Do you need travel insurance to Cyprus in 2026?

Cyprus is a member of the European Union but not of the Schengen Area. That is why Russian citizens travelling to the island need a Cyprus national visa rather than a Schengen visa. For short trips, a short-stay category C visa is issued.

It is important not to confuse the two documents. A Schengen visa on its own is not a basis for entering Cyprus, and a Cyprus visa, in turn, does not open the Schengen countries. If your route includes both Cyprus and, say, Greece, you will need both visas.

Medical insurance is part of the document package for a Cyprus visa. The consulate requires a policy with cover of at least EUR 30,000 for the whole trip. Without it the application is incomplete, so the insurance is bought in advance, before you apply. Applications are submitted to the consulate or a visa centre; check fees and processing times with the consulate before applying.

What a policy for a Cyprus visa must include

  • Sum insured — from EUR 30,000. More is fine, less is not.
  • Cover — emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation, meaning medical transport back home.
  • Period — the policy dates must match the travel dates, from the day of entry to the day of departure.
  • Territory — Cyprus and any other countries on your route.
  • Traveller details — first and last name in Latin letters exactly as in the international passport.

If your travel dates change after you buy the policy, bring the insurance in line with the new dates before submitting the documents. A mismatch between the dates in the visa form and in the policy raises unnecessary questions at the consulate.

Northern Cyprus: check the territory in advance

The island is divided, and the northern part is a separate matter for insurance. Many policies do not cover Northern Cyprus even if they list Cyprus as the destination. If you plan to visit the north of the island, even on a day trip, open the policy terms of the programme you have chosen and find the section on territorial scope.

If there is no direct mention, choose another programme or clarify the terms with the insurer before paying.

Risks to consider in Cyprus

Heat and sun

Summers in Cyprus are hot, and the sun is strong for most of the year. Heatstroke and severe sunburn are common reasons to see a doctor on holiday. In some programmes sunburn is covered only with a separate option, so it is worth checking.

Renting a car or scooter

Cyprus drives on the left, which is unfamiliar to many tourists. If you plan to rent a car or a scooter, add accident insurance and personal liability. Riding a scooter is treated as a separate risk in some programmes, so read how the terms describe it.

Diving and water activities

Scuba diving, jet skis and other active water pastimes are usually not part of the basic cover. You need the Active Leisure option with the sport specified, and divers will benefit from the Decompression Chamber Treatment option.

Visa refusal and trip cancellation

Since a visa is mandatory, there is a risk that the trip will fall through. The calculator offers Trip Cancellation and Visa Refusal options: they help recover non-refundable costs for tickets and hotels for the reasons listed in the policy terms. Read more on the trip cancellation insurance page.

How to choose the sum insured and the programme

EUR 30,000 is enough for the visa, and for a quiet beach holiday that sum is usually sufficient. But treatment for tourists in Cyprus is paid, and a serious injury or surgery can produce a large bill. If you are travelling with children or older relatives, or plan active leisure, it makes sense to choose EUR 50,000.

Besides the sum, pay attention to the programme details:

  • no deductible, so you will not have to pay part of the costs out of your own pocket;
  • emergency dental care, because acute toothache on holiday happens more often than you might think;
  • the Chronic Conditions option if you have diagnoses that may flare up in the heat;
  • baggage and flight delay cover if your flight involves a connection.

What to do if something happens in Cyprus

  1. Call the assistance company on the phone number printed in the policy. Do this before seeing a doctor if your condition allows.
  2. Describe the situation and wait for the assistance company to approve a clinic and refer you there.
  3. Do not pay for treatment yourself without approval, otherwise the reimbursement may be reduced or refused.
  4. Keep all documents: medical reports, invoices, receipts and prescriptions.

In an emergency, call an ambulance first and contact the assistance company as soon as you can. Step-by-step guidance is in the what to do in an insured event section.

How to buy travel insurance to Cyprus online at polisre.ru

The calculator on this page is already set to Cyprus. Purchase goes through the Cherehapa service (Polis Re's partner), which brings together offers from 16 insurance companies. The policy is issued by the company you choose.

  1. Enter the travel dates, exactly as they will appear in the visa form, and the travellers' ages.
  2. Set a sum of at least EUR 30,000 and tick the options you need.
  3. Review the insurers' offers and open the terms of the chosen programme, especially the territory section.
  4. Enter the travellers' details in Latin letters as in the international passport.
  5. Pay for the policy: it will arrive by e-mail, and you can print it for the consulate.

If you are already on the island and realise you have no policy, there is a way out: some insurers have programmes for people who are already travelling; check the conditions (for example, a waiting period) in the calculator.

General guidance on choosing a policy is collected in the travel insurance section. If you are going further after Cyprus, see also the pages on insurance to Greece, insurance for a Schengen visa and insurance for a visa.