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Cyprus on its way to the Schengen Area: accession expected in 2026

6 June 2025
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The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, recently announced the country’s readiness to become a member of the Schengen Agreement, and, according to him, it will be able to complete the process by 2026. The decision is seen as an important step towards closer integration with the European Union.

Strategic objective for Cyprus and the EU

According to the president, Cyprus has committed to fulfilling all necessary technical conditions by the end of 2025. The authorities are already strengthening border controls, expanding the network of consulates, and restructuring visa policy in line with Schengen Agreement standards. Members of the European Parliament also supported the initiative — President Roberta Metsola stated that the EU is interested in Cyprus’s early accession to the area without internal borders.

For the country, this step can be seen as a way to increase its participation in European politics and economics, and for its citizens, as a key to visa-free travel throughout most of Europe.

What benefits will Cyprus gain from participating in the Schengen Agreement?

When Cyprus joins the Schengen Area, residents of the island and tourists will no longer have to go through border controls when traveling to other countries that are part of the agreement. This applies to sea and air travel.

Cyprus is currently one of two EU countries that are not yet part of the Schengen Area (the other is Ireland). In 2024, Bulgaria and Romania became new members of the agreement. Meanwhile, four countries — Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland — joined it without being members of the EU.

In the meantime, while waiting for Cyprus to fully join the Schengen Area, foreign entrepreneurs and specialists are looking for other ways to get legal status in the EU. One of them is getting a residence permit in an EU country with more accessible immigration programs. For example, Spain offers interesting options for startups, financially independent people, and remote workers. Participation in Spanish programs is suitable for those who want to enjoy the benefits of free movement within the EU without waiting for Cyprus’ integration to be completed.

The requirements

Although Cyprus became a member of the EU in 2004, it is still not part of the Schengen Area. The main obstacle is the so-called “green line” separating the Greek and Turkish parts of the island. Formally, this is not an external border, but the requirements for security measures remain just as strict. The European Union insists that this section must be securely protected to guarantee the safety of the entire Schengen area.

In the context of the current requirements, Cyprus should also increase its presence abroad. This involves opening new consulates or establishing cooperation through the representative offices of other EU countries. It is equally important to regulate the process of returning illegal migrants. The republic has already shown good results in this area. According to official data, more than 10,000 people were deported in 2024. All these efforts have been highly appreciated by the European Commission.

The final stage — political approval

Once all technical conditions have been met, the final stage will begin, which involves political approval of the decision. Each Schengen Agreement country will have to give its approval — only then will Cyprus get the green light.

If everything goes according to plan, the island will become a full member of the Schengen area as early as 2026. This event could be a turning point for Cyprus, as it will be marked by the opening of borders, increased mobility for citizens, and further integration of the country into the European community.

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