In order to make it convenient for people who take flights to China to understand the latest testing and COVID-19 prevention regulations, the latest requirements are summarized as follows, which come into effect on January 7, 2022. The transition period will be 7 days, and from 0:00 a.m. on January 14, 2022, all the above-mentioned regulations shall be formally executed.

1. Travel requirements

In order to avoid the risk of cross infection through multi-national transit, you must fly from Cyprus to China with only one-transit route at most. All passengers shall  apply for the “HDC” code both in Cyprus and the transit country within 48 hours before boarding.

All passengers are required to declare the countries or regions that they have been to  within 28 days, and fill in the Applicant’s Statement (Attachment 1) truthfully.

2. How to Apply

After obtaining the negative PCR and antibody IgM test reports, Chinese citizens should apply for the health code by scanning the international version applet of epidemic prevention health code below; Foreign citizens can log in to the website: http://hrhk.cs.mfa.gov.cn/H5/ through computer or mobile phone to apply for the “HDC” code.

Epidemic prevention health code international version applet

Please upload the following documents as required in order:

(1) Negative PCR test report (within 2 days before departure, people vaccinated with inactivated vaccines should upload two PCR test reports)

(2) Antibody IgM test report (within 2 days before departure, people vaccinated with inactivated vaccines don’t need to upload)

(3) Applicant’s Statement (Attachment 1)

(4) Air ticket itinerary (from Cyprus to China)

(5) Proof of Residence in Cyprus (if the residence card is being processed, please submit the confirmation receipt by the Immigration Department and your personal description)

(6) Non-vaccinated personnel shall submit antibody IgG test report

(7) The vaccinated personnel shall submit the vaccination certificate (such as the EU digital vaccine certificate, etc. and Letter of Commitment on COVID-19 Vaccination (Attachment 2)

(8) When applying for a health code, temporary visitors to Cyprus (including those on business trips or landing in Cyprus with a permanent residence card) must upload the record of their last entry into Cyprus (the passport page where the entry seal is located must be uploaded completely), enterprise personnel shall submit the Quarantine Management Certificate (Attachment 3), and other visitors to China shall submit the Quarantine Commitment (Attachment 4).

(9) The seafarers or crew members who take flight to China shall submit the Quarantine Management Certificate (Attachment 3).

Failure to submit the above documents will affect the approval and issuance of “HDC” code. When filling in the information on the website, please select the date of sampling in the laboratory, rather than the date of receiving the testing report or boarding.

3. Testing requirements

Passengers should complete the PCR and antibody IgM test at the local laboratories(Please see below the lab list) and obtain negative test reports. The test report must be in English, and indicate the test sampling time, test result (negative), passenger's name, date of birth, international travel document number, doctor's signature, contact number or e-mail of the testing laboratory or doctor for verification, etc.

The PCR test report shall be marked with words such as “RT-PCR”, and the specific sampling method shall be indicated as “nasopharyngeal swab”, etc.

For the detection of antibody IgM, the sampling method of venous blood must be adopted. The report issued by the testing laboratories must also indicate the words of “IgM”. The sampling and testing results obtained by other sampling methods (such as fingertip blood collection and rapid testing) will not be recognized by the Embassy.

The validity period of the “HDC” code is the sampling date + 2 days. For example, if the earliest sampling date is January 3, the “HDC” code issued accordingly will be valid until 23:59:59 on January 5 (local time).

(1)For passengers who have not been vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccines, please conduct PCR test and IgM antibody test within 2 days before departure. If the test results are both negative, please upload the test results and apply for health code.

(2)For Passengers who have been vaccinated with non-inactivated COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, J&J, Astrazeneca and Moderna vaccines, etc.), please conduct PCR test and anti-N protein IgM test. If both test results are negative, the passengers can apply for the “HDC” code.

Vaccinated travelers whose PCR or anti-N protein IgM test result shows positive should cancel travel plans and receive treatment. After the test results turn to negative, travelers should follow the procedures of those who have infection history.

(3)For passengers who have been vaccinated with inactivated COVID-19 vaccines (China's SINOPHARM and SINOVAC vaccines,etc.), please conduct 2 PCR tests at two different designated clinics at intervals 24 hours each within 2 days before boarding. For example, people who takes the first test at Laboratory A at 9 am on January 3rd should take the second test at Laboratory B on January 4th after 9 am. In case of clinic closing on holiday, the first PCR test can be performed one day in advance, that is, on January 2nd. If both two PCR test results are negative, the passengers can apply for the “HDC” code.

(4)Minors under 5
Minors under five years old who need to apply for a “HDC” code must also undergo testing in accordance with the above requirements. If the Cypriot laboratory is unable to conduct the testing and the Chinese Embassy or Consulate General in the transit country does not require the “HDC” code, the tests can be omitted.

After completing the whole vaccination, you must wait for at least 14 days’ observation before you can travel. If the vaccination has been completed for less than 14 days, the Embassy will not approve and issue the “HDC” code. Please fill in the brand, date and other information of vaccine, and upload the vaccination certificate and Letter of Commitment on COVID-19 Vaccination(Attachment 2). Vaccination certificates include: EU digital COVID certificate, etc.

In principle, those who fail to complete all doses of 2 or 3 doses of vaccine, or complete 2 doses of inactivated vaccine within the same day, shall be regarded as no vaccination.

4. Additional requirements for passengers who were diagnosed as Covid-19 patient or whose PCR, IgM or IgG test result was positive (excluding those tested IgM/IgG positive due to vaccination). For those whose anti-N protein IgM test is positve after vaccinated with non-inactivated vaccine should also apply the following requirements :

(1) Pre-check:
The applicant must send ①pulmonary CT or X-ray diagnosis certificates issued by local hospitals(within 5 days before pre-check) ②two negative PCR test reports at laboratories recognized by the Embassy at least 24 hours apart(within 3 days before pre-check) ③the positive report or statement of history of infection to chinaemb_cyp@hotmail.com.
Attention: If you have been tested positive in one of the recognized laboratories, you should do the test in that laboratory again and receive a negative report.

(2)After being approved by the Embassy, the passengers must stay quarantined for at least 14 days and make sure that they are symptom-free. Any suspected symptoms such as fever, cough and diarrhea during quarantine and health monitoring must be truthfully reported to the embassy.

(3) If the situation during the above two procedures is normal, the passengers should take the PCR and antibody IgM tests within 2 days before departure and upload their negative test reports to apply for the “HDC” code.

5. Quarantine and closed-loop management requirements before travel to China　
For temporary business travelers to Cyprus, quarantine and closed-loop management shall be conducted in Cyprus for at least 14 days before travel to China, and the enterprise shall issue Quarantine Management Certificate (Attachment 3).

Those who visit Cyprus with a permanent residence card must have an at least 14-day quarantine and sign the Quarantine Commitment (Attachment 4).

The seafarers or crew members who take flight to China shall carry out quarantine and closed-loop management for at least 14 days before the flight, and shall provide the Quarantine Management Commitment issued by the shipping company (Attachment 3).
Quarantine and closed-loop management means that except for going to the laboratories for testing, the applicant should strictly implement quarantine, which requires single room accommodation, separate dining, independent toilet and no contact with others. If you have fever, sore throat and other suspected symptoms of Covid-19 during quarantine please see a doctor immediately and postpone your return trip.

6. Requirements for passengers who had close contact with someone who were tested positive for PCR or passengers who have developed suspected symptoms of Covid-19:
Applicant must stay quarantined for at least 14 days after the date of the last close contact or the date on which the symptoms appeared. They must take PCR tests at laboratories recognized by the Embassy on day 1, day 4 and day 7 during the quarantine. If all the results are negative, they should send ①passport ②the date of the last close contact or the date on which the symptoms appeared ③three PCR negative certificates during the quarantine to chinaemb_cyp@hotmail.com and then follow further instructions of the Embassy informed by email.

7. Special Notice
(1)Please learn beforehand the regulations and requirements for the application of “HDC” code of China's embassies and consulates in the transit country, the entry requirements of transit countries, and the relevant requirements for the detection of PCR and antibody IgM test in the transit country in advance so as to avoid any rejected entry or tests in the transit country, decrease the risks of cross-transmission and detention in transit countries.
(2)According to the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases and other relevant laws and regulations, if people who fail to carry out quarantine and closed-loop management as required, conceal their past infection history, close contact history, forge reports and tested positive after arrival in China, shall be held liable for legal responsibility arising therefrom, including but not limited to negative records on personal credit, future restricted travel to China and etc.
(3)Please wait patiently after submitting your application and avoid frequent calls to us. The Embassy check applications on weekdays, weekends and holidays.

List of Laboratories Recognized by the Chinese Embassy in Cyprus
（Updated on January 7）

1.Charis Ch. Charilaou Biomedical Laboratories
(PCR+anti-N protein IgM)
Address: Arch. Makarios III Ave, Nicosia
Phone: 22758858

2.Andreas Adamou Chemistry
(PCR+anti-N protein IgM)
Address: Aulonos 8, Nicosia
Phone: 22762999

3.BIOCHECK-Tiggiridis Clinical Laboratories
(PCR+anti-N protein IgM)
Address: Archiepiskopou Makariou III, Lakatamia, Nicosia
Phone: 22 762878

4.Medifos Center of Laboratory Medicine and Molecural Diagnosis
(PCR+anti-N protein IgM)

Address: 8 28th Oktovriou Avenue, Engomi, 2412, Nicosia
Phone: 22760943

5. MyGene Molecular Diagnostics
(PCR+anti-N protein IgM)
Address: Anoikodomiseos 25, Agios Athanasios 4104, Limassol
Phone: 99 539853

6. Yiannoukas Medical Laboratories LTD
(PCR+anti-S protein IgM)
Address: 59 Ifigenias Avenue, Nicosia
Phone: 77 77 13 10

7. American Medical Center
(PCR+anti-S protein IgM)
Address: 215 Syprou Kyprianou Avenue, 2047 Nicosia
Phone: 22 476777

8. Aretaeio Private Hospital
（PCR）
Address: 55-57, Andrea Avraamidi st, Strovolos 2024, Nicosia
Phone: 22200300

9.Iasis Private Hospital
（PCR）
Address: 8, Voriou Ipirou Street, 8036, 8069, Paphos
Phone: 26848484

10.Bioanalysis Laboratory
（PCR）
Address：Kyprianou 23C, Mesa Geitonia, 4001, Limassol + Larnaca Airport
Phone:25726252

Labs in the North:

1. Neareast University Hospital
(PCR+IgM)
Address: Yakın Doğu Boulevard, Lefkoşa
Phone:+90 392 444 05 35

2. Dr. Burhan Nalbantoglu Devlet Hastanesi
(PCR+IgM)
Address:Doktor Burhan Nalbantoğlu Caddesi, Lefkoşa
Phone:+90 392 228 5441

3. Famagusta State Hospital
(PCR+IgM)
Address：Salamis Yolu, GazimaZusa
Phone: +90 392 630 8900-29
 
4. Near East University Hospital Magusa Medical Center
(PCR+IgM)
Address: Dumlupınar Str., İsmet İnönü Boulevard No:20, Mağusa
Phone: +90 392 444 0 535 Extension: 2430

Chinese Embassy in Cyprus
January 7, 2022