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| 1. | Do I need a Visa to enter Cyprus? | Citizens of the European Union do not require a visa to enter Cyprus. Their passport must be valid throughout their entire stay in Cyprus.
| | 2. | Can I take my pet with me to Cyprus? | Yes, you can. For cats and dogs and ferrets the following provisions apply: The animal must have a clearly visible tatoo or electronic microchip and a European Passport. The animal must be at least three (3) months old, have been vaccinated against rabbies and have undergone antiparasitical treatment. Please note that the following breeds of dog cannot be brought into Cyprus: American Pit Bull or Pit Bull Terier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro.
| | 3. | Can foreign nationals visit the north part of the island, which has been under Turkish military occupation since 1974? | Yes, they can. But everybody must be aware of the potential problems and risks when visiting the non-government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus. So, please have the following in mind:
Last year's developments in Cyprus following the partial lifting of restrictions on the freedom of movement, that have been imposed by the occupation regime since 1974 in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, have wrongly created the impression that the occupation has ceased and a solution to the Cyprus problem has been reached.
As this is not the case, the purpose of this document is to make people aware of the situation as regards visits to the occupied area and to alert them as to the potential problems and risks they may face.
At the outset it should be noted that the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not impose any restrictions on the freedom of movement of persons or goods, which have entered the territory of the Republic through legal points of entry situated in the Government controlled areas of the Republic. Entry into the territory of the Republic of Cyprus through any illegal point of entry situated in the occupied non-government controlled areas is illegal and subject to the relevant laws of the Republic.
The authorities of the Republic of Cyprus maintain their position that all properties situated in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus including hotels, restaurants, shops and other establishments, are not evidently owned, controlled and managed by their legal owners. These properties have been illegally aliened by the occupation regime to people that manage them, without the consent of their rightful owners. The conscious use of such property and particularly overnight stay in the aforesaid hotels or other resorts is illegal and subject to the laws of the Republic regarding the conscious use of stolen property.
Overnight stay in the occupied areas is also strongly discouraged for reasons of compatibility of the establishments in the occupied area with the hygienic, security and other standards. The Republic of Cyprus cannot guarantee the standards or safety of the establishments in the north of Cyprus. Any claims for compensation based on established European consumer protection acts can be denied by the occupation regime as Turkey’s subordinate local administration in the occupied area of the Republic is deprived of any legal status. Furthermore the laws of the Republic of Cyprus and the Acquis Communautaire cannot be enforced, as this is a non-government controlled area.
The Government of the Republic of Cyprus cannot guarantee or ensure the safety of visitors in the occupied areas and the authorities of the Republic will be unable to offer any help in case of accident, injury, theft, illness etc. and thus foreign nationals may find themselves isolated in the case of need.
As Turkey's subordinate local administration in the occupied areas does not enjoy any international recognition and hence is deprived of any legal status, it is not feasible to obtain recognized evidence to support any claim.
According to Article 6 of the Travel Agencies and Tourist Guides law, tour operators that bring tourists to Cyprus are obliged to have a licensed Cypriot travel agent as a representative.
Article 12 of the above law places a responsibility of the Cyprus Tourist Organisation to oversee travel agencies and ensure that they follow and apply the conditions of their license. The travel agencies are obliged to submit to the CTO all promotional material or programs for planned excursions / sightseeing tours for approval and the organisation of such excursions / tours without the use of licensed tourist guides is not allowed.
| | 4. | Can foreign nationals take up employment in Cyprus? | Yes, foreign nationals may be employed in Cyprus provided they can first find a local employer who is willing to employ them. The Cyprus employer must then submit an application for the issue of a work permit, on behalf of the foreign national, to the competent authority (the Immigration Office at the Ministry of Interior). If the application is approved the foreign national will hold a work permit for the specific job and for limited period of time. Recruitment is therefore made directly by the employers or through agents; you have to make your own direct contacts with the interested employers, intermediaries or employers' organizations, if you wish to take up employment in Cyprus.
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