Cyprus may become the first EU country to fully open up after the lockdown. If it happens, the tourism industry and the real estate market will become more active.Let's find out how the Cypriots are preparing to welcome visitors.
The Cypriots want to remove the barriers in the spring. On December 3, 2020, the Minister of Transport of the Republic of Cyprus Yiannis Karousos said that tourists will be allowed to enter the island from March 1, 2021. In mid-January, senior officials confirmed their intentions.
This statement was made on January 15 by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, the Head of the Ministry of Tourism Savvas Perdios, and the aforementioned Mr. Karousos. A document which describes the basic principles of accepting foreigners was published under their signature on the official state tourism portal.
The main thing is that the rules of entry to the island are simplified for citizens of 56 countries:
the EU member states;
members of the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein);
states specified in the document with the recommendations of the EU Council (EU 2020/912 of 30 June 2020 on the temporary restriction of non-essential travel to the EU and the possible lifting of such a restriction);
the UK, Russia, Israel, Ukraine, Belarus, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, the UAE, Saudi Arabia.
As now, all countries are divided into groups, the membership of which depends on the rules of entry to Cyprus. From February 1, these groups will be named by color.
Entry requirements
Green
Orange
Red
Grey
Check-in at CyprusFlightPass 24 hours before departure
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+
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PCR test 72 hours before departure (at the passenger's expense)
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+
+
+
PCR test on arrival in Cyprus (at the passenger's expense)
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-
+
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Mandatory 14-day self-isolation upon arrival
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+
Random testing on arrival (at the expense of the state)
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+
+
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Also, from February 1, the authorities of Cyprus will "shuffle" the countries. The changes are small: the most privileged green group, as now, will include the EU states. From March 1, the countries from the grey zone will be moved to the red zone.
The island will still be closed to citizens of the grey group countries. In February, only people with a Cyprus citizenship or residence permit, as well as specialists with a work permit, will be able to fly to Cyprus from Russia. It will be possible to arrive on the island to close relatives and in case of force majeure (in this case, before the arrival, you must fill out a form on the website of the Ministry of Transport of Cyprus and get a special entry code).
Moving to the red group will really open up the borders. To arrive, you will need to pass two PCR tests. The first one at a maximum of 72 hours before departure, the second one is a 15-minute express test-upon arrival in Cyprus. If both results are negative, the visitor will not even have to sit on a 14-day quarantine.
The opening of borders in Cyprus is expected abroad. The direct contribution of the tourism industry to GDP in 2018 was 13% (data from Globaleconomy), while the indirect contribution exceeded 20%. Cyprus needs money, because 2020 brought a lot of problems: according to the statistical service of the country, in 11 months 84% less of foreign tourists came to the island than a year earlier (about 622,000 people), and tourism revenues for the first 9 months of 2020 decreased by almost 75%.
A strict lockdown is still in effect on the island, a curfew has been imposed, and access to the street during the day is allowed with prior notification via sms. Closed cafes, restaurants (they can only work for takeaway), as well as entertainment facilities.
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The real estate market in Cyprus in 2020 was affected not only by the pandemic. In October, the citizenship program was suspended and finally closed in November. It has brought the island about €8 billion in investment over seven years, mainly from buyers of premium real estate.
As a result, if in the first 11 months of 2020, sales of real estate in Cyprus to third-country citizens fell by 38% year-on-year, then in November by as much as 46%, because the curtailment of the citizenship program further reduced demand. For comparison, Europeans, most of whom do not need to get a second passport or permanent residence, reduced the number of purchases during this period by a quarter.
According to experts, some buyers who consider Cyprus as a country for permanent residence have paid attention to the scheme for obtaining permanent residence, especially since having lived on the island in this status for five years out of eight in total, you can apply for citizenship by naturalization.
Examples of real estate in Cyprus:
495 000 €
Villa in Paphos, Cyprus
140 sq.m33
Residence
On the outskirts of Peyia you will find this exquisite three-bedroom villa with an infinity pool and stunning panoramic views. A cozy entrance leads to an open-plan kitchen/dining/living room. A breakfast table separates the kitchen from the dining room and living room. Patio doors in the living room lead to the garden and pool.
Back in the...
BLUE SKY HOUSES
498 000 €
Villa in Paphos, Cyprus
136 sq.m633
Residence
Nestled away in the quaint and charming village of Emba, close to Paphos City Centre, is the upmarket Avalon Gardens. This two storey 52-villa complex is finished in traditional stone and wood cladding, blending into the natural environment with contemporary style. With top-of-the-line specifications and features like private parking spaces,...
Island Blue Cyprus
3 500 000 €
Villa in Protaras, Cyprus
179 sq.m42
Residence
For sale a luxury 4-bedroom villa on the seashore with an area of 141 m, located in Sotira Famagusta with the most spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea. The villa offers the following amenities:Basement and living room on the ground floor, ground floor living room, bedroom + 1 kitchen room in the basement, outdoor dining area, outdoor...
BLUE SKY HOUSES
523 000 €
House in Paphos, Cyprus
177 sq.m33
Residence
For sale 1-storey villa of 177rs in Paphos. Villa consists of 3 bedrooms. The owners will be leaving the furniture with the sale. The property boasts a swimming pool of private use. AgnadesVillage, Villa No. 18 is a beautiful coastal countryside3 bedroomvilla for sale in the famous summer destination of Polis in Cyprus. The villa is adjacent to...
Mercury Group
920 000 €
House in Paphos, Cyprus
287 sq.m44
Residence
For sale 1-storey villa of 287rs in Paphos. Villa consists of 4 bedrooms. The owners will be leaving the furniture with the sale. Extras included with the property: parking space. The property boasts a swimming pool of private use. Aquamarine Coastal Villas,Villa No. 25 is a moderndesign4bedroomvillafor sale, located in the heart of the tourist...
Mercury Group
1 221 000 €
Flat in Limassol, Cyprus
170 sq.m432
Residence
For sale under construction apartment of 170rs in Limassol. The apartment is situated on the 3rd floor. consists of 3 bedrooms, living room with kitchen, one kitchen, 2 bathrooms, one storeroom. Flat has interior layout. There are solar panels for water heating, air conditioning, awnings and heating. The owners will be leaving the furniture with...
Mercury Group
800 000 €
House in Limassol, Cyprus
295 sq.m643
Residence
For sale under construction 3-storey villa of 295rs in Limassol. The ground floor consists of living room with kitchen, living room, one WC. The semi-basement consists of one bedroom, one shower WC, one storeroom. The first floor consists of 3 bedrooms, one bathroom, one shower WC. The property is subject toe are solar panels for water heating,...
Mercury Group
171 436 €
Flat in Famagusta, Cyprus
61 sq.m211
LV-2460. Apartment 1 + 1 (61 m²) with a front garden and a terrace 800 meters from the sea
2-room apartment 61 m² in a luxury complex 800 meters from the beach. The project will be located in a very beautiful place in the Boaz area, close to all the necessary infrastructure. Stylish architectural design and landscaping. High quality...
Red Feniks North Cyprus
330 000 €
Mansion in Paphos, Cyprus
136 sq.m33
Residence
A complex with 3-room houses for sale in Geroskipou in the Paphos area. The houses are ideally located in a popular residential area, a short drive from all major city attractions such as Kings Avenue Mall, public schools, shops and restaurants. Each house has its own courtyard so that their owners can experience the Mediterranean outdoor...
NF Group
1 100 000 €
Villa in Limassol, Cyprus
75
Residence
BLUE SKY HOUSES
810 000 €
House in Paphos, Cyprus
167 sq.m432
Residence
For sale 2-storey villa of 167rs in Paphos. The ground floor consists of living room with kitchen, one WC. The second floor consists of 3 bedrooms, one bathroom, one shower WC. Extras included with the property: parking space, garden. The property boasts a swimming pool of private use. 3 Bedroom Villa Unobstructed Sea-Views. Potima, Kissonerga,...
Mercury Group
550 000 €
Villa in Coral Bay, Cyprus
140 sq.m433
Remote Transaction
The villa is within walking distance of the sandy Coral Bay beach and infrastructure in the resort suburb of Paphos.
It is located in a quiet cul-de-sac, within walking distance of hotels, shops, restaurants, and a bus stop.
On the territory of the villa there is a swimming pool, Parking, garden.
On the ground floor there is an open plan...
ABC CYPRUS HOMES
295 000 €
Apartment in Paphos, Cyprus
32
A modern apartment with three bedrooms and two bathrooms is located in Kato Paphos, a popular area of the city. The apartment is fully furnished, equipped with air conditioning, household appliances and essentials for a comfortable stay. The property is conveniently located a 15-minute walk from Kato Paphos Harbour and has easy access to...
An elegant, modern villa with a private pool and a large territory to make your dreams come true.
Ideal for a comfortable permanent residence, as well as for renting.
The complex is located in one of the most picturesque villages of Chatalkoi and consists of 7 elegant villas.
Each villa has 3 floors:
Basement - Parking for two cars...
North Symbol by Bubnov Ltd.
530 000 €
Villa in Paphos, Cyprus
22
Residence
The two-bedroom villa, located on the same level, offers a consistent open plan, where all spaces seamlessly merge into one another. The sleeping and living areas are located on both sides, dividing the zones into specific spaces.
One-bedroom apartment with a terrace overlooking its garden in Bakhcheli.
A great option for investment.
This beautiful apartment and boutique hotel complex with stunning sea and mountain views represents excellent value for money and is an attractive investment.
The hillside location in Bakhcheli, a new developing area for recreation and...
North Symbol by Bubnov Ltd.
749 000 €
Apartment in Limassol, Cyprus
93 sq.m222
Residence
Discover an unparalleled living experience in this luxury apartment in the prestigious Potamos Germasogeia area of Limassol. Immerse yourself in the classic colonial charm of Cypriot/European architecture, where the façade is adorned with richly decorated columns, window and door frames, and natural stone elements. Enclosed balconies feature...
Cyprus Sotheby's International Realty
283 000 €
Flat in Paphos, Cyprus
89 sq.m322
Online ViewingRemote Transaction
This project offers an extraordinary location and contemporary signature design focused on luxurious open plan contemporary living. The complex consists of 4 apartments with two bedrooms and two apartments with three bedrooms, located on the first two floors with a large open veranda. Luxury amenities include Smart Technology, covered parking...
Foutina
650 000 €
Villa in Paphos, Cyprus
260 sq.m765
Remote TransactionRental property
Spacious villa on a large plot in the Tala hills.This beautifully decorated detached villa with six bedrooms is located in Tala and has a wonderful view of the sea. This two-storey villa of modern layout has two separate entrances located on each floor. Each floor has its own kitchen, living room, bedrooms and bathrooms. Entering a separate...
