News

Security Measures are effective until the 30th of April. Supportive subsidies extended till the 12th of June 2020.

Security Measures

1. Movement Limitation to once per day and not at nighttime – Procedure for approved purpose

Transit between 9:00pm and 6:00am shall only be allowed to people with a valid work certification form.

Approval of Transit Purpose

Movement is only allowed for justified purpose as per the latest government measures (refer to procedure guidelines below), and represents strictly necessary transit. Persons in transit must at all times carry their ID documents along with a movement purpose text message (SMS) or certificate (printed or handwritten) in either:

• Form A Worker Registration Certificate FORM A _ EN; or
• Form B Exceptional Citizen Movement Statement (either in the format of the form provided or an SMS confirmation as below) Form B_EN.

(forms attached here below both in Greek and English)

Form A must be signed by the employer or by the worker themselves if they are a freelance professional or self-employed.

Form B regards all other movement; it must be signed by the person transiting themselves and completed separately for each separate trip. Such form contains the name, date of birth, no. of ID or passport, address of residence, time of travel of the citizen, and the specific purpose of the journey.

Written certificates for transit only allowed for persons above 65 years old. The rest of the population may only transit sending an SMS to the free number 8998, ONLY ONCE per day.

Procedure for Sending SMS for Movement Approval

As stated above, instead of filling in Form B for each transit trip, one may send an SMS to the free number 8998.

The SMS must have the following format:

X blank ID or passport number blank home postcode

X represents the number corresponding each purpose of movement (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) as described below:

1. Go to a pharmacy or blood donation or visit a doctor
2. Go to a store to purchase or supply essential goods/services
3. Transfer to a bank, since no electronic transaction is possible
4. Absolutely necessary visits to government agencies or services of the wider public sector and local government
5. Transit to assist people who are unable to cater for themselves or who need to protection or are in self-isolation and/or quarantine
6. Moving for physical activity or for the needs of a pet, provided they do not exceed two persons and are confined to areas adjacent to a person’s home
7. Go to ceremony (e.g. funeral, marriage, christening) not exceeding 10 persons (only first and second degree relatives)
8. Declaration of any other purpose of movement which may be justified by the prohibition measures.

Sending the message, citizens will have the right to travel for a specific period of time depending on the purpose of the journey. Currently, the time is set at 3 hours maximum for all the above purposes.

After sending the SMS the reply will be received in the following format:

OK blank X blank ID or Passport number blank Home Postcode blank Travel License Allowance Time

The police shall be checking both the confirmation SMS and the traveler's identification documents.

The one-per-day movement limitation does not apply to movements of absolute necessity, such as transit to a pharmacy, blood donation, visit to a doctor or to a veterinarian or transit with the purpose to aid family members and/or fellow citizens who cannot look after themselves or to groups of people who must be protected or who are in self-isolation or/and in premises of compulsory isolation, transit of a soldier from and to the military camp or transit for specialized therapies for people with disabilities or people suffering from chronic diseases.

Information relating to CoVid-19 in various languages : https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/en/info.html

2. Mandatory suspension of operation / closures

The following businesses as well as recreational and public spaces are mandated to be closed to the public (administration activities internally are not affected):

• Shopping centres and department stores
• Cafes, bars and all catering establishments with the exception of those offering or capable of providing home delivery services
• Entertainment centres
• Cinemas, theatres and auditoriums
• Libraries
• Museums, archaeological and historical sites
• Betting/gaming agencies, casinos, etc
• Sports facilities, sport and social clubs
• Theme parks (amusement parks etc)
• Hairdressers, massage centres
• Parks.
• Playgrounds.
• Open-air sport spaces.
• Public gathering areas, among others, squares, dams, excursion sites, beaches, marinas.
• All retailers (with certain exceptions)

Exempted retailers:

• Businesses and laboratories dealing with disability and orthopedic products.
• Businesses and laboratories dealing with medical and industrial gases and equipment.
• Optical companies and laboratories.
• Hearing aids retailers.
• Businesses providing medical equipment and medical supplies.
• Car and motor vehicle dealers.
• Tire retailers.
• Bicycle and bicycle repair shops.
• Pet shops, animal feed and veterinary medicines retailers.
• Pesticides, fertilisers and agricultural materials or equipment retailers.
• Florists and garden centers.
• Funeral offices.
• Dry cleaners’ shops.
• Car and motorcycle garages.
• Telecommunications service providers, for services relating to bill payments, topups, repair and replacement of mobile devices.
• Postal and courier services.
• All food and beverage retailers (e.g. supermarkets, grocery stores, butchers, fish markets, bakeries, pastry shops, fruit markets, liquor stores).
• Pharmacies
• Food and beverage services (restaurants, cafes, coffee-shops, bars) that may offer home delivery and quick-service windows.
• Gas stations.
• Kiosks and mini markets
• Car-wash services, provided that no cleansing is conducted in the interior of the car.

Businesses that do not suspend their operations in the private sector are to make their own individual arrangements, adhering to the strict hygiene and protective measures of the Ministry of Health.

3. Prohibitions to the public

• Open markets, bazaars and itinerant sales
• Work on construction sites (except construction works relating to public utility projects and subject to the relevant permission from the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works)
• Visit to all places of religious worship
• The custom of “Lighting a bonfire”

4. Travel Restrictions

Only Cypriot students pertaining in vulnerable groups as regards to CoVid-19 and persons who traveled for medical reasons and have a relevant certificate from Cypriot diplomatic missions shall be allowed to enter and shall enter automatically in a 14-day quarantine.

The crossing between the government-controlled and occupied areas of the Republic is allowed only for:

• Cypriot citizens (Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots)
• Legal residents of the territory governed by the Republic of Cyprus. EU citizens should present travel documents to certify their legal entry into the Republic and a utility bill to prove their legal residency status. Third country nationals should present travel documents to certify legal entry and their residency permit.
• Country nationals who are in designated diplomatic service or mission, under bilateral or international treaties, should present diplomatic ID, or, for those who are not holders of a diplomatic ID, a non-diplomatic card or a certification from the competent authority of the reasons of their presence in the Republic of Cyprus.

5. Court proceedings

Courts remain open for urgent cases only. The hearing and all further action in any case before the Courts of Cyprus Courts at any level and jurisdiction is suspended until 30.04.2020 with the following exceptions:

I. Civil Actions:

• Interim order applications in cases of utmost urgency, upon prior permission to be granted on a case by case basis
• Appeal applications relating to Law 9/1965 on the Transfer and Mortgage of Lands
• Writs of Habeas Corpus
• Applications relating to fugitives and wanted persons
• Prerogative writs of urgency
• Asylum cases of urgency
• Urgent appeals

II. Criminal cases:

• Cases where the defendant is in custody
• Cases seeking remand of defendants
• Cases relating to the Quarantine Law and the relevant Council Orders
• Urgent cases at the Court’s discretion
• Appeals where the defendant in imprisoned or in custody or are deemed urgent at the Court’s discretion

Urgent proceedings relating to e.g. the application for an order mandating psychiatric treatment, any orders of urgent nature by virtue of special statutes such as orders regarding the Violence in the Family Laws etc are also exempted from the suspension.

The issuance of decisions at all court stages and jurisdictions is also excluded from the suspension.

The Court Registries only accept fillings/submissions as follows:

• Actions, judicial review applications, general applications accompanied by an interim order application of urgent nature, upon prior permission to be granted on a case by case basis
• Application appeals against the foreclosure process for the sale of immovable property
• Appeals and prerogative writs of urgent nature
• Applications relating to fugitives and wanted persons
• Criminal cases where remand of the defendant is sought
• Criminal cases relating to the Quarantine Law and the relevant Council Orders.
• Criminal Cases for which the General Attorney specifically requested to be filed as “of utmost urgency”.

Submissions/filings referring to mental health care procedures or to the issuance of urgent orders under any law, will also be permitted.

The submission/filing of any cases in respect of which a time limit and/or limitation is provided under the Constitution or by stature will also be permitted.

The induction of oaths in cases of utmost urgency will be further permitted at the discretion of the competent Court Registrar.

6. Out-of-court fines for breach of measures

In addition to criminal liability for offenders, out-of-court fines to be imposed for breach of any measures’ decrees up to the sum of EUR300.

7. Gatherings prohibited

Gatherings in houses of people who do not reside in a given house is prohibited.

8. Sunday closure

All retailers except kiosks shall remain closed on Sundays.

9. Amendment to Quarantine Law

Article 7 of the Law amended: Penalty upon conviction available to the Authorities for violation of the law or any regulation/decree made according to the law up to EUR3000 and/or 6 months imprisonment.

10. Random Sample Taking

As part of the protective measures taken, Cyprus Authorities shall conduct random sample taking for CoVid-19 testing.

Support Measures

1. Suspension of loan installments

Suspension of the loan installments including interest on credit facilities granted and/or purchased and/or managed by financial institutions, for all beneficiaries until 31st of December 2020.

In order for the suspension to take effect, the beneficiaries must send to the financial institutions their expression of interest, in writing.

2. Amendment to the General Healthcare System Law

Suspension of the payment of the increased contribution rates applicable for Phase B of the General Healthcare System until July 2020.

3. Amendment to the Overdue Social Contribution Law

Agreements in place for the regulation the payment of overdue social contributions of entities or persons in installments, can be extended by two months, deferring payments due for March and April 2020.

4. Effect of Rent Control Law

Abolition of the effect of the Rent Control Law so that all eviction procedures be suspended until the end of May 2020.

5. Amendment to VAT Law

Temporary VAT payment deferral to 10 November 2020 and suspension of 10% tax penalty, interest and criminal sanctions in case of timely arrangement.

The deferral applies:

• Irrespective of turnover volume, total outputs of entities or their respective decreases
• To all entities except for the ones pertaining to the excluded sectors (below)
• To VAT quarters December 2019 – 29 February 2020, January – March 2020 and February – April 2020
• Only if VAT returns for the above quarters are submitted in a timely manner (i.e. by 10 April, 10 May and 10 June 2020 respectively).

Excluded sectors include unaffected retailers, pharmacies, supermarkets, EAC and CYTA.

The economic activity codes of the excluded sectors are: 35111, 36001, 47111, 47112, 47191, 47211, 47221, 47221, 47231, 47241, 47242, 47301, 47411, 47611, 47621, 47651, 47731, 61101, 61301, 61901

6. Measures taken by the Registrar of Companies

Companies’ Compliance with Registration of Annual Reports:

The procedure of publications in the Official Gazette of the Republic before the delisting of non-compliant companies is suspended for three months until January 2021.

Payment of the annual levy of € 350:

The option to pay the annual levy for 2020 is extended until December 31, 2020 without the additional charge of 10% and 30%.

Imposition of a fee for late submission of forms to the ROC:

In co-operation with the House of Representatives, the implementation of the monetary charge for late submission of statutory forms to the ROC will be postponed to 2021.

Submission to the ROC of the 2020 Annual Report:

The Companies’ Annual Report dated 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2020 may be submitted to the Department until 28/01/2021, without the charge of € 20 for late registration.

Due to relative adjustments to be made to the ROC system, it is recommended that companies intending to submit now the Annual Report for 2020, await a Registrar's announcement to do so.

ROC announcements’ page www.companies.gov.cy/gr/βάση-πληροφοριών

7. Support Measures for Employers and Employees

1. Special Sick-Leave Allowance
2. Special Leave of Absence for the care of children

8. Support Measures for Businesses who have suspended operations

1. Special Partial Suspension of Operations Scheme
2. Special Suspension of Operations Scheme

Please find more information with regard to Allowances, Subsidies and Scheme details in our Employment Law FAQs here: https://www.ademetrioulaw.com/news/q-relief-measures-introduced-government-cyprus-support-economy-response-covid-19-pandemic/

More information is available by the national Press and Information Office (PIO) here: https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/en/index.html

ATHOS DEMETRIOU ASSOCIATES LLC will closely follow all developments and shall provide regular updates on its website at www.ademetrioulaw.com.