Argentina and Chile reclassified from orange to red after re-evaluating countries' epidemiological risk of the disease COVID-19, dated 13/12/2021, which enters into force on Thursday 16 December.
According to a statement, 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 picture of 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 and from 15/10/2021 Oman as well as all the additional countries included in the updated list of the Recommendation of the European Council (EU) 2021/89, for the gradual abolition of temporary restrictions on unnecessary travel in the EU, they are evaluated epidemiologically by the Ministry of Health and are classified in 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
- Third Countries: United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Kuwait, Bahrain, 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: Greece
- Third Countries: Australia, Japan, Israel, Canada, Qatar, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Colombia, New Zealand, Uruguay, Rwanda
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.
Red Countries (Red) - Countries at higher risk compared to Green and Orange Countries
- Member States of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Poland Sweden, Czech Republic, Finland
- Small states: Andorra, Monaco, Vatican City, San Marino
- Schengen Area Members: Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway
- Third Countries: Egypt, Argentina, Armenia, Georgia, United States of America, United Kingdom, Jordan, Belarus, Lebanon, South Korea, Oman, Ukraine, Peru, Russia, Serbia, Chile
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.
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 in accordance with 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.
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.
In addition for all categories (green, orange, red and gray) passengers who meet the requirements for a diagnostic test in Cyprus instead of the country of departure are listed at the following link:
https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/el/passengers-eligible-for-a-test
It is noted that the above categorization of countries will be valid from December 16, 2021.
Conditions for vaccinated / recovered passengers:
Conditions that apply to vaccinated people or people who have recovered from the disease COVID-19 so that they can travel to the Republic of Cyprus, from any country of departure, without having to meet the requirements of the respective category, such as for example RT-PCR laboratory examination or obligation for self-restriction / quarantine etc. or issuance of a special permit, for entry purposes in the Republic of Cyprus are described in the following link:
https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/el/vaccinated-passengers
Taking into account the data obtained regarding the new variant of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 that was originally located in Botswana and signaled an alarm due to the large number of mutations it carries and for the preservation of public health, from November 26, 2021 , the Ministry of Health informs that:
(i) In addition to the measures already applicable and unaffected, all persons entering the Republic of Cyprus, by air, regardless of their country of departure and whether or not they hold an acceptable certificate of complete vaccination or an acceptable certificate of recovery from COVID-19 or negative laboratory test on their departure, from 06 December 2021, (00:01 am) to 10 January 2022, (23:59 pm) will undergo PCR diagnostic test for the disease COVID-19 upon arrival at the airports of the Republic of Cyprus. The cost of PCR diagnostics for the disease COVID-19, will be paid by the passenger.
ii) The entry and / or entry into the Republic of any person who during the last 14 days before his arrival in the Republic has either resided or passed through the territory of the following countries: South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Kingdom of Eswatini, Zimbabwe is prohibited , Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana.
For more information on people excluded from the ban and the procedure to follow please visit the link: https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/uploads/26112021_apagorefsieisodouneametallaxi_EN.pdf
It is emphasized that all passengers, regardless of the category of countries, including those holding a valid vaccination certificate must submit an application 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.
(ΚΥΠΕ / ΜΑΝ / ΗΦ