Last updated: 21 Oct 2025

Cyprus

About

It’s easy to fall in love with Aphrodite's isle, where legend has it the goddess of love arose from the waves, and discover ancient sites, wonderful beaches and crystal clear waters.

The best holiday beaches are found around Ayia Napa and Protaras, where warm turquoise seas lap gently shelving sands. Water sports, including water skiing and even kite-surfing are offered at the main resorts along with fun-filled water parks and boat trips.

Celebrate the feast of Kataklysmos (the Greek Orthodox Whitsun); although celebrated throughout Cyprus, there is special enthusiasm in Larnaca, where crowds throng the shore for water sports, singing, dancing, eating and drinking.

Recommended beaches include Geroskipou, Dasoudi, Larnaca, Governor's, Dassoudi Beach and Germasogeia (the latter two are at Limassol).
Capital:  Nicosia (NIC)
Currency:  Euro (EUR)
Language:  Cypriot Greek and Turkish. English, German and French are spoken in tourist areas. 
Dialling code from SA:  + 357
Time Zones: UTC / GMT +2 (same time as South Africa)
Daylight Savings Time: From last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October: UTC / GMT +3 (1 hour ahead of South Africa)
Side of the Road: Left
Best Time to Go: April - May and September - October
Best for: Greco-Roman Architecture, Mosaics, UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Plugs: 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Square 13-amp three-pin plugs (UK-type) are used
Drinking Water: Mains water in hotels and towns is safe to drink. Bottled water is available. 
Health: There are adequate and well-equipped medical facilities, however they are expensive and visitors are required to pay for these services. Comprehensive health insurance is recommended. If you require any medication on your travels it is best to bring it with you, in the original packaging, with a signed and dated letter from your doctor detailing exactly what it is and why you need it.
Customs: Normal social courtesies. Beachwear should be reserved for the beach / poolside. Respect to religious customs should also be shown during the month of Ramadan. If visiting a Muslim area, women should dress conservatively.
Local Offences / Laws: Do not photograph military installations or personnel. A licence is required to photograph museum artefacts (this can be purchased from the museum desk). No flash photography is allowed in buildings with murals. 
Travel Tips / Warnings: There may be limited acceptance of debit and credit cards outside of hotels, due to controls imposed on banks.  It is preferable to carry cash. 
Duty Free: Cyprus is within the European Union. If you are travelling from the UK, you are entitled to buy fragrance, skincare, cosmetics, Champagne, wine, selected spirits, fashion accessories, gifts and souvenirs - all at tax-free equivalent prices. There are no longer any allowance restrictions on these tax-free items.

If you are arriving from a non-EU country, the following goods may be imported into Cyprus by travellers over 17 years of age without incurring customs duty:
• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco.
• 1L of spirits (over 22% volume) or 2L of fortified wine or sparkling wine.
• 4L of still wine.
• 16L of beer.
• Goods in addition to the above up to the value of €430 (reduced to €175 for travellers under 15 years of age).
Prohibited Imports: Drugs, obscene materials, flick knives and daggers, counterfeit and pirated goods, goods used for illegal hunting of game, and firearms and ammunition. Restricted goods requiring authorisation include plants, animals and animal products, meat, fish, cheese, honey, precious metals, hunting guns and cartridges, sporting pistols and telecommunications equipment.
Prohibited Exports: All items prohibited from import are also prohibited from export.  Restricted exports include antiquities and wild flora and fauna.

Issuing Authorities

Cyprus High Commission
375 Marais Street, Brooklyn, 0181
Tel: 012 346 3329
Fax: 012 342 5596
E-mail: pretoriaconsulate@mfa.gov.cy
Web: www.mfa.gov.cy/highcompretoria

Visa Hours: Mon-Thurs 9:00 to 10:00 (Submissions and collections. No appointments necessary)
The Consular Section will be closed for Visa submissions for the last days of the month and on Public Holidays.

 

Public Holidays 2025: Jan 1, 6; Mar 3, 25; Apr 1, 18, 21-22; May 1; Jun 9; Aug 15; Oct 1, 28; Dec 25-26

Public Holidays 2026: Jan 1, 6; Feb 23; Mar 25; Apr 1, 10, 13; May 1; Jun 1; Aug 15; Oct 1, 28; Dec 25-26

Visa Requirements

Visas are required by SA Passport holders.

The High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus informs that visas will not be granted to applicants with itineraries including illegal entries from ports and airports situated to the part of the Republic of Cyprus which is occupied by the Turkish troops since 1974.

  • The visa application, the fees, and the requested supporting documents, can be submitted with a courier company or through any other authorised person. For the collection of the passport, authorization letter should be presented by the person who is collecting. 
  • Please note that additional documents or interviews can be requested by the applicant either with in-person attendance at the Cyprus High Commission or through telephone interview.

REQUIREMENTS

  1. Passport: 3 blank pages, must be valid for 3 months from the date of departure from Cyprus. 
  2. Visa Application form duly completed and signed by the applicant with contact details (parents or legal guardian in case of minors).
  3. Two recent colour photos sizes 4.13cm x 5.31cm.
  4. Provisional booking/itinerary showing legal port of entry and exit and the name of the passenger. Air tickets should not be purchased before the visa is issued.
  5. Hotel reservation on a letterhead from a hotel to the Republic of Cyprus with the name of the applicant and the confirmation dates of stay. We do accept reservations from other websites.
  6. Copies of the applicant's bank statements for the past three months.
  7. A recent (less than 1 month old) letter from employer on a letterhead addressed to the Cyprus High Commission with proof of the applicant's salary/wages. If self-employed a letter from the solicitor, the accountant or the bank manager of the applicant.
  8. Minors: an unabridged birth certificate should be submitted and a police affidavit of the parents or the guardians of the child giving their consent at a police station or a V6 Form from Home Affairs should be presented with a copy of his/her passport or ID. If parent has sole custody court papers stating this should be presented.
  9. If travelling on business or conference, an official letter of invitation on a letterhead with the contact details of the company.
  10. Non South African citizens should have a South African residence permit (or relevant visa) valid at least for three months after departure from Cyprus.
  11. Citizens or residents of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Somalia, Iraq, Syria and Pakistan or travellers who visited the above mentioned countries for a period of more than 4 weeks, they have to provide International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis against poliomyelitis, additional to the other requirements.
  12. An all-risk valid medical insurance policy (of at least €30.000-coverage) covering the whole duration of the stay in Cyprus must be submitted. No deductibles (no excess). If the applicant’s current health insurance policy covers medical emergencies abroad, proof thereof is required in writing – copy of insurance card is not sufficient. Otherwise a traveler’s insurance policy will need to be purchased. A letter from the insurance company covering medical expenses, including emergency hospital treatment and repatriation (transportation) to the home country/country of residence, stating the name of the person, the policy number, the period of cover and the medical coverage.
  13. For the issuing of multiple entry visas, the applicant must provide with the visa application sufficient justification for the request.

If visiting friend or family (additional visa requirements):

  1. Assumption of responsibility form fully completed, signed by the host and certified by the local municipal authorities or a certifying officer in the Republic of Cyprus. 
  2. Certified copy of host's passport or ID.
  3. Letter of invitation with full addresses and contact details of host.
  4. If host is supporting applicant's trip financially, proof of income of host for past three months or bank certificate is necessary.
  5. Bank guarantee letter, valid for one month. The bank guarantee letter should be stamped also by the Migration Department in Nicosia (if requested).

Visa Processing Time

10 Working days. Up to 20 working days during high season. 

Visa Validity

The duration of each visit may not exceed three months in any half year, starting from the date of first entry.

Visa Cost

Payments can be made only in cash and only in rand (ZAR) at the Consular Section of the High Commission (No EFT, no bank deposit and no cheques). The visa fees are only for the evaluation and the processing of a visa application. In case of a rejection of the application, the visa fees are not refundable. Please contact the embassy for updated exchange rates. 

Single Αnd Multiple Entry Visa: EUR 80 (R1630)
Minors Entry Visa (ages 6-12): EUR 40 (R815)

SA Representative

Representation accredited from Athens, Greece.

Travel Health

Compulsory:  None
Recommended Travel Vaccines:  Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Polio