Visa Requirements

Passports and visas (information on this subject is for informational purposes only)
Entry regulations apply only to the areas controlled by the Government of the Republic Cyprus.

1. Passport required, except for holders of:

A. Laissez-Passer issued by the United Nations
B. Document issued to stateless persons and recognised refugees
C. Further to the above, citizens of the European Union countries, as well as of Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, may enter Cyprus with their national identity card provided there is a photo and an expiry date.

2. Visas

A. No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days for all bona fide tourists nationals of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Holy See (State of Vatican), Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela.

* British overseas citizens who are not nationals of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland territory citizens who own the right of abode in the United Kingdom are British subjects for community purposes and enjoy the same rights as citizens of the United Kingdom.

B.  Additional categories of persons who do NOT require a visa:

  1. Holders of diplomatic and service passports of Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, FYROM, Montenegro, Serbia, Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine. (In compliance with the Agreements between the European Community OJL 129, 17.5.2007, p.27and OJL 334, 19.12.2007 p.
  2. Holders of diplomatic and service passports of Armenia, Bolivia, China, Colombia, Cuba, Georgia, India, Iran, Syria
  3. Holders of diplomatic, service, and special passports of Egypt and Lebanon
  4. All flight crew member who are holding Flight crew Member’s License or a Crew Member Certificate issued under the Chicago Convention
  5. The flight crew and attendants on emergency or rescue flights and other helpers in the event of disaster or accident
  6. The civilian crew of ships navigating in international waters
  7. The holders of laissez-passer issued by the United Nations to their officials
  8. School pupils having the nationality of a third country listed in Annex I who reside in a Third Country listed in Annex II and are travelling in the context of a school excursion as members of a group of pupils accompanied by a teacher from the school in question
  9. All persons who are in possession of work permit issued by the Civil Archive and Migration Officer
  10. All persons who possess a permanent or a temporary residence permit issued by the Civil Archive and Migration Officer
  11. All persons who possess a study permit

C. List of third countries whose citizens are required to have a visa. States: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia-Herzogovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burma/Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Northern Marianas (Islands), Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Entities and territorial authorities: Taiwan, Palestinian Authorities.

Categories of visas:

Short-stay or travel visas: multiple-entry visas:

This visa entitles aliens who seek to enter the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, for reasons other than immigration, to enter once or several times. The duration of each visit may not, however, exceed three months in any half year, starting from the date of first entry. As a general rule, this visa may be issued for one or several entries. In the case of aliens who need to travel frequently to Cyprus, e.g., business, short-stay visas may be issued for several visits, provided that the total length of these visits does not exceed three months in any half year. This multiple-entry visa may be valid for one year and, in exceptional cases, for more than a year, but for no more than five years for certain categories of persons.

Where to obtain a visa: Visas will be issued by all the Diplomatic Missions (Embassies and General Consulates) of the Republic of Cyprus, and by Honorary Consulates of the Republic of Cyprus abroad, if there is no Diplomatic Mission of the Republic of Cyprus close by (see for the list at the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus: http: www.mfa.gov.cy).

D.  Visa Application Procedure and Documents Required:

  1. Applications must be submitted in person. However, for those who reside more than 200 miles (300 kms) from the Consulate, the applications may be submitted by recorded delivery, including a registered self-addressed, special-delivery envelope, for the safe return of the passport and the documents.
  2. One completed application form, signed by the applicant (or the legal guardian in the case of minors), with 2 passport- sized photographs attached to it.
  3. A full national passport, valid for at least three months after the date of expiration of the visa applied for. Visitors wishing to obtain a visa are advised to be in possession of a passport whose expiration date, outdates the period of intended stay for at least 6 months.
  4. The visa for the return country must be valid for at least three months after the period of the intended stay.
  5. Provisional booking (or the Itinerary of travel arrangements, i.e. round-trip ticket with fixed dates) is necessary. You are advised that tickets should not be purchased before the visa is issued.
  6. A Hotel for Reservation, as confirmed by the hotel manager, is necessary.
  7. In case of a business trip, an official letter of invitation from a Cyprus company must be presented.
  8. For a visit to family and friends, a letter of invitation, including complete address, phone number and occupation in Cyprus, must be submitted (This may be requested together with a certified Assumption of Responsibility form, duly completed and signed by the host).
  9. Solid evidence that there are sufficient funds to cover the cost of the intended stay in Cyprus, e.g. a bank statement or travelers’ cheques (credit cards can be accepted only in addition to bank statements and only with recent statement confirming credit limit. Please note that cash is not an acceptable proof).
  10. A recent (dated within one month only) official letter from the employer, addressed to the Cyprus Consulate with proof of the applicants wages / salary. If self-employed, a letter from the solicitor, the accountant or the bank manager of the applicant will be sufficient. If a student in the country of the Consulate, an original letter from the school or University addressed to the Cyprus Consulate confirming the status / attendance and the duration of the course.
  11. The Consulate may also ask for a copy of a bank guarantee letter from the host, throughout a visitor’s stay in Cyprus, so as to cover the possible cost of repatriation. bank guarantee letters are issued for the amount of:
    • €854 for visitors from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, China, and other Asian countries
    • €515 for visitors from the CIS, and other Eastern Europe countries
    • €341 for visitors from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and other Middle East countries

Applications / Forms

In order to download the relevant forms please press the links below:

FOR MORE UPDATED INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT THE BELOW MENTIONED MINISTRY OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE:

Consular Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus,
Presidential Palace Avenue,
1447, Nicosia
CYPRUS
Tel: +357 22401124 / 22401131
Fax: +357 22661881 / 22665313 / 22665778
E-mail: minforeign1@mfa.gov.cy
Website: http://www.mfa.gov.cy

Information obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 2011 (www.mfa.gov.cy – http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2006.nsf/consular02_en/consular02_en?OpenDocument)