for the purposes of ensuring Public Health and surveillance of the epidemiological picture, the Ministry of Health may carry out sampling laboratory molecular testing. COVID-19 to passengers (including persons holding a vaccination certificate) of selected flights.