Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Cyprus is set to finalize its US Visa Waiver agreement by April, granting visa-free travel to its citizens and unlocking new travel opportunities for the country.
Cypriot authorities are putting the final touches on their application for the US Visa Waiver Programme (VWP), which will enable Cypriot passport holders to enter the United States without a visa.
The authorities in Cyprus have completed their preparations and are now awaiting a visit from a delegation of US experts from the Department of State and Congress. This team is scheduled to visit Cyprus before Easter, likely in the first half of April.
Cyprus is confident that it will join the US VWP this spring, following Romania’s recent inclusion in the programme at the start of the year.
Cyprus Strengthens Efforts Against Terrorism & Crime
One of the key conditions for Cyprus to join the US VWP is the strengthening of its collaboration with the United States in combating terrorism and organized crime.
Once included in the programme, Cypriot citizens will be able to travel to the US for business or tourism purposes without needing a B visa, and they will be permitted to stay for up to 90 days.
An additional requirement is that the rejection rate of Cyprus’ visa applications should not exceed three percent. This means that only three percent of all Cypriot visa applications can be denied by US authorities. This was one of the biggest challenges faced by Romania on its path to joining the US VWP.
US Visa Approvals for Cypriots Rise in Recent Years
In 2023, the US approved 5,537 visa applications from Cypriots, marking a 50.4 percent increase from 3,681 approvals in 2022 and a dramatic rise from 692 approvals in 2021, which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The highest number of US visas granted to Cypriot citizens was in 2019, with 6,054 approvals. However, the pandemic had a significant impact on the number of visas issued during the following years.
According to the VisaGuide Passport Index, Cypriot passport holders can travel visa-free to 115 countries worldwide, though they still need visas to visit 25 countries. The removal of visa requirements for the US would significantly enhance the Cypriot passport, boosting its score from 88.13 points.
