Cyprus has long been a favorite holiday destination for Russian tourists. Its azure beaches and clean shores attract more and more tourists every year. The island itself is attractive not only for its warm sea and excellent climate, but also for its picturesque landscapes, as well as high service level. In addition, among a fairly small island territory there is a huge number of both natural and historical monuments. Ancient monasteries, churches, the first human settlements and eco-villages will impress any vacationer.
Therefore, when choosing a place for your next vacation, in no case should you lose sight of this paradise in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Perhaps the only obstacle will be obtaining a visa. Therefore, this article will deal in detail with how and where to start applying for a Cypriot visa. Considering that territorially the northern part is still controlled byRepublic of Turkey and there is no way to go there directly from Russia, unlike the South side.
The difference between South and North Cyprus
As already mentioned, the Northern and Southern parts since 1974 have been under the control of different states: Turkey and Greece, respectively. And this is despite the fact that the island of Cyprus itself has long gained independence and even joined the European Union, but without signing the Schengen agreements. Therefore, from an official point of view, a visa to Cyprus is certainly needed if we consider the country as a whole.
However, the Northern half allows entry for Russians under a visa-free regime and provides a simplified residence permit. Simply put, all visa procedures between North and South are not the same. Therefore, the tourist needs to think twice before the trip: what route of travel he will build.
For example, if a tourist applies for a visa to Cyprus (meaning a recognized state), the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus allows entering its territory with such a document (an additional form is filled out in the border zone), and the tourist does not have any problems. But if he decides to first visit the lands of the Northern part, without obtaining a Cyprus visa, then later, if he wants to visit the Greek half, he will have difficulties. Because, when traveling to Cyprus, the northern side does not issue a visa, but puts its own stamp, which in fact is a violation of Cypriot law, since the TRNC is not a recognized state.
Worth ittake into account that there are only 5 border zones between the two conflicting parties, and the most favorable one is located in the center of the capital - the city of Nicosia. There is also a UN headquarters and observation posts. It is prohibited for Russian citizens to enter through Ercan Airport under the laws of Cyprus.
What are the visas for Cyprus?
Like any other independent state, visas to visit Cyprus are divided into different types, based on the intentions of the applicant:
- Transit. Its destination is at the border crossing of Cyprus in the case of a transit flight with a transfer at one of its airports. Its name is ATV (Air transit visa). It is allowed to stay with it in the transit zone and on the territory of the country for up to five days.
- Tourist visa to Cyprus belongs to category D and is called National. This visa en titles you to visit only Cypriot lands.
- Schengen category C can be used within Cyprus and countries that have signed the Schengen agreements (despite the fact that Cyprus is not a party to these agreements).
Visas to Cyprus for employment and immigration are not granted, but it is possible to obtain a special permit for such purposes. To do this, for example, the employer applies to the Ministry of Labor and the Immigration Service to apply for a work permit for a foreign worker
Visa Validity
Given the validity of visas, you can easily determine which visa to Cyprus a tourist needs in a given period. The duration of one or the othervisas are the actual validity, and the length of time spent on the island is the number of available and maximum possible days in the territory during the validity period. Do not confuse these two concepts.
So, which visa to Cyprus has what validity period:
- If we take Schengen category C, then everything will depend on the goals pursued by the applicant.
- National Cypriot visa allows multiple entries. Sometimes it is issued for up to five years, in case of presentation of indisputable evidence that a citizen visits Cyprus and other countries of the European Union quite often. Despite such a long validity period, a tourist can only stay in the country for ninety days per six months. The countdown starts from the day of the first visit to the country on this visa.
- Category D is issued for up to a year, it is also long-term, but you can stay on it for absolutely the entire annual period without a break.
- Provisa is a short-term and single entry document. Stay in the country is possible for ninety days in a six-month period. It is issued by prior application in online format.
Those who apply for a tourist visa to Cyprus have the right to one-time extend the period of stay for a temporary period not exceeding the expiration date and validity of the visa. To do this, you should contact the official Immigration departments of the cities of Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos and Nicosia.
National visa
Since the question of whether a visa to Cyprus is needed for Russians or not has been successfully sorted out, now we need to considerdetailed design and description of each of them.
The national visa is a tourist visa, but is issued for a long period - from one to three years, and in exceptional cases up to five. In terms of length of stay, a citizen can stay in the country continuously for only ninety days in six months.
You can apply for a visa at any Embassy or Consulate of Cyprus on the territory of the Russian Federation, and absolutely free of charge. The consular fee for Russians has been cancelled.
National Visa Application
In order to be able to come to the country of the eternal sun more often, it is worth analyzing the moment how to apply for a visa for Russians to Cyprus. To apply for a National Visa you need:
- A foreign passport valid up to six months after the expiration date of the visa and with one blank page to paste it in.
- Questionnaire for a visa of the established form. To be completed in English.
- Copy of foreign passport.
- Copy of internal Russian passport. You must provide pages with personal information, registration and numbers of previously issued passports.
- Two photos in color. One is glued to the printed questionnaire.
- Copy of the paper confirming the reservation of the hotel room, or voucher or other document containing the address of the temporary residence.
- A paper with information about financial security, such as a bank statement or a certificate of employment, indicating a monthly salary.
Transit visa
WhatDo you need a visa for Cyprus in case of a transit flight? Of course, transit. Usually, there are no additional questions with its execution, since the package of documents for this type of entry document is minimal:
- A foreign passport with a validity period of at least three months after the end of the visa and one blank page for pasting it.
- Completed application form in English.
- Photo 3 by 4, which is pasted into the questionnaire.
- A copy of the booking of an air ticket to a third country.
- If optional, a copy of the visa to the final country of arrival.
Schengen entry
Tourists who have already traveled within the European Union and have obtained a Schengen visa can enter Cyprus without additional delays. Also, Schengen category C can be used in case of transit travel through the country. The rules for staying on this document in the Cypriot territory coincide with the usual Schengen requirements.
In addition, Russians with visas from Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania can also freely visit Cyprus.
Visa procedures
How to apply for a visa to Cyprus, having all the necessary documents in hand? The personal presence of the applicant when submitting papers and processing an entry document is not necessary, however, if the consul has additional questions, then in private he can ask the citizen to appear to clarify the situation.
Official Representation of Cyprus in Moscow accepts visa applications on any business day, exceptholidays falling on the working week. Serving time from 9:30 to 14:00. The production time is only a day, that is, there is a high probability of picking up a ready-made passport the very next day. Issuance takes place on time from 14:00 to 15:00.
The Consulate General is located in the city of St. Petersburg. Documents are accepted on weekdays from 9:30 to 12:00. If a travel company handles the tourist's application, then the time for them is from 9:30 to 10:45. Issuance is made on the day of submission from 16:00 to 16:30.
Thus, Cyprus not only made it easier for Russians to enter thanks to the abolished payment of the consular fee, but also accelerated the issuance of visas.
What is provisions
What kind of visa to Cyprus is issued in case of a short stay? For Russian tourists, the Cypriot government has long been providing the opportunity to apply for a visa using the Internet resource.
It's free to get. The visa is valid for a short period of time and can only be used once.
How to apply for a visa
How to get a visa to Cyprus of this type on your own? To get started, you just need to take one simple step - connect to the Internet and go to the official website of the Embassy of Cyprus in Moscow. Next, follow the link where it says Provisa for Cyprus. The page of the consular section will open with a description of the visa requirements and the application form, which should be downloaded.
The questionnaire is filled out in English and sent to the e-mail of the department dealing with the issuance of provisions. The mailing address can be found inend of the questionnaire.
For each citizen who wants to get a visa, a separate questionnaire is filled out. All data is taken from a valid foreign passport, which will be used for entry (this information is relevant for those who have two valid foreign passports). The finished file is saved in Word format, and its name is written as a first and last name in Latin.
Features of provisions
After consideration of the application, a file with a document confirming the request for a visa is sent in a response letter. It must be printed and presented at the border control upon arrival in Cyprus at one of the airports located in the Southern Territory.
Valid for ninety days. That is, during this period, a citizen can live in Cyprus without a break, but you can enter with a visa only once.
All questionnaires sent to the Consulate's mail are processed until three in the afternoon. And a big plus is the absence of the need to collect a folder with documentation. For provisions, you do not need to specify a ticket or hotel reservation. There is no need for an invitation from a resident of Cyprus either.
Northern Cyprus. Entry conditions
How to apply for a visa to Cyprus, in case of visiting only the Northern part? The answer is no. If a tourist wants to spend their holidays exclusively in the TRNC and does not want to bother with collecting documents for obtaining a Cypriot visa in order to enter from the South of the country and travel through the entire territory to the northern part, then he can use the visa-free regime between Russia and Northern Cyprus. Howeverit is worth remembering the stamp affixed at the border of Northern Cyprus: it is an indicator of illegal crossing of the Republic of Cyprus.
You can fly to the North Side through a transfer point in the Republic of Turkey, with which, by the way, there is also a visa-free regime. There is an option to take a ferry to the city of Girne. Ferries depart from the ports of Alanya and Mersin.
