Date: 1st November 2024

Cyprus on Track for Schengen Membership by the end of 2025

Cyprus is set to complete all necessary technical procedures to join the Schengen area by 2025, President Nikos Christodoulides announced. The political aspects of the process have already been addressed, leaving only the technical requirements for completion.
 

Currently, Cyprus and Ireland are the only EU member states outside the Schengen area, as they do not share land borders with other EU countries. Speaking at the Beyond Sea and Sun Conference in Nicosia, Christodoulides emphasized that Schengen membership would significantly benefit Cyprus, particularly in the tourism and investment sectors. He explained that the government has resolved all political issues related to the 'Green Line' and is now focused on finalizing the technical details required for accession. 
 

The Schengen zone, covering over 4 million square kilometers and comprising nearly 420 million people, includes 29 countries. These consist of 25 out of the 27 EU member states, all European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland), Croatia (since 2023), and Bulgaria and Romania (as of January 2025).
 

Strengthening International Ties and Visa Agreements
Cyprus is also in the final stages of eliminating the US visa requirement for Cypriot citizens, with a US delegation scheduled to visit Cyprus soon, with official announcements expected afterward. 
 

To boost tourism and strengthen diplomatic ties, Cyprus is expanding its international presence with plans to open embassies in Kazakhstan and Armenia, aiming to attract more visitors from these regions. This effort seeks to compensate for the loss of Russian tourists by targeting travelers from the USA, India and other countries.
 

Tourism Expansion and Market Diversification
For several years, the government tourism strategy is to diversify its tourism market and to extend the tourism season beyond the summer months. A recent success story has been Poland, which is now Cyprus’ second-largest tourism market after the United Kingdom, demonstrating the effectiveness of broadening visitor sources. Economic, labor, education, and cultural policies influencing the tourism industry, so strong ties with neighboring countries, such as Israel, have helped to increase touristic and investment flows from this country.
 

Investments in Tourism Infrastructure
The year 2024 was a record-breaking year for tourism with over 4 million tourists, generating approximately €3 billion in revenue, which accounted for 13.5% of the nation’s GDP, up from 12.8% in 2023. Cyprus airports handled 10.5 million travelers, making Cyprus among the top 30 global destinations. As result of growing demand, airport infrastructure has improved over the past two to three decades, with airline operators increasing from 20 to approximately 55 today.

Future Growth Prospects

Recognizing the need for improved tourism facilities, Cyprus is also investing in the Troodos mountain region, which has traditionally lacked infrastructure to support large-scale tourism. The government is also promoting cultural and sports tourism, with events such as FIBA 2025 and marathons being hosted in various cities on the island. The upcoming EU presidency in 2026 is expected to bring around 200,000 visitors. This event has prompted discussions on establishing direct flights between Larnaca and Brussels to facilitate increased travel.