The Ministry of Transport, Communication and Works has issued clarification on the Lifting of Measures to and from Larnaca and Paphos Airports.
As already announced, the gradual lifting of restrictive measures on flights to and from Larnaca and Paphos Airports will take place in two phases:
• PHASE A – June 9, 2020 – June 19, 2020
• PHASE B – June 20, 2020
Depending on the epidemiological profiles presented, the Countries will be categorized by the Ministry of Health into Class A and B. Category C will include those Countries not included in Categories A and B. The Ministry of Health continues to evaluate and categorize countries constantly and the relevant lists will be updated on the basis of the epidemiological criteria.
The restoration of free movement of persons between the Republic of Cyprus and other countries and the lifting of restrictions on free flights will be a gradual process and will be carried out in a coordinated manner.
The primary condition for the restoration of flights was and is the epidemiological situation, with additional measures – such as health safety requirements at various points of travel within airports – to mitigate health risks. The measures are flexible to allow for their reimplementation or their faster removal where allowed by the epidemiological conditions.
The timetable for the completion of the whole process will also be affected by the compliance of the citizens who will be transported to the airports of the Republic.
All stages will be based on the assessment of the evolving situation and the continuous monitoring of epidemiological criteria.
PHASE A – PRESEQUISITES
In Phase A, those passengers wishing to travel to the Republic of Cyprus from Category A and B countries will be required to:
a. have undergone a laboratory test by a recognized laboratory within the last 72 hours before departure and have a Certificate proving a negative PCR for COVID-19.
B. have filled in some information as well as the relevant formal statements.
The following categories of passengers:
1) Cypriot citizens, their foreign spouses and their minor children,
2) The persons legally residing in the Republic,
3) Persons entitled to enter the Republic in accordance with the Vienna Convention,
4) Persons regardless of nationality, who are entitled to enter the Republic of Cyprus, after special permission from the Republic of Cyprus,
5) Persons regardless of nationality, where the authorities of the country (Category A or B) in which they reside do not provide laboratory analysis service as documented and upon notification by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus, will be able to perform laboratory testing against their arrival in Cyprus, paying for the cost of the laboratory test, which amounts to 60 euros. In this case, until the result is announced, they will remain in self-quarantine at home or at their place of residence.
Flights to and from the Republic of Cyprus are prohibited for those countries that are not included in Categories A and B during the first phase of the gradual resumption of flights (09/06/2020 -19/06/2020).
Flights will only be allowed if they are:
– cargo flights,
– flights to the Republic of Cyprus without passengers in order to transport persons wishing to leave the Republic of Cyprus
– flights to and from the Republic of Cyprus for humanitarian reasons (humanitarian / ambulance) / repatriation flights) or other individual flights (Individual flights) for exceptional emergencies, which flights will be allowed only with special permission from the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works.
In addition, only the following categories of passengers will be eligible to travel to the Republic of Cyprus from Category C countries.
1) Cypriot citizens permanently residing in the Republic of Cyprus, their foreign spouses and their minor children,
2) Persons legally residing in the Republic,
3) Persons entitled to enter the Republic in accordance with the Vienna Convention,
4) Persons regardless of nationality, who are entitled to enter the Republic of Cyprus, after special permission from the Republic of Cyprus.
The above-mentioned categories of passengers (numbers 1-2) will carry out a laboratory test for COVID-19 upon entering the Republic of Cyprus, with the payment by the Republic of Cyprus of the cost of the laboratory test. They will then remain in a place indicated to them by the Republic of Cyprus, with the cost, including transport, being paid by the Republic of Cyprus, for one day or for as long as it takes for the results of the laboratory test to come out. Subsequently, If the result is positive or negative, they will be confined to their home for 14 days according to the instructions and precautionary measures of the Ministry of Health.
The above-mentioned categories of passengers (numbers 3-4) have the possibility:
i. as long as they remain in the Republic of Cyprus for up to 4 days, either to carry out the laboratory test themselves within 72 hours before departure, or to carry out this inspection upon their entry into the Republic of Cyprus, paying the laboratory costs themselves.
ii. In the event that they choose to carry out the laboratory test upon entering the Republic of Cyprus, they will remain in a place indicated to them by the Republic of Cyprus, at their own expense including transport, for one day or for as long as necessary, so that the results of the laboratory test can be obtained.
a. If the result is negative, they will take precautionary and self-protective measures which will be given by the Ministry of Health.
b. If the result is positive, these persons will remain in a state of compulsory isolation (quarantine), the Medical Protocol of the Ministry of Health will be followed and they will take precautionary and self-protection measures which will be given by the Ministry of Health.
In case they choose to carry out the laboratory test upon entering the Republic of Cyprus, they will remain in a place indicated to them by the Republic of Cyprus, at their own expense including transport, for one day or for as long as it takes for the results of the laboratory test. Subsequently, either if the result is positive or negative, they will be transferred for mandatory self-quarantine of 14 days in a place indicated to them by the Republic of Cyprus, according to the instructions and precautionary and self-protection measures of the Ministry of Health.
PHASE B – PREREQUISITES
During Phase B, which begins on June 20, 2020, for passengers coming from Category A countries, it will not be necessary to provide a laboratory test certificate except for the completion of information and Responsible Statements.
For passengers coming from the Category B countries, conditions will hold as during the first phase (09/06 / 202-19 / 06/2020).
a. the passenger has undergone a laboratory test by a recognized laboratory during the last 72 hours before departure and has a Certificate proving a negative PCR for COVID-19.
b. the passenger has filled in some information as well as relevant formal statements.
Also, the following categories of passengers:
1) Cypriot citizens, their foreign spouses and their minor children,
2) The persons legally residing in the Republic,
3) Persons entitled to enter the Republic in accordance with the Vienna Convention,
4) Persons regardless of nationality, who are entitled to enter the Republic of Cyprus, after special permission from the Republic of Cyprus,
Persons regardless of nationality, where documented and upon notification by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus, that the authorities of the country (Category A or B) in which they reside, do not provide laboratory analysis service, will alternatively have the opportunity again, as in Phase A, to carry out the laboratory test upon arrival in Cyprus, paying the cost of the laboratory test, which amounts to 60 euros.
For those countries that are not included in the two categories A and B during the second phase of the gradual resumption of flights (20/06/2020) flights to and from the Republic of Cyprus will be allowed.
However, as in the first phase of the gradual resumption of flights, only the following categories of passengers will be eligible to travel to the Republic of Cyprus.
1) Cypriot citizens, their foreign spouses and their minor children,
2) The persons legally residing in the Republic,
3) Persons entitled to enter the Republic in accordance with the Vienna Convention,
4) Persons regardless of nationality, who are entitled to enter the Republic of Cyprus, after special permission from the Republic of Cyprus.
The only difference compared to the first phase is that the categories of passengers (numbers 1-2) that choose to carry out the laboratory test upon entering the Republic of Cyprus, will themselves pay the cost of the laboratory test, which amounts to the price of 60 euros.
ELECTRONIC PLATFORM CREATION
In order to facilitate both passengers and airlines, an electronic platform has been created, through which those passengers who wish to travel to the Republic of Cyprus must submit all the required information and documents in advance (such as a health certificate for COVID-19, formal statements, etc.).
The use of the CyprusFlightPass online platform is mandatory for all those wishing to visit Cyprus. In order for them to be able to depart from an airport abroad to the Republic of Cyprus, it will be necessary to submit for electronic approval from the Republic of Cyprus, which will be given through the platform.
In the first phase Passengers over 65 years of age, especially those who are unfamiliar with electronic media or passengers, who for any justified reason, cannot complete the required documents on the online platform or in cases where the online online platform of the Republic of Cyprus is temporarily unavailable due to technical problems or scheduled maintenance, to complete the required documents manually via print, which will be available on the CyprusFlightPass platform.
The online platform (https://www.cyprusflightpass.gov.cy ) will be available online and accessible via any mobile device and will be launched on Tuesday, June 9, 2020.
The CyprusFlightPass online platform will also provide the following:
– Informative Material in relation to the services of the platform and the conditions that must be met in order to ensure the required approval
– Quick Check by a passenger which will allow him / her to know if he / she meets the conditions to travel to Cyprus
– Passenger service:
o Creation of a personal account and user profile
o Submission of Data and uploading of the required negative COVID-19 health certificate.
o Checking, approving / rejecting the request and sending a relevant receipt via email to the passenger.
For any additional clarifications please forward your questions to CIBA so that we can support you.