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After the accession of Croatia in 2023 and the accession of Bulgaria and Romania last year yet another European country is expected to join the European Schengen area soon:
This year, Cyprus Negotiations on the border-free zone are expected to conclude and it will become the thirtieth member, but what does this effectively mean for travelers, especially for Americans staying on the continent in the medium to long term?
Firstly, if you’re not a Brit or German who comes there every year for stag dos and sunny holidays, you might be wondering: where is Cyprus actually located?
The pearl of the Eastern Mediterranean
Located in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus is a paradise island surrounded by turquoise seas and has a rich history spanning thousands of years.
It is one of the most multicultural countries in Europe: the largest group are Greek Cypriots, making Greek the most widely spoken language, although there is a significant Turkish Cypriot minority, as well as Maronites, Armenians and of course British expats.
The southeastern coast is littered with bustling seaside resortswith Protaras and Ayia Napa attracting millions of visitors every year, while the west is best known for its unspoilt bays and the port city of Paphos, home to ancient ruins such as the UNESCO-listed Tombs of the Kings.
An inland administrative center, Nicosia is (in)famously known as the last officially divided capital in Europe:
To make a long story short, several decades ago, Turkish forces landed and occupied the northern third of Cyprus, including Northern Nicosia. effectively splitting the island in two.
Tensions in the community are still somewhat high as the conflict has not yet been resolved. However, there is no longer any sectarian violence and the ‘border’ remains open to both Cypriots and tourists.
Northern Cyprus is one of the most underrated and affordable destinations on the Mediterranean: booking by the beach Bellapais Oasis Hotel in the coastal town of Girne (or Kyrenia, as it is known in Greek), it will cost you $56.
Oh, and if you’re visiting Northern Cyprus this year, you might want to know that one of the previously trendiest resort hotspots, closed due to the Turkish invasion of the 1970s, finally open again for the first time half a century.
Cyprus in the Schengen area within 2025
Now that you know something Regarding Cyprus, how is it relevant that the country joins the European border-free zone?
In case you didn’t know, Cyprus has been a member of the European Union since 2004 and even uses the euro, although it has never lifted internal border controls with its fellow EU countries.
The fact that the island is divided, with a strong UN presence, not to mention that it hosts two British military bases, may have something to do with the The unwillingness of the EU to lift border controls with Cyprus.
If you fly to Cyprus from other EU countries or arrive by cruise, all passengers must pass border checks.
This will soon change, as Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides says confirms himself:
Between the end of this year and the beginning of 2026 Cyprus shall become a member of the Schengen areaeliminating border controls between the island and its European partners.
He was quoted as saying that they are in the “final stages” of achieving this, and that they expect to be “ready” from a technical perspective “within 2025.”
At a meeting of the European People’s Party in Berlin on January 18, the President reiterated that joining Schengen is a “key goal” for Cyprus, and it took an ‘enormous effort’ of him and his government to convince mainland Europe that they are ready.
Bulgaria and Romania are well aware of Europe’s reluctance to expand Schengen: for years they were blocked by the Netherlands and then by Austria, on security grounds, until the last vetoes were finally lifted in 2024.
What does this mean for American travelers?
What does this mean for travelers, you ask?
Well, for starters, once Cyprus is in Schengen, You no longer have to undergo passport control flying to or from the island, as your departure or destination point is a fellow Schengen country.
The full list of Schengen states can be found below:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- The Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
The biggest disadvantage, of course, is that it’s here now yet another European country that applies Schengen acquis: in other words, you can no longer stay independently in Cyprus for 90 days if you have recently been to other Schengen destinations, or vice versa.
Sounds confusing? Here’s how it works:
How does Schengen work?
Americans are only allowed to be present as tourists in the Schengen areas a maximum of 90 days out of a 180 day period:
This basically means that if you travel through France, Belgium and the Netherlands for a month, and then travel through Italy and Greece for another month, you will only get 30 days if you decide to fly next to Cyprus. , because you have already used up 60 days elsewhere.
Or, if you spend a week in Cyprus and plan to travel through other European countries immediately afterwards, you only get an 83-day stay in the entire 30-country area.
Digital nomads, we feel your pain, but all is not lost!
Once Cyprus ascends to Schengen, which it will sooner or later, that will still be the case a number of options at hand that can help you extend your stay on the Old Continent, from offbeat Albania to castle-studded Serbia, where Americans can even fly non-stop.
Digital entry permit for a visit to Cyprus?
The last important piece of information is that Cyprus, like other European Union countries, will formally introduce a digital travel permit that applies to American tourists.
From 2025––no official date so far––American tourists must apply for travel authorization online fly to one of the Schengen states.
Without this document, which essentially functions as an eVisa, they will not be allowed to board, let alone enter, flights to the EU, and this includes Cyprus.
We know it’s a complex set of rules to navigate if you’re a traveler and you might have thought Covid border bureaucracies were your biggest concerns…
But hey, don’t worry! We are here to help:
You can still travel to Cyprus and other EU countries without applying for a permit for the time being, and you can be assured that we will keep you informed as these regulations come into effect. you can no longer fly to Great Britain without obtaining prior permission.
Read here how you can register and avoid unpleasant surprises at check-in.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
