Crossing Cyprus’ internal border just became slower but arguably safer. Effective 31 December 2025, every car, coach and freight truck entering the government-controlled south from the island’s north is subject to compulsory virucidal spraying, 24 hours a day. The Agriculture Ministry ordered the emergency measure after laboratory confirmation of foot-and-mouth disease cases in the Turkish-Cypriot administered areas.
Previously, bio-security crews operated in daytime shifts, leaving gaps during the night-haulage peaks favoured by logistics operators. Mixed teams from Veterinary Services, police, the National Guard and the UK Sovereign Base Areas will now staff all crossings continuously. Freight trailers must also present proof of pre-entry cleansing. Officials estimate the new regime will add 20–30 minutes to each crossing.
Tour operators that shuttle tourists between north and south Nicosia are already rerouting buses to quieter checkpoints to keep day-trip itineraries on schedule. Multinational companies with split-site operations should brief employees on the extra delay and ensure they carry residence cards to avoid secondary inspections.
![Round-the-Clock Vehicle Disinfection Introduced at Cyprus Green-Line Checkpoints After Foot-and-Mouth Alert]()
For travellers who need to juggle visas, residency permits or last-minute passport renewals in addition to the new bio-security steps, VisaHQ offers a one-stop online platform with real-time guidance for Cyprus and beyond. Their dedicated Cyprus page (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) helps individuals and corporate mobility teams secure the correct travel documents quickly, reducing administrative headaches before vehicles even join the checkpoint queue.
The stakes go beyond inconvenience: a south-side outbreak would jeopardise Cyprus’ €250 million halloumi export industry and could trigger EU-wide livestock bans. A special committee of farmers’ unions, transport associations and public-health officials will meet daily to decide when the measures can be eased.
HR teams are advised to update duty-of-care protocols, confirm that insurance covers potential contamination claims and build travel buffers into employee time sheets.
Previously, bio-security crews operated in daytime shifts, leaving gaps during the night-haulage peaks favoured by logistics operators. Mixed teams from Veterinary Services, police, the National Guard and the UK Sovereign Base Areas will now staff all crossings continuously. Freight trailers must also present proof of pre-entry cleansing. Officials estimate the new regime will add 20–30 minutes to each crossing.
Tour operators that shuttle tourists between north and south Nicosia are already rerouting buses to quieter checkpoints to keep day-trip itineraries on schedule. Multinational companies with split-site operations should brief employees on the extra delay and ensure they carry residence cards to avoid secondary inspections.
For travellers who need to juggle visas, residency permits or last-minute passport renewals in addition to the new bio-security steps, VisaHQ offers a one-stop online platform with real-time guidance for Cyprus and beyond. Their dedicated Cyprus page (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) helps individuals and corporate mobility teams secure the correct travel documents quickly, reducing administrative headaches before vehicles even join the checkpoint queue.
The stakes go beyond inconvenience: a south-side outbreak would jeopardise Cyprus’ €250 million halloumi export industry and could trigger EU-wide livestock bans. A special committee of farmers’ unions, transport associations and public-health officials will meet daily to decide when the measures can be eased.
HR teams are advised to update duty-of-care protocols, confirm that insurance covers potential contamination claims and build travel buffers into employee time sheets.
