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TRAVEL REPORT
Cyprus

1. RECENT UPDATES

Section 4 has been updated.

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2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

There is no Official Warning for this country.

Cyprus

Exercise normal security precautions

Exercise high degree of caution

Avoid non-essential travel

Avoid all travel

Most Canadian visitors to Cyprus do not experience problems.

Cyprus is an independent country that continues to be divided into two de facto autonomous areas and, contrary to United Nations resolutions, into two separate zones. The Government of the Republic of Cyprus, the internationally recognized authority, exercises control only in the Greek Cypriot southern part of the island. The northern area operates under an autonomous Turkish Cypriot administration.

OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency abroad, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad.

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3. SAFETY AND SECURITY

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions.

Crime

The crime rate is low but on the rise. Petty crime such as pickpocketing and purse snatching is prevalent, particularly in urban areas.

Demonstrations

Strikes and demonstrations occur periodically. Avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, as they can turn violent without notice. Strikes may occasionally interfere with services, such as public transport.

Scams

Be aware that some bars and “cabarets” have been known to overcharge customers for drinks. Customers who refused to pay the bill have been threatened.

General Safety Information

Exercise normal security precautions and ensure personal belongings, passports, and other travel documents are secure at all times.

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4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS

It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries or regions have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties.

The following information on entry and exit requirements has been obtained from the Cypriot authorities. However, these requirements are subject to change at any time. It is the traveller’s responsibility to check with the High Commission for the Republic of Cyprus, based in Washington, D.C. (USA) and its consulates for up-to-date information on the Greek Cypriot southern part of the island.

A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Cyprus. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to Canada. A return ticket is required.

Tourist Visa: Not required
Business Visa: Not required
Student Visa: Required

Currency of 10,000 euros and over or the equivalent sum in other currencies should be declared upon entry and departure.

A United Nations peacekeeping force patrols the "green line" between the Republic of Cyprus, in the southern part of the island, and the Turkish Cypriot northern area. Cypriots and non-visa nationals can cross the green line in both directions at designated crossing points, including the pedestrian-only Ledra Palace and Ledra Street checkpoints in central Nicosia.

Canadian citizens should enter Cyprus through the legal ports of entry in the area under the control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.

Visitors are usually able to cross between the north and south without interference when entering through the legal ports of entry.

Rental cars can be driven from the Republic of Cyprus to the northern area only with specific insurance required by the Turkish Cypriot administration.

Persons interested in working in Cyprus must have their potential employer contact the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance at the following address: 7 Byron Avenue, 1463 Nicosia, Cyprus (tel.: 357 2240-1600, fax: 357 2267-0993, e-mail: administration@mlsi.gov.cy). They must also contact the Civil Registry and Migration Department of the Ministry of Interior at the following address: Chilinos Street, 1101 Nicosia, Cyprus (tel.: 357-22804400/22804484/2280403947, fax: 357-22804507, E-mail: migration@crmd.moi.gov.cy.

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Schengen Area

The member states of the European Union (EU) (not including Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania, and the United Kingdom), along with Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland (which are not in the EU), make up the Schengen Area, which has common rules regarding visas and controls at external borders.

The external land, air, and sea border controls of nine countries that joined the EU in 2004 (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia) have been removed. Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania are not yet part of the Schengen area.

In the Schengen Area, Canadian travellers do not need visas for short-term visits (up to 90 days within a six-month period), but some countries require you to register with local authorities within three working days of your arrival. It is important to get your passport stamped when entering the Schengen Area. The absence of an entry stamp from the initial Schengen port of entry could create difficulties during subsequent encounters with local police or other authorities throughout the Schengen area.

If Canadians overstay the permitted 90 days in the Schengen Area, they may be fined or deported. To visit longer than 90 days, Canadians must either obtain a long-stay national visa or have been outside the Schengen Area for at least 90 consecutive days before re-entering.

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A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel. Canadian citizens returning to Canada who present other documents, such as a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, birth certificate, provincial driver’s licence, or foreign passport, instead of a Canadian passport, may face delays or be denied boarding by transport companies.

Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services.

Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify all visa requirements for this and other destinations, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders.

EU legislation on the amount of cash that can be carried was implemented on June 15, 2007. Canadians crossing one of the external border control points of the EU will have to make a declaration to customs upon entry or exit if they have at least 10,000 euros, or the equivalent in other currencies, in cash, cheques, money orders, traveller's cheques, or any other convertible assets in their possession. Failure to report such a sum will be considered an offence. This does not apply to Canadians travelling within the EU or in transit to a non-EU country. The purpose of this legislation is to prevent illegal activities, such as money laundering. For more information on the new EU legislation and links to EU countries' sites, consult the European Commission's website page on Cash controls.

Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries or regions may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country or region without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order.

Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries or regions do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada.

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5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS

Canadians throughout Cyprus can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the address below. As Canada does not recognize the Turkish Cypriot administration, assistance to Canadians in the northern area of Cyprus could be limited.

Cyprus - NICOSIA, Consulate of Canada
Address: 15 Themistocles Dervis Street, 1066 Nicosia, Cyprus
Postal Address: P.O. Box 22125 - 1517, Nicosia, Cyprpus,
Tel.: 357 (2) 2775-508
Emergency toll-free to Ottawa: 8009-6082
Fax: 357 (2) 2779-905
E-Mail: info@consulcanada.com.cy

The Embassy of Canada in Athens, Greece, has consular responsibility for both regions of Cyprus. The address is as follows:

Greece - ATHENS, Embassy of Canada
Address: 4, Ioannou Ghennadiou Street, 115 21 Athens, Greece
Tel.: 30 (210) 727-3400
Fax: 30 (210) 727-3480
E-Mail: athns-cs@international.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.Greece.gc.ca

For emergency assistance after hours, call the Consulate of Canada in Nicosia or the Embassy of Canada in Athens, Greece, and follow the instructions. You may also place a collect call to the Emergency Operations Centre in Ottawa at 613-996-8885.

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6. TRAVEL HEALTH

The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Health Web site.

The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date.

Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage.

The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada.

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7. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION

Satisfactory to good medical care is available at government hospitals and private clinics. Medical services in northern Cyprus can be more basic than those available in the Republic of Cyprus. In the event of a serious accident or illness, medical evacuation may be necessary.

See our Global Issues page for information on the H1N1 flu virus.

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8. LAWS AND CUSTOMS

You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons.

Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request.

The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries or regions, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare.

Dual Citizenship

Canadian citizens with dual nationality may be subject to compulsory military service and other obligations imposed by both the Government of Cyprus in the south and Turkish Cypriot authorities in the north. Dual nationality may limit the ability of Canadian officials to provide consular services. Those who may be affected should inquire at a consulate of the Republic of Cyprus in Canada (see Section 4). Canadians should travel using their Canadian passport and present themselves as Canadian citizens to foreign authorities at all times. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada publishes a booklet entitled Dual Citizenship: What You Need to Know.

Illegal Activities

There is a strictly enforced zero-tolerance policy toward the possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.

Homosexual activity is legal but is not widely accepted in Cypriot society.

There are restrictions on photographing military installations in both the north and south. English-language signs are generally posted in sensitive areas advising of the restrictions. However, visitors should refrain from photographing military installations or personnel, regardless of whether warning signs are posted, and should comply with all requests from local authorities regarding the use of photographic equipment.

Explicit authorization is required for the purchase and/or export of Byzantine antiquities and other cultural artifacts.

Real Estate

Canadians considering the purchase, rental, advertisement, or promotion of property in areas that are not under the effective control of the Government of Cyprus should seek independent legal advice, as they may become the target of civil lawsuits and their ownership and involvement with that property may be challenged by Cypriots displaced in 1974.

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9. TRAVEL AND CURRENCY

Road Travel

Exercise caution, as driving standards are poor. While modern highways link the major cities, rural and mountain roads are often narrow, winding, and poorly maintained. Enforcement of traffic laws and regulations is inconsistent. Running of red lights, speeding, and tailgating are common causes of accidents.

The use of mobile telephones while driving is prohibited, unless fitted with a hands-free device.

Liability insurance is mandatory. Vehicle insurance purchased in the Republic of Cyprus is not valid in the Turkish Cypriot area; separate insurance must therefore be purchased if driving into that area.

Emergency roadside assistance is available by calling 199 in the Republic of Cyprus and 155 in the Turkish Cypriot area.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended.

Public Transportation

Public buses are limited. Rail service is non-existent. Taxis are widely available.

See our FAQ on transportation in order to verify if national airlines meet safety standards.

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The currency in the Republic of Cyprus is the euro (EUR). Note that the euro is not officially circulated in the Turkish-occupied areas, where the government is prevented from exercising effective control, although the euro can be used in transactions there. The Cypriot pound (CYP) and the new Turkish lira (YTL) are still in circulation in those areas. Credit cards are widely accepted. Traveller's cheques can be exchanged at most banks. Canadian currency and traveller's cheques are not widely accepted. ABMs are available.

Check with your bank for information on automated banking machine (ABM) services outside Canada. You can also check the VISA ATM locator page or the MasterCard ATM locator page for the addresses of ABMs around the world. Verify with your financial institution whether your bank card can be used with ABMs abroad. Some countries use chip and/or personal identification number (PIN) technology for credit cards. Check with your bank to find out if your credit card will be accepted abroad. Credit cards and debit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud and other criminal activity. ABMs should be used during business hours inside a bank, supermarket, or large commercial building. Leave copies of your card numbers with a family member in case of emergency.

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10. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE

Cyprus is located in an active seismic zone. Beware of strong seas and undertows and take note of warning signs on beaches.

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11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Returning to Canada

Traveller's Checklist

Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes.

Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller.

Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child abroad, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government.

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12. ANNEX

N/A

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