Have you got a Cyprus holiday booked?

If you have got a Cyprus holiday booked for this summer, don’t assume you can travel there as normal just because Cyprus is on the UKs green ‘OK to travel’ list. This is the reality.

Please go to updated info on this post Can you still travel to Cyprus from the UK

Cyprus Health Ministry has its own travel advice for passengers. What are the rules? Will you still be taking your trip?

What are the rules for entry into Cyprus?

Cyprus places each country into a Category, based on analysis of Epidemiological data. This information is up to date – Countries in the Categories are revised weekly. You can find the list of Categories and Countries here and I will update accordingly. The UK are currently in Category B.

Category A:  Passengers flying from Countries in Category A have no restrictions when entering Cyprus. Countries in category A include Greece, Austria and Germany. The restriction also means that you must have been in a country on the list for the previous 14 days. So you can’t spend a week in Greece, then fly to Cyprus.

Category B:  Passengers flying from Countries in Category B are required to have a PCR test done at the source country, 72 hours prior to travel. The PCR test certificate will be requested prior to aircraft boarding, and should also be displayed at border control at the destination.

Category C:  All Countries not in Category A or B fall into Category C and are not allowed into Cyprus.

Update 1st September – NHS test bookings no longer give the ‘Other’ option. This means you either have to lie to get the test (not checked by anyone by the way) or pay for private testing. NHS Tests are still accepted though. It has become very difficult though to book a NHS test in some areas. In our area slots are released at 8pm for next morning, and 11am for same afternoon.

Update 18th August – No change to below.

Update 1st August. NHS test is acceptable, just make sure you follow the instructions to the letter. You need to upload the test result and your NHS appointment confirmation (this proves the time) to the Cyprus Flight Pass. PLUS you need to take printed copies of the appointment confirmation and result with you to show if asked. Here’s where to book your NHS test.

A Cyprus Flight pass must also be completed and the COVID Certificate uploaded 24 hours before travel, have a look at the Cyprus flight pass here. Cyprus have just introduced a fine of 300 euros for non compliance, due to the number of passengers arriving without doing this.

Scroll past Previous updates below for more guidance on testing and the Cyprus Flight Pass

On the second page you have to tick a ‘reason for test’ There is an option for OTHER, no further info is requested.

Update 31st July 20. Confirmation that an NHS test result email / text is acceptable providing it includes all of the info detailed in the press release here. Confusion remains whether all NHS test results include this info, please comment below if you know.

Update 28th July UK are officially in Category B from 1st August. However there is no confirmation that a NHS test is acceptable. It is only stated that official test must include, name, date of birth, test date and lab. See this article in the Cyprus Mail which includes full details of requirements.

Update 27th July Cyprus Mail have reported that UK will be in Category B from 1st August. We would expect this to be officially confirmed tomorrow. There have been confirmations on Twitter that a NHS test result will be accepted, lets see if that is confirmed tomorrow. However NHS testing is for people with symptoms so does that really help?

Update from Cyprus Government press release 21st July. No change to UK category. Interesting though, Italy in CAT B are now allowed to have the test at the airport – no 72hrs before. Still must complete the flightpass though.

Currently the UK is in Category C. It has been announced that the UK ‘might’ be put in Category B from 1st August if data continues to show improvement. ***see updates above***

You can see this information here on the government website. You can also set alerts for when the information is updated.

Important information on the Covid Tests

You need to get the tests done and complete the Cyprus flight pass which includes uploading your test results. The test must be done no more than 72 hours before travel, the test must produce a certificate. This certificate must be uploaded 24 hours before travel. Get your calendar out – we fly on a Sunday at 11.30am. This means we need to have the test on the Thursday morning, with the negative result / certificate back Saturday morning.

Update – we all had our NHS tests done on the Thursday. All of the results except for one were back by Friday evening. The final one back 4.30am Saturday morning. All negative.

The most important part here (apart from a negative result!) is that the test must show the date and time of the test. And this must be uploaded onto the Cyprus flight pass.

NHS test results do not show the date and time.

How do you get a Covid-19 test with the date and time?

If you are using the NHS testing centres then you must book an appointment for your test. You will get n appointment confirmation, showing the date and time. Keep this. When you get your results you need to take a picture of the appointment confirmation and the results together on one page. The Cyprus Flight Pass only allows you to upload one attachment. Big faff.

Avoid Home testing kits for the following reasons

• You do not get the necessary appointment date / time info
• More chance that you will not get the results back in time
• Doing that test on yourself is not easy – best allow a professional to do it properly.

If you are using a private clinic for the tests DOUBLE CHECK when booking that the results give you the date and time of test. Some don’t (or charge extra)

What else do you need to bear in mind?

So say you manage to get the tests done the required 72 hours before, and they are negative and uploaded in your flight pass and you fly to Cyprus. That’s not the end of it.

Cyprus are carrying out random Covid-19 tests at the airport.

Your negative test was done 72 hours before and you may well get tested on arrival. What happens if one of your party test positive?

If one of your party test positive then the Cyprus Government will wizz you off to a special hotel where you have to stay for 14 days, This will be paid for by the Cyprus Government.

Before you say ‘that sounds great’ you are not being given a 14 day all inclusive holiday. You are all being taken to a hotel where you have your rooms (with a balcony probably) Your meals will be delivered to your room. That’s where you stay. You will not be mixing with other guests around the pool etc. You have to arrange and pay for your own flights home after the 14 days.

What if your Covid-19 test is positive before you travel?

Think about what happens if one of you tests positive before you travel? Or the test result is ‘inconclusive’ , which is happening. Are you going to go away without that person? If you live with them then you will not be able to travel anyway.

I read you can get a free test done at the Airport in Cyprus.

There are discussions in Cyprus with the Cyprus Government and Hoteliers where they are proposing to allow testing at the Airport funded 50/50 by the Cyprus Government and Hoteliers. This has not been confirmed yet, plus this would only be available to travellers staying in hotels. Not private villas or apartments.

Testing is available at Larnaca and Paphos airports for passengers from Countries in Category B ‘Where no test is available in the country of origin’. As there is testing available here (albeit extremely limited and expensive) We are not eligible for testing at the airport.

We are supposed to be going to Cyprus at the end of August. Flights were booked with Air Miles and accommodation and airport parking has free cancellation. So we won’t be out of pocket if we cancel. We are just going to wait and see if the rules change over the next few weeks.

At the moment we can’t see us going. UPDATE – we went.

What if you have a holiday booked to Cyprus?

This is where the UK Governments traffic light system totally fails us. By putting Cyprus in the green category it means your holiday can go ahead.

As we have seen, your holiday cannot really go ahead BUT some holiday companies and Airlines are not cancelling the holidays and flights meaning they do not have to refund you.

If Cyprus was not green and the advice was not to travel then your holiday would be cancelled and you would be entitled to a full refund.

Now if you cancel your holiday you are not entitled to a full refund.

Some holiday Companies and Airlines are cancelling holidays anyway and allowing you to rebook a different destination or date, or offering a refund. Many aren’t. Plus if you cancel you will not be covered under your travel insurance as the FCO has given a green light to travel.

Why book a holiday to Cyprus

We love Cyprus, it’s our second home, where our hearts are. Tazs Mum and Dad live there and we go over a couple of times a year. The weather is perfect, the people are wonderful and the food is unmissable.

You may have seen us on ‘A Place in the Sun’ looking for a holiday home round Protaras. I cried and Taz danced and we found the perfect place for us – at a bargain price.

Visiting Cyprus does not have to be expensive. We go at Easter and spend 10 days there, to make the most of our days off work. Have a read of how we spend 9 nights in Pernera for less than £650.

When we visit in the Summer we either fly British Airways Business Class to Larnaca for £50. Yes £50 each in peak summer, which includes fast track through security, lounge access and easy, cheap cancellation. Or we fly economy to Cyprus for £35 or £1 depending on how many Air Miles we have.

This year we already had our flights and villa booked, then a month ago we added all our kids for a big family holiday. All booked with free cancellation / vouchers so we don’t lose money. We were featured in a BBC article – Summer Holidays, we are not really going anywhere, have a read how we booked our Summer Holiday with no risk of losing our money and How to book a refundable holiday abroad.

More useful information

Have a look around our site, we have plenty of ideas to help you Spend Smarter and Travel Smarter including:

• Flight delays and cancellations need to knows
• How to get at least 5% cashback On most of your spending
• Weekend away without going anywhere Daft and fun, give it a try
• Turn £1 into £100s Start with a free share and get yourself free shares
• Compare cashback with CashbackAngel Compares Cashback rates and Airmiles
• Self catering packing guide Get organise and save money
• How much holiday spending money do you really need? You’ll be suprised
• How to have the happiest holiday. Mind tricks to boost your holiday happiness

Do you know where you stand with bookings, cancellations and refunds? Have a read of our how to get a refund for your cancelled holiday guide.

Make sure you are aware of the booking flight and hotel separately need to knows and our guide to flight delays and cancellations.

We may have a holiday at home, have a look at our video. How to have a weekend away, at home. Money saving and great fun. Yes you have to be a bit daft to do it but no point moping – make some #SmallJoy.

Have your travel plans been disrupted? What have you been able to re-arrange? Let us know in the comments. Also share any Cyprus information here to help others – has your holiday been cancelled? Who are you travelling with?

Spend Smarter, Travel Smarter and Visit Cyprus Smarter.

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