Cyprus is a beautiful island very popular with tourists. A record number of Russians visited the country last year, despite the fact that a visa to Cyprus is still needed. Regardless of the planned changes in the rules for issuing visas, Russians are going en masse to the land of eternal summer, warm azure sea and juicy citrus fruits.
Visa policy
Although the visa regime with Cyprus has not yet been canceled, it has been simplified to the limit for Russians. The cost of visas is low, the processing time is also small, plus several types of them are available.
Since 2004, the country has been listed in the European Union, but is not included in the Schengen zone. However, the Schengen or national visas of individual countries in the passport allow you to enter Cyprus. However, do not forget that the island is divided into two parts, the entry procedures to which are significantly different.
Entry Permits
The Consulate General is in charge of examining applications for entry permits into the Republic of Cyprus. A list of countries whose citizens do not need this is presented on the department's website. Russians need a visa.
For travel, you can use the following types of visas to Cyprus:
- National (tourist).
- Schengen categories C and D.
- Multiple (double or more) national visas of the states listed below.
The passport of a country belonging to the European Union allows you to freely visit the island. It is also available to holders of documents issued by Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia.
Types of permits depending on the term
The Cyprus visa has several categories depending on the permitted length of stay:
- Short-term, single-entry or multiple-entry visa to Cyprus (type C). Issued for one or more entries for up to 3 years, in exceptional cases up to 5 years - at the discretion of the consul. The total stay must not exceed 90 days in 180 days.
- Long term. Duration of stay ─ over 90 days. To obtain it, you must contact the Migration Service of the Republic of Cyprus.
A tourist visa to Cyprus, depending on the purpose of the visit, can be:
- transit;
- guest (by invitation).
There is also the option of obtaining a work visa.
For registration of all the listed categories of visa permits, it is necessary to submit the appropriate package of documents to the visa department of the Consulate General. Plus, if we are talking about the Greek part of the island, Russians also have access to a visitor visa to South Cyprus by invitation.
In addition, there are two design options:
- passport insert ─ standard form for multi- and long-term visas;
- a pro-visa is an electronic version of prior approval for a single entry, which is currently available to citizens of the Russian Federation and citizens of Ukraine who do not have a biometric passport.
Transit
Russians do not need a Cyprus transit visa if they are only traveling through the country.
On the official websites of the Consulates of Cyprus, there is no Russia in the list of countries whose citizens need a transit visa in the event of a transfer or flight connection at Cypriot airports.
Its citizens should not worry if the travel route does not end in Cyprus, but only requires a transfer to a plane in Paphos or Larnaca.
Another thing is a trip to local resorts, for example, Ayia Napa or Limassol. More information can be found at www.mfa.gov.cy.
Electronic pro-visa
Since 2009, Russians have been given the opportunity to simplify obtaining a one-time permit ─ a visa to Cyprus via the Internet or a pro-visa.
Prior authorization is issued by the consulate upon application sent by e-mail. You must print the file and present a paper copy at check-in. A stamp in the passport is put at the airport of arrival. A pro-visa allows you to stay in the country for up to 90 days.
A prerequisite for registration is the presence of a foreign passport with a validity period of at least 6 months from the date of receipt of the visa. In principle, this is the only rational choice if a multi-visa to Cyprus is not needed.
You will have to confirm on the spot:
- purpose of the trip;
- the possibility of living;
- the availability of sufficient funds for the return.
Since the beginning of 2021, the registration procedure has been changed. You can still issue a pro-visa free of charge, but only on the territory of the Russian Federation and if you do not plan to transit through third countries.
A unique identification QR code appeared in the electronic document, which increased its protection, the rules for filling out the questionnaire were clarified. The system was first launched in test mode at the Consulate General of Cyprus in St. Petersburg. In the period from April to July 2018, she began to operate in diplomatic missions in Moscow, as well as in Yekaterinburg, Samara and Krasnodar.
National visa
A long-term visa to Cyprus for up to five years is available to Russians from the spring of 2021. The best chances of getting it are from property owners and their invitees.
The period of permitted stay per year is limited to 90 days during every 180. When determining the terms, consular officers are guided by the stamps in the passport, fixing the dates of arrival / departure.
For Russians, regardless of category and duration, a national visa to Cyprus is issued by the consular section of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus on the territory of the Russian Federation. Documents are submitted on a first come, first served basis. The rules and working hours can be found on the official websites of the country's diplomatic missions in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
For work
To be able to work on the island, a number of conditions must be met, in particular, a special permit must be issued. A work visa to Cyprus will be required without fail. An employer is in charge of obtaining a permit and will have to prove the need to attract a foreign specialist to the Ministry of Labor.
The paper is sent to the applicant to the place from which he applies to the diplomatic mission on the territory of the country of residence. After arriving at the employee, a Pink Slip is issued ─ a residence permit for the period of an employment contract, with the right to extend. The employer pays a deposit of 515 euros per person to the bank, which is a guarantee of trouble-free deportation, medical insurance, a rental agreement are issued, after which the employee receives an Alien Book ─ a foreigner's passport, and can start work.
For students
A student visa to Cyprus is available to citizens of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan, who managed to provide an official invitation from a local college or university to the Cypriot embassy. A residence permit is required, for which the student will first have to issue a short-term entry permit.
The procedure is distinguished by a package of documents that must be translated into English and certified with an apostille. Additionally you will need:
- copy of student ID;
- certificate from the place of study;
- letter and certificate from the sponsor's place of work;
- confirmation of solvency: bank statement, sponsorship letter.
For citizens of the CIS countries
Citizens of some post-Soviet countries can travel to Cyprus without a visa: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan. Moreover, they can apply for visas to consular offices on the territory of Russia, if there is no such possibility on the territory of their states.
For Kazakhstanis, residents of Uzbekistan, Moldova, Ukrainians who do not have a biometric passport, and Belarusians staying in the Russian Federation, a visa request to Cyprus is possible only under certain circumstances:
- official residence and employment in the Russian Federation (long-term registration / temporary residence permit / residence permit);
- full-time study at a Russian university;
- close family ties with Russian citizens (spouses, children, parents).
To Cyprus with a visa of another country
As already noted, Russians are allowed to enter Cyprus on a Category C Schengen visa.Staying in the country without a national Cypriot visa is allowed for the entire period stipulated by the Schengen visa.
Persons with valid Category D visas or residence permits in the European Union, Schengen countries, as well as Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia are allowed to visit Cyprus without a visa under the following conditions:
- availability of a valid foreign passport;
- confirmation of the purpose of the trip, living conditions;
- availability of sufficient funds;
- absence in the list of persons prohibited from entering.
Thus, Russians can travel to Cyprus on a Bulgarian visa without any problems. The visa must be double or multiple, and even a preliminary visit to Bulgaria is not required for this. The period of stay should not exceed 90 days within six months.
The same applies to other citizens of the CIS, with the exception of Azerbaijanis, who are required to obtain a national Cypriot visa. According to interstate agreements (European Parliament Decision No. 565/2014), you can also go in the opposite direction: on a Cypriot visa to Bulgaria, as well as Croatia and Romania, which, like Cyprus, are not yet part of the Schengen zone.
What documents are needed
Depending on the purpose, the reasons for the trip, the type of invitation, the presence or absence of confirmation of the booking at the hotel, the requirements for documents and samples of completed questionnaires change. Certain differences exist for citizens of states applying for a visa in Russia.
Before applying for a visa to Cyprus, you must familiarize yourself with the requirements on the website of the Cypriot embassy or consulate. The general list of required documents is as follows:
- A valid international passport (original), a copy of the spread with personal data and a photograph.
- Application form in English with personal signature.
- Color photo 3x4 cm, taken no later than 6 months ago.
- Confirmation of accommodation options, for example, hotel reservations on letterhead with a stamp, the signature of the manager and a list of all tourists (attached to each questionnaire).
- Confirmation of solvency: a certificate from the place of work with an indication of the position and salary, an account statement, a certificate from the tax office, if there is a business.
The validity of the passport must be at least 3 months longer than the duration of the requested visa. The document requires two blank pages for inserts, stamps, and it should be issued no earlier than 10 years ago.
If you have an old passport with Cypriot visas, it will be easier. If a new document is issued in a different name or surname, you will have to provide documents confirming the change in personal data, for example, a marriage certificate.
Requirements for a photo for a Cyprus visa are the same as for a Schengen one: light background, no corners, size 3x4 cm. The face must occupy 70% of the area, and the quality of the picture must be high. Image distortions, emotional facial expressions, accessories (for example, sunglasses) are not allowed.
Consular officers, at their discretion, may request additional papers.
For minors
If a minor is planning to travel with the visa applicant, the following copies must be provided:
- Birth certificate (the original must be with you), civil passport, if the child is over 14 years old.
- Pages of the passport with information about the child or the passport of the child with a visa.
- A valid parent (s) / escort visa.
Only a father / mother or legal guardian can apply for a Greek Cyprus visa for children. Their consent certified by a notary is required only if the minor is traveling alone, accompanied by third parties or one of the parents.
An exception is a person who, for various reasons, has received all parental rights. In this case, you must submit a death certificate of the second or a court decision on the transfer of custody.
For national visa
National visa refers to long-term, issued for a period of six months or more. Depending on the purpose of the visit, they are divided into student, work, marriage, guest and others.
Most often, such a visa is issued on the basis of an invitation, which in English is called Assumption Of Responsibility For Hosting. To visit and relax in Cyprus you need:
- A copy of the passport of the inviting person (signed on behalf of the inviting party, if this is a legal entity, organization, university).
- A letter on the letterhead of the inviting party stating the purpose of the visit, a list of invited persons, and the type of visa requested.
If a child travels with his parents by invitation, he must be indicated in the application form. It should also be noted in the invitation. If the surnames of the children and the parents are different, a copy of the marriage certificate will be required.
Filling out the questionnaire
An application for a visa to the Republic of Cyprus (form) is available on the embassy's portal in .doc format in the consular services section. Application for visa cyprus contains only 20 points, filling of which is not a problem.
The data is written in capital block English letters. The middle name doesn't fit. Date of birth is indicated in the format day / month / year. If there are several citizenships, you will have to indicate all. The signature (as in the passport) and the date at the end are mandatory.
The questionnaire for a trip to Cyprus is carefully checked by the consular staff, therefore the data provided must be reliable. The completed form must be saved in doc format, heading it as follows (example): 2021 0302PETROVPETR, where the year, date (in numbers), last name, first name are indicated in order.
The completed sample is shown below.
It is not required to fill out a separate questionnaire for the child entered in the parents' passport. A photo for a child is needed from the age of five. A stamp in the passport about the refusal to issue visas of other countries reduces the likelihood of obtaining a Cypriot one. In this case, it is required to attach a copy of the official letter from the embassy of the country that issued the refusal.
To open a visa to Cyprus on your own, you need to fill out an online application by clicking on the link. After a while, a notification of the decision and a pro-visa will be sent to your e-mail box, which will remain to be printed. A response with a unique number usually comes the next, and if the application is sent before 15.00, then on the same day.
It should be noted that the Cyprus Embassy has the right to change the rules and terms for issuing a pro-visa without prior notice.
Cost and terms of receipt
There is no visa fee for Cyprus when submitting an application directly to consulates for Russians, regardless of the category of the national visa. In other words, it is free for registration without intermediaries.
Citizens of other countries will have to pay a consular fee to obtain:
- single entry ─ € 20;
- multiple entry (including double entry) ─ € 60.
Payment is possible only in rubles at the rate adjusted monthly by the Cypriot Ministry of Finance.
It is extremely important for potential travelers to know how long it takes for a Cyprus visa. It is already clear that electronic is one day. A multivisa will require 3 to 5 days. It is important to consider the method of contact, working hours, remoteness, as well as the seasonal workload of consular offices. An urgent visa is made one day in advance.
Submission of documents
Full information on the rules and procedures for applying for visas is provided by the official website of the Embassy of Cyprus. If we are not talking about a visa via the Internet, it is necessary to collect a package of documents, sign up for an appointment, personally arrive at the consular service and write a corresponding application form. After receiving and checking the documents, the time of the next visit will be appointed.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the Russian Federation is accredited in Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Citizens of these countries can obtain a visa to Cyprus in Moscow at the address: st. Povarskaya, 9. Contacts: tel. + 7 (499) 575-03-00, fax + 7 (499) 575-03-01, email: [email protected].
Consular departments on the territory of the Russian Federation:
| Town | Tel / fax | |
|---|---|---|
| St. Petersburg | +7 (861) 221-43-13, +7 (861) 221-43-50 | [email protected] |
| Krasnodar | +7 (861) 221-43-13, +7 (861) 221-43-50 | [email protected] |
| Ekaterinburg | +7 (343) 282-92-15, +7 (343) 282-92-18 | [email protected] |
| Samara | +7 (846) 207-33-53/52/51, +7 (846) 207-33-56 | [email protected] |
In the passport, a visa to Cyprus looks like this:
Reasons for refusal
Refusal is possible in the following cases:
- the expiration date is insufficient or there are few free pages in the passport;
- damage to the passport or reasonable suspicion of changing passport data;
- insufficient package of documents;
- false information, fictitious documents are presented;
- there were violations of the visa regime, criminal law.
Trip to Northern Cyprus
The northern part of the island is considered Turkish. British military bases are located here, and the buffer zone is controlled by the UN.
Conditions and rules of entry to Cyprus for up to 90 days and most citizens of the CIS countries do not require a visa here either. It is needed for the Armenians. For Russians, a single Cypriot visa is enough, the number of trips to the Turkish part of the island is not limited. You only need to enter and leave from the southern part of Cyprus.
Currently, there are 5 checkpoints, and it is planned to open two more.
Those who entered the island through the ports of Kyrenia, Famagusta or Ercan airport may be denied entry to the southern part of Cyprus. The local authorities found a compromise to visit the northern part of the country ─ entry stamps about the crossing are not put in the passport, but in the migration card.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is nothing difficult in obtaining a Cypriot visa. Registration is fast, and the price of the issue is low. If you carefully study the procedure, the answers to the questions, whether it is possible to enter Cyprus via Schengen, how to get a child visa and what documents to prepare, become obvious. Cyprus is open to Russians: for a short-term visit, you can go through a remote procedure for applying for a pro-visa, for a long-term one, you can independently or through intermediaries request a visa of category D. There is no consular fee for it.
