Updated list country categories

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 19 different countries. The changes take effect on Thursday, September 16, and are as follows:

1. The following countries have been moved from the red Red Category to the Orange Category:
   • Denmark
   • United Arab Emirates
2. The following countries have been moved from the Orange Category to the Red Category:
   • Croatia
   • Austria

The categorization of countries based on epidemiological risk assessment is extremely dynamic and can change at any time as the pandemic evolves and epidemiological data changes. Consequently, new data will be announced regularly and the list of countries will be updated frequently.

Green countries - Low risk countries at this stage

• Member States of the European Union: Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic
• Third Countries: Australia, Jordan, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore

Passengers coming from Green Category countries are not required to present a COVID-19 laboratory test certificate or quarantine.

Orange Category Countries - Countries with potentially low risk, but not as low as the Green Category
• Member States of the European Union: Denmark, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Romania, Finland
• Small States: Andorra, Vatican City
• Third Countries: United Arab Emirates, Qatar, China (including Hong Kong, Hong Kong) ), Kuwait, Bahrain

All passengers arriving from Orange category countries are required to have a PCR laboratory test within 72 hours prior to departure showing a negative result.

Cypriot citizens, their foreign spouses and their minor children, as well as passengers legally residing in Cyprus who are arriving from Orange Category countries, may take the PCR test upon arrival provided they meet one of the following conditions:
1. They have already received the first dose of the vaccine.
2. They are aged 16 to 18 years and have received the first dose of the vaccine.
3. Are minors 12 to 15 years old
4. They are passengers who, for medical reasons, cannot be vaccinated. They must present a certificate from the Cyprus Ministry of Health.

Passengers are responsible to pay for the test and remain in isolation until results are received.

Red Countries - Countries at higher risk compared to Green and Orange
- Member States of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Spain, Croatia, Croatia, , Slovenia, Sweden
- Small States: Monaco, San Marino
- Schengen Area Members: Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway
- Third Countries: Azerbaijan, Egypt, Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, United States of America, United Kingdom, Japan, Israel, Canada, Belarus, Lebanon, Moldova, Brunei, Brunei, Brunei, Brunei

All passengers coming from the Red category countries are required: a) to have a laboratory test within 72 hours before departure showing a negative test result and b) to take a PCR test upon arrival in the Republic of Cyprus.

Cost of the exams are paid for by the passenger and they must remain in self isolation until test results are received.

Cypriot citizens, their foreign spouses and their minor children, as well as passengers legally residing in the Cyprus arriving from Red category countries may take the PCR test upon arrival, provided that they meet one of the following conditions:
1. They have already received the first dose of the vaccine.
2. They are aged 16 to 18 years and have received the first dose of the vaccine.
3. Are minors 12 to 15 years old
4. They are passengers who, for medical reasons, cannot be vaccinated. They must present a certificate from the Cyprus Ministry of Health.

In the above case, passengers must remain in self-isolation 72 hours after arrival. They must perform another PCR test at their own expense at the end of the 72 hour period and may be released when negative results are confirmed.

Gray Category Countries (Special Permission):
Countries not listed above in the Green, Orange and Red categories are considered to be in the Gray category and need special permission to enter Cyprus and is only allowed under the following categories:
1. Cypriot citizens and members of their families (their foreign spouses and their minor children),
2. European citizens, citizens of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland,
3. Legal residents the Republic of Cyprus,
4. persons entitled to enter the Republic in accordance with the Vienna Convention, and
5. third country nationals who have been granted a permission to enter the Republic of Cyprus.

Passengers coming from Grey category countries must have undergone a laboratory test by a recognized laboratory no more than 72 hours before their trip to the Republic of Cyprus and must have a certificate showing a negative result for COVID-19.
Cypriot citizens, their foreign spouses and their minor children, as well as passengers legally residing in the Cyprus arriving from Red category countries may take the PCR test upon arrival, provided that they meet one of the following conditions:
1. They have already received the first dose of the vaccine.
2. They are aged 16 to 18 years and have received the first dose of the vaccine.
3. Are minors 12 to 15 years old
4. They are passengers who, for medical reasons, cannot be vaccinated. They must present a certificate from the Cyprus Ministry of Health.

Passengers arriving in the Republic of Cyprus from Gray Category (Special Permission) must remain in self-isolation for fourteen (14) days. They may take a test on day 7 and provided that the test results are negative for COVID-19, may be released from quarantine.