Monthly Archives: April 2017

See the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Cyprus for information on U.S.-Cyprus relations. 

Visit the Embassy of Cyprus website for the most current visa information.

Cyprus is a member of the European Union but is not a party to the Schengen Agreement. For information about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our Schengen fact sheet.

• Passports should have at least six months of remaining validity.
• You need proof of sufficient funds and a return airline ticket.
• You may enter Cyprus for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. For stays longer than 90 days, you will need a temporary residency visa.

The government of Cyprus controls the southern two-thirds of the island and Turkish Cypriots administer the northern third. Neither the United States, nor any country other than Turkey, recognizes the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”.  For U.S.-citizen travelers:

• Enter and exit Cyprus ONLY at Larnaca and Paphos airports and at the seaports of Limassol, Larnaca, and Paphos.  The government of Cyprus does not consider entry at Ercan Airport in the north to be a “legal” entrance into Cyprus.
• You cannot receive a residency permit from the government of Cyprus to reside in the northern third of the island. 
• You can stay in the Turkish Cypriot-administered area for less than 90 days by possessing a valid U.S. passport. However, the government of Cyprus does not recognize residence permits issued by Turkish Cypriots for stays longer than 90 days. 
• If you stay in the Turkish Cypriot-administered area for over 90 days, you may be detained by Cypriot officials at Larnaca airport or denied entry into the government-controlled part of the island.

For information on traveling across the U.N. buffer zone, contact Ledra Palace checkpoint at tel. 357 22 451 944 in Nicosia.

Some HIV/AIDS entry restrictions exist for visitors to and foreign residents of Cyprus. There are no restrictions for short-term tourist stays and no HIV testing on entry.  Authorities will not grant a residence permit for work or study to a U.S. citizen who tests positive for HIV. Please verify this information with the Embassy of Cyprus before you travel.

Find information on dual nationality,  prevention of international child abduction, and customs regulations on our websites.

Credible information indicates terrorist groups continue plotting possibly near-term attacks in Europe.  All European countries remain potentially vulnerable to attacks from transnational terrorist organizations.

• Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to enter the U.N. buffer zone at any place other than a designated crossing point.  This area is mined and militarized.
• Never photograph military installations or anything that could be perceived as being of a security interest.  Pay particular attention to areas marked with “no photography” signs.  Police on both sides of the island strictly enforce these restrictions.

Crime:  The State Department’s crime rating for Cyprus is medium.  Take precautions.

• Be alert and always vigilant of your surroundings and of your personal belongings. Criminals often target those who are distracted, alone in an isolated area, or impaired.
• Do not leave any valuables unattended or out in public view.
• Avoid so-called “night clubs” (topless bars), as they reportedly employ women trafficked to Cyprus for sexual exploitation.  Night clubs have presented foreign patrons with grossly-inflated bar tabs, threatening  customers who refuse to pay.
• Avoid gambling establishments, as criminal groups have targeted some of these places for improvised explosive device attacks to intimidate rival groups.

See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information on scams.

Victims of Crime: Report crimes to the local police by dialing 112 and contact the U.S. Embassy by dialing 22-393939.  Local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes.

See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas.

We can:

• Help you find appropriate medical care
• Assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• Contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• Explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• Provide a list of local attorneys
• Provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the United States
• Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
• Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home in cases of destitution
• Replace a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance.

For further information:

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. 
• Call us in Washington at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the State Department’s travel website for Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts.
• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. 
• See traveling safely abroad for useful travel tips.

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.  Possesion of a U.S. passport will not prevent you from being detained, prosecuted, or imprisoned.

Furthermore, some crimes are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.

Faith-Based Travelers: See our following webpages for details:

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religious Freedom Report – see country reports
• Human Rights Report – see country reports
• Hajj Fact Sheet for Travelers
• Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad 

Travel in Northern Cyprus: See Entry, Exit, and Visa Requirements above.

LGBTI Travelers:  There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Cyprus or in the area administered by the Turkish Cypriots.  Despite broad legal protections, LGBTI individuals sometimes face societal discrimination and few are open about their sexual orientation or gender identity.  Although public attitudes tend to be socially conservative in Cyprus, the U.S. Embassy has not received reports of violence against LGBTI travelers.

See our LGBTI travel information page and section six of our Human Rights Report for further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance:

• The People with Disabilities Law mandates that public buildings and tourist facilities built after 1999 be accessible to all.
• Older buildings frequently lack access for persons with disabilities.
• Narrow or nonexistent sidewalks and lack of transport, parking spaces, accessible toilets, and elevators all pose problems for persons with disabilities.
• Cypriot law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, or in the provision of other state services.
• For information on accessible travel in Cyprus, visit the Accessible Cyprus page of the Cyprus tourist office website.

Students: See our students abroad page and FBI travel tips.

Women Travelers: See our travel tips for women travelers.

Medical care is available both at government hospitals and private clinics.  The standard of medical care in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots generally falls below that found in the government-controlled area.  Water on the island is safe to drink.   

• We do not pay medical bills, and U.S. Medicare does not pay overseas claims.
• Medical Insurance:  Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas.  Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments.  See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage. 
• We strongly recommend obtaining supplemental insurance for medical evacuation.
• Check with the government of Cyprus to ensure prescription medication is legal in Cyprus.  Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription. 
• Be aware that the dry air on the island may aggravate respiratory ailments and allergies.

Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

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