As of September 2026 Cyprus remains in the EU but is not part of Schengen. A Cypriot visa is valid only in Cyprus, while a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa or a Schengen residence permit gets you into Cyprus without a separate visa.
Schengen: where things stand
On 14 August 2026 the European Commission confirmed Cyprus's technical readiness, and the report goes to the Council of the EU in September 2026. A unanimous vote of all Schengen states is required and no accession date has been set. Until accession happens, a Cypriot residence permit does not give you the right to stay in Schengen.
Who can enter without a Cypriot visa
- Holders of a valid double- or multiple-entry Schengen visa — up to 90 days in any 180 (decision 565/2014/EU).
- Holders of national D visas and residence permits of Schengen countries, and since 2025 of Bulgaria and Romania.
- Holders of a Cypriot entry permit and any Cypriot residence permit, including temporary ones.
- An exception to the rule: citizens of Turkey and Azerbaijan need a Cypriot visa in every case.
- Citizens of the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway enter on a national identity card bearing a photo — no passport needed.
- Aircraft and ship crews, and refugees holding travel documents issued by a Schengen state.
Cypriot visas: types and fees
| Category | What it allows | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| A | Airport transit | €90 |
| C | Up to 90 days in any 180, 1–2 entries or multiple (6 months – 5 years) | €90 |
| C, children aged 6–12 | The same | €45 |
| C, children under 6 | The same | free |
| Extension of a C visa | For serious personal reasons | €30 |
| EU visa facilitation agreements | Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine — non-biometric passports only | €35 |
| Visa at the border (C, type LTV) | Up to 15 days, only in emergencies with the approval of the Migration Department | €90 |
- No fee is charged for pupils, students, postgraduates and accompanying teachers travelling to study, for researchers attending scientific conferences, for under-25 participants in non-profit organisations' events, and for holders of diplomatic and service passports.
- Passport: valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure, with at least 2 blank pages, issued no more than 10 years ago.
- Medical insurance for the trip of at least €30,000 including repatriation cover.
- The official processing time is 15 calendar days and can be extended to 45.
Applying from a third country
Applications go to the Cypriot consulate in your country of residence. The simplified online pro-visa is no longer issued — it required a direct flight. Cyprus issues national category C visas valid only in Cyprus; for citizens of countries whose EU visa facilitation agreements are suspended, processing times and documentary requirements are noticeably stricter.
- If applications in your country are handled by an external provider, you must apply through their visa centre rather than directly at the consulate.
- Pay the €90 consular fee (children aged 6–11 €45, under 6 free) plus the centre's service fee.
- Prepare the documents: passport, photo, insurance of at least €30,000, accommodation and ticket bookings, and proof of funds.
- In practice a decision takes 4–10 working days; officially, up to 15 calendar days.
Long-stay entry
If you are coming to work or to join family, the usual route is not a tourist visa but an entry permit requested by your employer or sponsor at the Migration Department. For family reunification, entering on a tourist visa is formally not acceptable, except where the sponsor works at a company approved to hire foreign staff.