Those who like to have a good and inexpensive holiday often ask whether Russians need a visa to Cyprus and how to get it. To answer the question you need to know the circumstances, goals and duration of the trip. If we are talking about a standard trip for a period of up to 90 days, you can apply for a PRO visa online. It is issued within 24-72 hours and free of charge. Difficulties arise when the trip is planned for a longer period, a multiple-entry visa is required, or the child does not have his own passport. You can't do without standard resolution here.
To Cyprus without a visa
There is often a statement on the Internet that flying to Cyprus without a visa is possible. This is not entirely true. Residents of Russia can apply for a permit via the Internet, but it is still a PRO Visa with certain requirements and restrictions for the traveler. Another option is to use a Schengen visa to travel to Cyprus. The island is not technically a Schengen country, but with this permit, access is open to travelers. If you get a Cyprus visa, you will no longer be able to enter the Schengen zone.
If you have such a visa in hand, you can enter Cypriot territory, but provided that the person has previously visited one of the Schengen countries. However, the time spent on the island is limited by the period of validity of the permit. In other cases, a visa is required for Cyprus. All that remains is to decide on its type. Most often, the matter is obtained by obtaining a short-term permit, which allows you to stay in the “paradise” for up to 90 days.
Cyprus Visa Types
Today, residents of our country have four ways to obtain permission to enter the Republic of Cyprus:
- national Cyprus visa;
- pro-visa;
- Schengen visa;
- national visa of another state.
There are two types of national visa.
Type C – short-term visa.
It can be single or multiple. At the discretion of the Consul General, in exceptional cases, it is issued for a period of 3 to 5 years. But the rule remains the same, the total period of stay in Cyprus with a national visa should not exceed 90 days in each half-year.
Type A – transit visa through the airport.
Russians don't need it.
Pro-visa.
Simplified form of entry permit. Receive it if you fly to Cyprus on a direct flight from Russia. Issued for a one-time trip and allows stay in the country for up to 3 months .
It is not at all difficult to obtain: a pro-visa is issued upon an electronic application from a tourist and is a preliminary permission to enter. The visa stamp is affixed to the tourist’s passport at the airport of arrival.
Entry with a valid Schengen visa or residence permit.
If you have a valid Schengen visa, a national Cyprus visa is not required . You can stay in Cyprus for the period allowed by your visa.
National double or multiple entry visas of Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia.
They also give you the right to enter the Republic of Cyprus.
Important: prior visit to these countries is not necessary.
The period of stay in the country should not exceed the same 90 days per six months .
If you plan to stay in Cyprus for longer than three months, you will need a long-term Cyprus visa. It is processed by the Migration Service of the Republic of Cyprus.
Decide on your visa type
Let us immediately note that Cyprus is conditionally divided into two parts - North and South. The first are under Turkish control and are recognized only by Turkey. Southern Cyprus is part of the EU group of states, but is not a Schengen member state. To avoid delays, it is important to determine which Cyprus visa is required.
Main options:
- PRO Visa . Provided to Russians for a one-time visit to Cyprus, subject to departure from a Russian airport for recreation and for a period of up to three months.
- Transit (A). Needed by passengers who are planning a flight to other countries, but are forced to fly through the island to connect flights. Such permission is rarely requested.
- Tourist, short-term (C). If an online visa to Cyprus is not suitable, you can apply for a type C permit, which is issued for one, two or more visits. With this document you can stay in the country for up to 3 months for a total period of up to six months.
- Long-term (D). This option is necessary for persons who are planning a flight to the island for the purpose of immigration or a long stay in Cyprus (over 3 months).
The simplest method is to apply for a visa to Cyprus PRO, because obtaining it takes a minimum of time, and the process itself is extremely simple and does not require direct contact with the Consulate. If you have the necessary documents, the processing time rarely exceeds 24 hours. The downside is that such a permit only gives the right to a single entry. In addition, you must fly from a Russian airport, and there are restrictions on flying with children. That is why it is not always possible to implement this option.
Northern Cyprus: rules, laws, possible risks for tourists
An island in the Mediterranean, so attractive to tourists, businessmen and investors, has been under occupation for more than forty years. A third of the territory is occupied by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is now under the control of Turkish soldiers and is not recognized by the world as a separate state.
Only one country in the world - Turkey - has recognized this republic, on which it virtually depends 100%.
Between the two parts of the island there is the so-called green line, which runs directly through the capital of Cyprus - the city of Nicosia. There are several official checkpoints along this line, and you can cross the Green Line without hindrance.
Most tourists enter Cyprus officially, with a national visa or a Schengen visa. According to the legislation of the Republic of Cyprus, there are only two legal checkpoints - airports in the cities of Larnaca and Paphos. All other routes (airports in the northern part of the island, seaports) are considered illegal.
Does it make sense to violate the law of the Republic of Cyprus? Much depends on what purpose you are going to the island for. The fact is that both the standard of living and prices in Cyprus differ radically in its two parts. Thus, hotel accommodation, tourist services, restaurants, entertainment in Northern Cyprus are 3-4 times cheaper than in Southern Cyprus. The same goes for real estate. The cost of housing in the Turkish part of the island is tens of times lower than in the “European” Greek part.
There are attractions in both parts of the island. The city of Nicosia, which has the most beautiful ancient architectural structures, is divided between Greek and Turkish Cyprus. They even offer tourists this unusual option: visit one of the observation platforms in the area of the “green line”, from which all the sights of the “closed zone” are clearly visible.
Southern Cyprus is a modern European state, everything here is at a high level - from service and maintenance to the protection of human rights. In Northern Cyprus everything is much more complicated. But the sea is the same everywhere.
Moreover, the northern part of the island is very quiet, calm, and there are not many tourists. Relaxing by the azure sea on clean beaches alone with yourself - if this is your goal, then you will be completely satisfied with Northern Cyprus.
There are two options for how to get to Northern Cyprus in 2021:
- fly to Larnaca or Paphos with an official visa, then rent a car and drive through one of the checkpoints to Northern Cyprus (you will need to pay additional insurance for entering by car from the southern part of the island);
- cross the border on foot in the center of Nicosia (capital of Cyprus);
- fly to Ercan airport from Turkey (planes land there only from this direction), fly back in the same way.
Crossing the “green line” from Southern Cyprus with an official visa does not threaten you with anything.
If you fly to Northern Cyprus, and the checkpoint officer wants to check your documents (this is done selectively, but there is still a risk), then you are in serious trouble. Visiting Northern Cyprus other than via Southern Cyprus is considered an illegal border crossing.
This will not be limited to a fine: with such a stamp in the international passport and being included in the “black list”, it will be impossible to open a new visa to Southern Cyprus, problems may also arise when applying for visas to the EU (Schengen).
Therefore, it is recommended to first fly to the southern part of the island and then go north.
Northern Cyprus is on the right, and southern Cyprus is on the left
There are other, no less important nuances that Russians often do not pay attention to. Thus, there is no official representation of our country on the territory of Northern Cyprus, since Russia also does not recognize this state. Therefore, if any problems arise, there will simply be nowhere to turn.
Car insurance is not valid on this land, nor is the insurance that is issued when opening a visa. You remain completely unprotected and can only rely on your own strength.
Pay the fee
One of the important points is the price of a visa to Cyprus. Here, Russians have an advantage, because when applying to the Consulate or VC (Visa Center) they do not need to pay. The service is provided free of charge. The only thing is that when visiting the CC you will have to pay for assistance in filling out the application form and collecting documents. In this case, you need to separately clarify how much a Cyprus visa costs for a specific Visa Application Center.
Are Cyprus borders open or not for Russians from April 1, 2021?
From April 1, 2021, Cyprus opened its borders to Russian tourists. Russia has been moved to the list of countries from the “red zone”.
Tourists from the green, orange and red zones are allowed to fly to Cyprus.
The Cyprus Embassy confirmed the information that from April 1 they began issuing visas to Russian tourists. This was announced by the representative of the country's Ministry of Tourism, Dimitris Dimitriou. The visa can be applied for online, as before.
Prepare your documents
The easiest way is to apply for a Cyprus visa online (via the Internet). Here you will need to enter the correct information and then print the document. But the PRO visa option will not work if:
- the child does not have his own passport;
- entry into the territory is planned through the port of Limassol;
- A single-entry visa is not enough for a person;
- a planned stay of more than 90 days, for example, when a Russian citizen needs a visa to Cyprus for a year.
When obtaining a standard permit, you need to collect the following documents:
- International passport. Must be valid for up to 3 months from the date of completion of the trip. The passport must contain a personal signature and at least one visa page. Along with the original, copies of the second foreign passport (if any) are also sent.
- Copies of internal passport. We are talking about pages that are filled.
- Two photos of identical size - 3.5x4.5 cm for each traveler. The presence of circles, ovals, and corners is prohibited. The photo is valid for up to six months.
- Marriage certificate (copy).
- Double-sided application form, printed on one sheet. The signature must be the same as in the passport.
- Certificate from the employer. Issued on a special form. The document contains information about the company, position, and salary. The signature of the chief accountant and director is required.
- Cash from 50 euros per person.
- Additional papers (on request).
Before applying for a visa to Cyprus, you need to contact representatives of the Consulate or CC to clarify the documentation package. In your case, you may be able to get by by obtaining permission online.
Additional requirements
To avoid delays, it is better to clarify in advance whether a visa is needed for Cyprus and determine the contents of the documentation package taking into account the current circumstances. Let's highlight additional requirements:
- For children under 18 years of age, a copy of certified permission from the other parent is required. This is relevant if the child is traveling only with his mother or father. If accompanied by a third party, there must be a photocopy of the notarized permission from both parents.
- Students need a copy of their student ID, a certificate from the university and place of work (if employed in Cyprus).
- For the unemployed. In the absence of a certificate from the employer, a bank statement or a letter from the sponsor confirming his financial status will be useful.
- Pensioners submit a copy of the pension document.
If the task is to obtain a visitor visa to Cyprus for Russians, a number of additional conditions are put forward. The same documents are required here, but you also need to find a statement of responsibility for the guest and a copy of the passport of the inviting entity.
If we are talking about a transit permit, the documentation package remains almost unchanged, but there is no need to present a reservation, a copy of your international passport and a tourist voucher. You will need a ticket indicating the date and time of departure. The period of stay in Cyprus is limited to five days. A transit visa is valid for up to six months.
How to apply for a visa to Cyprus yourself
The easiest way is to apply for a visa to Cyprus yourself online. To do this you will need to take the following steps:
- Log in to the website of the Cypriot Embassy in Moscow mfa.gov.cy.
- Go to the Consular Services section, and there Pro-Visa.
- Read the rules for filling out the application.
- Click on the link Apply for a Pro-Visa.
- Enter the information in the form provided and wait for notification of receipt of the application. As a rule, it arrives by e-mail within an hour.
- Receive a response by email with the results of the decision made.
If the answer is yes, the Cyprus Pro-Visa must be printed and presented at check-in for the flight. If confirmation suddenly does not arrive, you should contact the Consulate for clarification. You must keep the printed visa with you during your entire stay on the island.
Special instructions:
- enter information only in Latin letters;
- Please provide your parents' details in full;
- in the profession or occupation section, write down the name of the company, telephone number and address;
- provide full details of your residential address;
- If the child is included in the parent’s passport, a separate application form will be required.
If you need a regular visa to Cyprus, you will need to visit the Consulate in person. Documents are accepted on working days at certain hours.
Entry to Cyprus is open to Russians from April 1, 2021
- Travelers from the “red zone” must take PCR tests twice, 72 hours before departure and after crossing the border of Cyprus, according to the ATOR website. The cost of the test at the Cyprus airport will be 30-40 euros, which tourists will have to pay for themselves.
- All tourists from Russia who arrive on the island must register on the Cyprus FlightPass website one day before departure by filling out a special form. On this website you can book coronavirus testing at Cyprus airports.
- The results of the second test at the airport of Larnaca and Paphos, according to the Cypriot authorities, should be ready in 20-30 minutes.
- After receiving a negative result, Russians can rest easy; they do not need to undergo quarantine.
- To travel to Cyprus, it is mandatory to take out travel health insurance that covers treatment for coronavirus.
Insurance can be purchased online within 5 minutes. You can compare prices from all insurance companies and choose the most profitable option on the Cherehapa.ru service.
Russian airlines are preparing for the official resumption of international flights with Cyprus in the spring and summer of 2021.
Entry ban to Cyprus from March 15, 2021 due to coronavirus
From March 15, 2021, the government of Cyprus has banned the entry of Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and any other foreigners into Cyprus, according to the website rbc.ru.
From August 28, Russian citizens who have a residence permit in this country were allowed to come to Cyprus. The opening of borders for tourists occurred in April 2021.
All official information regarding the opening of borders and the possibility of entering Cyprus can be read on the official website of the Russian Embassy in Cyprus, as well as on the Russian Embassy’s Facebook page.
Reasons for refusal
Above, we figured out whether Russians need a visa to Cyprus, and whether it is possible to get by with an electronic version of the permit. Despite the simplified procedure, each application is checked and in certain cases the applicant may be refused. This is possible if the applicant provides false information, there are errors, or there are missing data in any fields. A visa will not be given if there are violations during other visits to the country or if there is a suspicion that the person does not plan to return. In most cases, refusal to issue a Cyprus visa is caused by incorrect documentation. In this case, you must submit your application again.
