Postal Services – Non-Universal

Last Update on 06/05/2021

Provision of non-universal postal services

General Information

In order to establish, operate and/or provide postal networks and/or services under general authorization regime in the Republic of Cyprus, one needs to obtain a General authorization for the provision of postal services by the Office of the Commissioner of Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation.

The term “postal services” means services consisting of the clearance, sorting, transport and distribution of postal items.

Moreover, the postal services under the regime of general authorization are defined in the document entitled “Postal services under the regime of general authorization” (see “Applications & Documents”).

There are no eligibility criteria that a natural or legal person must satisfy in order to obtain a General authorization for the provision of postal services by the Office of the Commissioner of Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation.

The Declaration for Registration for the Provision of Postal Services under the Regime of General Authorisation can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus or by contacting directly the competent authority:

Office of the Commissioner of Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation
Helioupoleos 12, 1101 Nicosia,
P.O.Box 24412, 1704 Nicosia, Cyprus
Tel: +357 22 693000/125
Fax: +357 22693070
Email: info@ocecpr.org.cy
Website: http://www. ocecpr.org.cy

  1. There is no requirement for accompanying certificates to be submitted with the declaration.

The first annual fee is paid upon submission of the Declaration for Registration for the provision of postal services under the Regime of General Authorization. The annual fee for each year, must be paid by the end of January of each year.

The annual fee is €1700 for the national network or €350 for a local network and are payable by cash, cheque or bank transfer.

The interested natural or legal person may commence the provision of postal services, as described in the above mentioned declaration of registration form, 14 days after the declaration’s submission.

The General authorization for the provision of postal services is valid for 5 years from the date of issue; one moth prior to expiration, the Commissioner may extend the duration of the General Authorization by issuing a Decision.

Administrative Action Against a Competent Authority’s Decision

Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative court against a decision, act or omission of any competent authority or body.

Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.

The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:
I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action

After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.

Appeal Information

An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such decision was given.

At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated for. However, such revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.

The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.

Authorized persons for the provision of postal services under general authorization are obliged to comply with the terms and conditions of the general authorization as well as with the provisions of The Regulating of Electronic Communications and Postal Services Law of 2004, as periodically amended and the Decision on Determining the Status of General Authorization (“ΚΔΠ 569/2014”).

Indicatively the authorized persons for the provision of postal services under general authorization are obliged, among others, to:

  • provide information to the public concerning the pricing and the terms of the services offered;
  • maintain and publicize complaint management procedures;
  • provide to the Commissioner information requested, that may be deemed necessary, in order to ensure compliance to the terms and conditions as well as for statistical purposes.

The Commissioner has the responsibility of the supervision of authorized persons for the provision of postal services under general authorization in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of the relevant Laws and Regulations and the terms and conditions of the general authorization.

Your Europe