AS questions over this year’s summer holiday still, hang in the balance for many, thousands of members of the community are ready and wait for the signal to book their holidays to Turkey and Cyprus.
With Turkey still on the red list and Cyprus on the amber list, holiday markers are weighing up their options to travel this summer. This includes the cost of PRC testing as well as if quarantine is required on their returns.
UK passengers travelling to Turkey are required to present the negative result of the PCR test performed within 72 hours before their travel date.
In Cyprus travellers entering the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), are required to those who have been double-vaccinated began to enter the country without quarantine, on the present the negative result of the PCR test performed within 72 hours before their travel date, as well as one at arrival. Those travel that has been double-vaccinated will also be exempted from quarantine, those who have not been will be required to quarantine.
Passengers who will travel to South Cyprus can enter with a PCR test performed 72 hours before their travel.
This week, as Londra Gazete, we asked the question most of our community members are uncertain about, What PCR tests are required for a valid entrance into Turkey, TRNC and South Cyprus.
We reached out to the Turkish Embassy in London who said that PCR requirements are subject to the airline’s requirements. Speaking with Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines, Londra Gazete asked the question of whether the PCR tests performed by the NHS are valid for entrance into Turkey. While Pegasus officials stated that the tests from the NHS were accepted, the official at Turkish Airlines said, “There was no notification that the tests from the NHS were not accepted, only the passengers had to have a PCR test 72 hours before the trip.”
In a special statement to the Londra Gazete, Minister of Health of the TRNC Ünal Üstel stated that “PCR tests, including from the NHS are accepted at the entrances in Northern Cyprus, but they have to be barcoded.”
The Cyprus High Commission in England made the following statement to our newspaper about Southern Cyprus’s acceptance of NHS tests: “NHS PCR tests are accepted, but these required details must be available; appointment time, name, date of birth, etc.”.
If you are planning to travel abroad, you can get proof that you have been vaccinated against coronavirus (COVID-19) if this is required. This is your COVID-19 vaccination status which is given by the NHS for those travelling, your vaccination card with your vaccine details given at your appointments is not the official proof you need for travel.
There are two ways of getting your COVID-19 vaccine status. You can view and download your COVID-19 vaccine status using the NHS App. To use the NHS App, you must create an NHS account. However, due to the high volume of applications, this could take up to 2 weeks for your account registered. To use the NHS App you must be registered with a GP in the UK. Also, the NHS app is not the same as the NHS COVID-19 app.
You can also call 119 and ask for a letter to be sent to you with your COVID-19 vaccination status. This should be done at least 5 days after you have completed your second vaccination. You will need to give your details including your NHS number, the letter will be sent within 7 working days. You can only request this if your travel date is within the next 4 weeks. If not, 119 may ask you to call back later.