Yes. Body armor is legal in Cyprus, and you can own it and wear it wherever and whenever you want. However, you are only allowed to wear non-commercial body armor. Owning military or police gear by civilians in Cyprus is illegal.
For those of you who don’t know what body armor is, it is protective clothing designed to absorb or deflect physical attacks. Historically used to protect military personnel, today it is also used by various types of police (riot police in particular), private security guards or bodyguards, and occasionally ordinary civilians.
Things to consider while bringing body armor to Cyprus
If you own or wear body armor regularly, it’s important to know the legalities and restrictions of traveling with your gear. While some airlines and countries have different policies, traveling with body armor isn’t as difficult or expensive as some may think as long as you’re prepared.
Only bring non-commercial quantities of body armor with you.
Thoroughly check your airline’s rules and regulations about traveling with body armor. Be aware of the laws specific to the country you’re traveling to before you plan your trip to avoid any issues.
We recommend you should carry your body armor in your luggage. One of the biggest issues for flying with body armor is weight. Most airlines charge a fee if your checked bag is over a certain weight threshold.
You are advised not to wear body armor to an airport or onto a plane. This may set off some red flags.
Things to consider before wearing body armor in Cyprus
Make sure it’s only used for personal protection.
Paint “dummy” over your body armor.
Remove all the military or police markings from the plates.
How protective is body armor?
The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) has conducted studies on the effectiveness of body armor in saving lives. Results show that by not wearing ballistic armor, you have 14 times the risk of dying of an injury during a shoot-out.
You may also like to read:
A detailed guide about North Cyprus
You can click the links below to learn about different cities in Cyprus.
