Cyprus - Country Information

Film Commissions

General Information

Location: Mediterranean
Local Time: From 30 Mar 08 to 26 Oct 08 GMT +3
From 26 Oct 08 to 29 Mar 09 GMT +2
From 29 Mar 09 to 25 Oct 09 GMT +3
Capital City: Nicosia
Population: 837,300
Area: 9,251 square km, 3,572 square miles.
Language(s): Greek, English is widely spoken
Dialling Code: 357
Emergency: Police, Fire & Ambulance: 112/199
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard:
Driving: Driving is on the left. International Driving Licence or National Driving Licence, provided it is valid for the class of vehicle required
Electricity: 230V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Euro (EUR 1 = 100 Cents)
Notes: EUR: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500
Coins: EUR: 1, 2. Cents: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted. Eurocheques are no longer accepted

Opening Hours
Bank: 0815-1330 Mon-Fri (May-Aug), 0830-1300 & 1515-1645 Mon, 0830-1300 Tue-Fri (Sep-Apr)
Office: 0800-1300 & 1500-1800 Mon-Fri (Sep 15- May 31), 0800-1300 & 1600-1900 Mon-Fri (Jun 1-Sep 14)
Shops: until 1900 Mon-Sat (closed Wed pm, Nov-Mar), until 2030 Mon-Sat (closed Wed pm, Apr-Oct, between 15 Jun-31 Aug closed between 1400-1700)

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Years Day, Jan 6 Epiphany, Mar 10 Green Monday, Mar 25 Greek National Day, Apr 1 Greek Cypriot National Day, Apr 25 Good Friday (Greek Orth Church), Apr 28 Easter Monday (Greek Orth Church), May 1 Labour Day, Jun 14-16 Pentecost-Kataklysmos, Aug 15 Assumption, Oct 1 Cyprus Independence Day, Oct 28 Greek National Day, Dec 24-26 Christmas

Business/Social Hints: Most executives speak English. At meetings usually coffee or soft drinks, will be offered and should be accepted. Head nodding sideways may indicate no, up and down movement may indicate yes. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants, be punctual. Dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is 18 years

Tipping: Service charges are added to bills by hotels & restaurants, however additional moderate tips are expected

Health

Reciprocal health: Participant of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC scheme) which allows visitors on short-term stays to other member countries to use the public health care sector for free or reduced-cost medical treatment and emergency care.

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

Recommended immunisations: None, however check travellers have up to date tetanus & polio immunisations, long-term visitors should consider hepatitis A immunisation.

Risks:

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Restrictions: 1) European Union Nationals can now enter the occupied area of Cyprus via several check points 2) Leaving the government control area of Cyprus is forbidden, however, the legal ports of entry are only the airports of Larnaca & Paphos & the ports of Larnaca, Limassol, Latsi & Paphos

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:
1) Holders of National Identity Cards (containing photograph) issued to citizens of European countries & Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway & Switzerland

Passport Validity: 1) EU passport holders - no validity required. Passport must be valid on the date of return
2) Non EU passport holders require a visa which should be valid for 3 months on the date of return

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Cyprus
2) For tourist visits up to 90 days by:
a) Nationals of United Kingdom
b) Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Rep, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (S.A.R. passport holders only), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao (S.A.R. passport holders only), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City & Venezuela

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons continuing their journey to a third country by the same or first connecting aircraft within 24 hours without leaving the airport, provided holding confirmed tickets & documentation (except nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo Dem Rep, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka & Turkey)

Exit Permits

Special Notes

Climate

Typical Mediterranean climate. Summers are warm/hot and dry with virtually no rainfall between mid May-mid Oct. Winter is generally mild except in the mountains where snow is quite frequent. Highest rainfalls are from Dec-Feb

Clothing

Lightweights during summer with warmer mediumweights at other times plus rainwear

Charts for Nicosia

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 16 16 18 24 29 34 33 37 33 28 22 17 Min Temp (C) 8 5 7 10 13 17 21 21 17 14 10 8 Humidity am (%) 84 80 74 64 54 52 50 56 60 65 75 82 Humidity pm (%) 66 60 64 46 40 36 34 34 38 45 53 63 Rainfall (mm) 76 45 36 16 20 8 1 2 10 26 32 56

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Cyprus Tourism Organisation
17 Hanover Street
London, W1S 1YP
tel: +44 20 7569 8800, 0900 188 7744*
fax: +44 20 7499 4935
e-mail: informationcto@btconnect.com
website: www.visitcyprus.com
* calls cost 60p per minute

Embassy
High Commission of Cyprus
Consular Department
93 Park Street
London, W1K 7ET
tel: +44 20 7629 5350
fax: +44 20 7491 0691
e-mail: cyprusconsulate@btconnect.com
website: www.mfa.gov.cy, www.visticyprus.com
hours: 0930-1300 (Mon-Fri)