15-02-2022 14:06
As of 21 February 2022, the new Action Plan for the smooth operation of flights and the operation of airports enters into force
Earlier and more specifically as of 21st February 2022, the new Action Plan for the smooth operation of flights and the operation of airports enters into force, following the decision of the Council of Ministers on February 15. For the transitional period from 21st to 28th February 2022, all passengers arriving at Larnaka and Paphos Airports will be required to undergo a PCR laboratory test upon arrival.
In addition, the Council of Ministers decided that the conditions for each category as set out in point C.2. below (passengers who have not been vaccinated or do not hold a valid vaccination or recovery certificate, regardless of nationality) apply to persons aged 12 years and over, and not 6 years and over, as previously announced.
It is recalled that the new Action Plan provides for:
A. Categorisation of countries:
As of 21st February 2022, the categorisation of countries on the basis of their epidemiological risk is differentiated and will include three categories with the following colour code: Green, Red and Grey Category. According to the new Action Plan, the Green and Orange categories of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) correspond to the Green Category of the Republic of Cyprus, while the categories Red and Deep Red of the EUDCC correspond to the Red Category of the Republic of Cyprus.
B. Vaccinated or Recovered passengers:
1) Vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 passengers, regardless of nationality and country of departure, are exempted from the obligation to meet the requirements of the corresponding category (e.g. presentation of a negative laboratory test result, obligation for self-isolation/quarantine, issuance of a special permit, etc.), in which the country of their departure has been categorised. Vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 passengers may enter the Republic of Cyprus provided that they fulfil one of the following conditions:
i. They hold a valid vaccination certificate from the competent authorities of any third country.
ii. They hold a certificate of recovery issued by a third country which is included in the list of third countries that have joined the EU Digital COVID Certificate System (EUDCC).
iii. They hold a European or equivalent from third countries Digital COVID-19 Certificate of Vaccination or Recovery.
2) The vaccination or recovery certificate shall be considered acceptable only if all the following conditions apply:
C. Passengers who have not been vaccinated or do not hold a valid vaccination or recovery certificate:
1) Passengers who have not been vaccinated or do not hold a valid vaccination or recovery certificate, regardless of nationality, may enter the Republic of Cyprus from any country of departure only if they fulfil the conditions (e.g. presentation of a negative laboratory test result, obligation for self-isolation/quarantine, issuance of a special permit, etc.) of the corresponding category in which the country of their departure has been categorised.
2) Green Category: Passengers who have not been vaccinated or do not hold a valid vaccination or recovery certificate, aged 12 years and over, wishing to travel to the Republic of Cyprus from a Green Category country, are required to undergo a PCR laboratory test within 72 hours prior to departure or a rapid antigen test within 24 hours prior to departure.
3) Red Category: Passengers who have not been vaccinated or do not hold a valid vaccination or recovery certificate, aged 12 and over, wishing to travel to the Republic of Cyprus from a Red Category country must:
4) Grey Category (Special License): From the countries of the Grey Category (Special Permission), only the following categories of passengers are allowed to enter the Republic of Cyprus:
Passengers who have not been vaccinated or do not hold a valid vaccination or recovery certificate, aged 12 and over, who are allowed to travel to the Republic of Cyprus from a Grey Category country, must:
It is understood that all passengers with no exception must comply to a random laboratory test upon arrival.
Regarding the categorisation of countries in the corresponding category of the CyprusFlightPass online platform, it is noted that:
1. For the member states of the European Union and the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland, the categorization of the Ministry of Health on the CyprusFlightPass online platform will continue to be based upon the categorisation set by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on the colour map, which will be drawn up and published on a weekly basis by the ECDC.
Regarding the member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland which will be included in the grey colour on the colour map, which implies that the ECDC has not been provided with sufficient information and it is therefore not possible for ECDC to assess these countries, the Ministry of Health will continue to assess them and decide for their categorisation on the CyprusFlightPass online platform.
In any case, the categorisation of these countries will range from green to red category.
2. For the third countries included in the updated list of the Council Recommendation dated 30.6.2020, as well as for the United Kingdom, Israel, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Belarus, Serbia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United States of America, Armenia, Georgia, Canada, Kuwait, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Oman, Vatican City, Monaco, San Marino and Andorra, the weekly evaluation and categorisation on the CyprusFlightPass online platform will continue to be carried out by the Ministry of Health.
In any case, these third countries will be categorised by the Ministry of Health, in a similar way to the EU/EEA Member States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway (European Economic Area) and Switzerland, from Green to Red Category.
3. Third countries that are not included in paragraph 2, will not be categorised by the Ministry of Health and will be automatically categorised in the Grey Category (Special Permission).
The possibility of choosing laboratory testing upon arrival in the Republic of Cyprus for Cypriot citizens including alien spouses and underage children, for persons legally residing in the Republic, and for persons entitled to enter the Republic under the Vienna Convention, ceases to apply.
It is reminded that all passengers with no exception are obliged to apply for the CyprusFlightPass within 48 hours before the departure of their flight.
(MV/MPO)
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