Visas

Citizens of all EU Member States, as well as of Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, can enter Cyprus with their identity card,  as long as it bears their photo.

Holders of entry permits (national  visas) and residence permits including temporary residence permits issued by the Department of Migration here

Moreover, the following categories of third-country nationals, outside the EU/EEA, as well as passport holders of the countries listed separately below, are NOT required to hold a visa to enter the Republic of Cyprus according to the attached table
• Holders of diplomatic, service/special passports from countries that have concluded a visa waiver agreement with Cyprus

• All flight crew members holding a flight crew member license or a crew member certificate issued on the basis of of the Chicago Convention.

• Flight crew on emergency or rescue flights and other assistants in the event of disaster or accident.

• The civilian crew of ships.
• civilian crew of ships operating in international inland waters;

· Holders of travel documents issued by intergovernmental international organisations of which at least one Member State is a member, or by other entities recognised by the Member States concerned as subjects of international law, to officials of such organisations or entities;

· Foreign pupils who come from a third country whose nationals are required to hold a visa to cross the borders and who reside in a third country whose nationals are exempted from this obligation. When the above travel in a school trip as part of a group of pupils accompanied by a teacher from that school are exempted from visa requirement;

• Holders of a valid Schengen visa for two or multiple entries, as well as holders of national visas and residence permits issued by Schengen Member States are not required to hold a short-stay visa to enter the Republic of Cyprus for a period not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period. Turkish and Azerbaijani citizens are exempted from the above provision.

• Holders of travel documents who have been issued to recognised refugees under the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees of 28 July 1951, are not required to obtain a visa to enter Cyprus. The above rule applies only if their travel documents have been issued by a Schengen Member State.

Consult the list of third countries whose nationals are required to have a visa in their passport in order to enter the Republic of Cyprus and those exempt from this obligation.

See the common list of countries whose citizens need an ATV airport transit visa and the list of additional third countries for which ATVs are required by certain member states. See also the exceptions to the above obligation in Article 3(5) of the Visa Code).

Note: The following categories of persons are exempt from the airport transit visa:(a) holders of a valid uniform visa, a national long-stay visa or a residence permit issued by a Schengen Member State) third-country nationals who hold a valid residence permit of a Member State or valid residence permits issued by Andorra, Canada, Japan;  San Marino, the United Kingdom or the United States of America and which guarantee the unconditional readmission of the holder, or who are in possession of a valid residence permit for one or more overseas countries and territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Aruba, Curacao, Saint Martin, Bonaire, Saint Eustathius and Saba); (c) third-country nationals who hold a strong Canadian visa;  of Japan or the United States of America, or holders of a valid visa for one or more overseas countries and territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Aruba, Curacao, Saint Martin, Bonaire, Saint Eustathius and Saba), when travelling to the issuing country or to any other third country, or when, after the visa has been used, they return from the issuing country; (d) family members of Union citizens;  or family members of third-country nationals enjoying a right of free movement for a period of 90 days within any 180-day period and family members of United Kingdom nationals who are beneficiaries of the European Union-United Kingdom Withdrawal Agreement; (f) crew members who are nationals of a Contracting Party to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation;

Visa Information System (CY – VIS)

Data Subject Rights

According to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), every person has the right to be informed about their personal data stored in the VIS (Visa Information System) and can request to have access to correct inaccurate data concerning them and delete inaccurate data.

Sample Letters related to citizens’ rights:

REQUEST FOR DELETION OF PERSONAL DATA IN ACCORDANCE WITH ART. 17 GDPR

REQUEST FOR CORRECTION OF PERSONAL DATA IN ACCORDANCE WITH ART. 16 GDPR

REQUEST FOR ACCESS UNDER ARTICLE 15 GDPR

Airport Transit Visa (category A) 90 euros

Single and multiple entry short-stay visa (1-90 days) (Category C) 90 euros

Children between 6-12 years old 45 euros

Children under 6 years FREE

Visa issued at the border (Category C) EUR 90

Pupils, students, postgraduate students and accompanying professors who remain in the country for the purpose of study or education FREE of charge

Researchers, as defined in Article 3(2) of Directive (EU) 2016/801 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 9 ), who are travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research or participating in a scientific seminar or conference; FREE of charge

Representatives of non-profit organisations up to twenty-five years of age participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organized by non-profit organizations FREE of charge

Holders of diplomatic and service passports FREE

Participants in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organized by non-profit organizations, up to twenty-five years  of age FREE

In individual cases, the amount of the visa fee may not be collected or reduced where this measure serves to promote cultural or sporting interests, interests in the field of foreign policy, development policy and other areas of vital public interest or for humanitarian reasons, or due to international obligations at the discretion of the Consul.

Visa Facilitation Agreements of EU: Albania⃰, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia⃰, Moldova, Montenegro*, North Macedonia⃰, Serbia⃰, Ukraine⃰
35 euros

Cape Verde nationals 67.50 euros

Cape Verde – Children between 6-12 years  old 33.75 euros

Visa extension 30 euros

*Only non-biometric passport holders need to issue a visa (35 euros).
Biometric passport holders,  in countries with which a Visa Waiver Agreement has been concluded with the EU, do not need to hold a visa to enter the Republic of Cyprus

• The competent Consular Officers at the Diplomatic Mission (or Consulate) of the Republic of Cyprus where the visa application has been submitted, assess the purpose of the applicant’s trip and his/her willingness to return to his/her country of origin.

• Visa applicants should submit their application and supporting documents to the  competent or more easily accessible Diplomatic Mission (or Consulate) of the Republic of Cyprus in their country of usual residence (or elsewhere), or in the country where they intend to travel as a stopover to Cyprus, as long as he may duly justify the reasons.

Special cases: If there is no diplomatic mission  in the applicant’s country of nationality and/or habitual residence, the latter may submit the Visa Application to the most accessible Diplomatic Mission or Consulate of the Republic of Cyprus. In these cases, visa applications can be submitted by DHL mail provided that this has been agreed in advance with the Cyprus Diplomatic Mission and there is no requirement to capture fingerprints from the applicant (fingerprints are captured every 59 months).

• Submitted passports must be recognised by the Republic of Cyprus and meet the following criteria: (a) its validity shall extend at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of Cyprus (b) it shall contain at least two blank pages; (c) it shall have been issued within the previous 10 years.

• A valid proof of residence must be submitted (visa/permanent residence card/passport or stay legally for at least 3 months in the third country where the application is submitted).

• Each applicant must complete and duly sign the visa application form. By signing, the applicant certifies that he/she is aware of the legal consequences of reporting false or incomplete information in visa procedures.

• A recent passport-sized photograph must be affixed to  the ICAO entry visa application

• The visa fee (consult the relevant table) is non-refundable if the application is admissible and must be paid at the time of submission of the application and the citizen receives a receipt.

• Proof of sponsorship or of private accommodation, or of both, by completing a form from the hosting company/organisation/partner in the Republic of Cyprus. The form must be fully completed and signed by the host and certified by a public notary. It may be required in some limited cases for the inviting person to be requested to submit a bank guarantee (for more information you may visit the relevant section of the website of the Department of Population and Migration).

• Pre-bookings of flights (round-trip) and hotel reservation or receipt of other accommodation. The applicant is advised not to purchase the tickets for his/her trip until the visa has been issued.

• Travel Medical Insurance for the period of stay in Cyprus, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros for each individual applicant. In addition, the insurance must:– Cover all expenses that may arise in a case of repatriation for medical reasons, emergency medical care and/or emergency hospital treatment.– Cover the period of stay in Cyprus.

Important information

The lists of required documents and simplified rules for multiple-entry visas per third country can be found here. However, if there is no special EU Legal Act on the list of supporting documents general rules of the Visa Code Handbook here. However, it should be noted that the Diplomatic Mission (or Consulate) of the Republic of Cyprus, where the visa application is submitted, reserves the right to request additional documents and to invite applicants for an interview.

• Applications concerning minors must be submitted with a letter signed by both parents or legal guardians, allowing the minor to apply for a visa to enter the Republic of Cyprus. Proof of the relationship between the minor and the authorized persons is also required (acceptable documents: copy of identity or passport of each parent, accompanied by a copy of the minor’s birth certificate indicating the names of the parents), death certificate, as applicable, and, in the case of exclusive custody, a copy of the court document certifying it).

In the case of a visa application for long residence purposes before the issuance of a residence permit, the following may be required:

• A bank guarantee, valid for ten years (for more information click here to visit the relevant section of the Department of Population and Migration), issued in the name of the Director of the Department. The original of the Bank Guarantee must be submitted to the aforementioned Department, while a copy of it, stamped by the relevant Department, should be included in the supporting documents of the visa application.

• Proof of employment, i.e. the most recent income tax return, employment certificate (including the full name of the employer, full address, and phone number with area postal code) regarding the position or professional status of the applicant, income, duration of employment; a letter of approved leave of absence signed by the employer or proof of registration and commercial activity of the applicant’s company.

(for self-employed applicants) in the country of residence, e.g. income tax declarations, bank certificates, documents of corporate accounts or others.

• Proof of sufficient financial resources for both the duration of the intended stay and for the return to the country of nationality or habitual residence of the applicant, or for transit through a third country for which they have a valid visa or residence permit. (3-month bank statement, savings account statement).

• Proof of personal status: excerpt from the family register or family book, previous passports or passport verification from the Immigration Office.

Until the full integration of the Republic of Cyprus to the enhanced Schengen cooperation area, visa applicants are not required to fill in fields 25, 26, and 28. The visa is valid only for the territory of the Republic of Cyprus and does not grant the right to free movement within the rest of the Schengen area.

CY Visa Application Form EN

CY Visa Application Form_TR

CY Visa Application Form FR

CY Visa Application Form EN CN

CY Visa Application Form EN_UA_RU

CY Visa Application Form EL_AR

CY Assumption of Responsibility to Host Form (PDF)

CY Assumption of Responsibility to Host Form (Word)

The possession of a valid visa does not grant the holder an automatic and unconditional right of entry into the Republic of Cyprus. The applicant may also be asked to provide some additional information upon arrival. The Border Control Authorities or other competent Authorities may check the purpose of the trip and whether the entry conditions are met. Third-country nationals must be able to prove that they have the necessary financial resources to cover their expenses in Cyprus. For information click here (link). Such checks may result in the visa holder being denied entry.

•Attention! When your passport is returned, please check the visa sticker for any errors. If you find any erros, please inform the Consular Authority immediately. If you do not do so, the consular authority will not be responsible for any problems you may encounter during your trip.

Applications can be submitted at least 15 days before the intended date of arrival in the Cyprus and no later than 6 months from the intended date of arrival in the Cyprus. For seafarers, it applies a more favourable period of 9 months before intended date of arrival in Cyprus.

To submit the application, please contact the relevant Consular Authorities or the offices of the External Service Providers that have undertaken to receive and transmit to the Consular Authorities the applications accompanied by the required supporting documents.

Deadlines for processing and taking the decision

The time required to process and make the decision is usually 15 days.

The above period for the examination of the application may be extended up  to 45 days in the event that the on-site conditions and the application file require a more thorough check and possibly more supporting documents.

Decisions on applications are taken without delay in justified individual cases of urgency. The consular authority will inform you of the date on which your application will be decided upon receipt of it.

Please note that under certain conditions, family members of EU/EEA citizens are subject to the favourable arrangements of the  Free Movement Directive and you may be served directly at the Consulate and as a priority when applying for a visa, submit fewer supporting documents and not pay a visa fee.

In particular, this will apply, as long as you can answer in the affirmative to all of the following questions:A) Is there an EU citizen who exercises the right to free movement and from whom the visa applicant derives any rights? B) Does the visa applicant fall under the definition of a family member? C) Does the visa applicant accompany or go to meet the EU citizen?

If the visa application is rejected, the consular authority shall inform in writing of the reasons for the refusal. The rejection of a visa application is an individual administrative act against which you can appeal within 75 days. The standard refusal form, which notifies applicants of the rejection of the application, contains information on how to appeal.

The European Union has concluded the following Visa Facilitation Agreements.

However, the above Agreements may be suspended if a country breaches the terms of the Agreement. The suspension can be activated by the member states or by the European Commission. The two Agreements that have been suspended are:

• Russia (full suspension of the Visa Facilitation Agreement) 
• Belarus (suspension of Visa Facilitation Agreement for diplomatic & service passports).

Schengen area — European Commission

The Visa Code  sets out the procedures and conditions for the issuance of short-stay entry visas for the purpose of staying or transiting through the territory of the Schengen member states.

The operational guidelines for the implementation of the Visa Code can be found here:

• Manual for processing visa applications
• Handbook for the organization of the Consular Departments

Travel documents entitling the holder to cross the external borders and to which an entry visa may be affixed:
Part I Travel documents of third countries and territorial entities
Part II Travel documents of Member States and EEA members
Part III Travel documents of International Organisations and other entities subject to rules of international law
Fictitious and camouflage passports