Coronavirus: Israel back in Orange in new country categories

The government announced changes in the country rankings for travellers on Monday, downgrading Malta from Green to Orange and Andorra from Orange to Red, and upgrading Israel from Red to Orange.

In a statement the health ministry added that the European Commission’s list of third countries from which non-essential trips to the EU are permitted has been amended to include Argentina, Colombia and Namibia, all classified as Orange, and Peru, which was classified as Red.

The changes will come into effect on Thursday November 18.

The Green category is made up of the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

The Orange category includes France, Greece, Spain, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Monaco, Vatican City, Argentina, Australia, Japan, Israel, Canada, Qatar, China (incl. Hong Kong and Macau), Colombia, Namibia, New Zealand, South Korea, Uruguay, Rwanda, and Chile.

The Red category includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Czechia, Finland, Andorra, San Marino, Switzerland, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Egypt, Armenia, Georgia, USA, UK, Jordan, Belarus, Lebanon, Oman, Ukraine, Peru, Russia, and Serbia.

Countries not listed in the Green, Orange, and Red categories are considered to be in the grey category where special permission to enter Cyprus is needed.

Passengers coming from Green countries need not present a test nor self-isolate, while those coming from Orange category countries are required to have a negative PCR laboratory test within 72 hours before departure.

Passengers coming from Red countries require a test within 72 hours before departure and one upon arrival in the Republic, cost to be covered by them.

Vaccinated arrivals are exempt from the requirement for tests and/or self-isolation. They must have a valid vaccination certificate from an EU or EEA state, or Switzerland, Israel, UK, Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Belarus, Serbia, Qatar, Bahrain, USA, Armenia, Georgia, Canada, Kuwait, China and Oman and have been vaccinated by EMA approved vaccines or Sputnik, Sinopharm and Sinovac and have completed their vaccination.

For more information, including rules concerning vaccinated passengers https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/ and https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/en/vaccinated-passengers.