If you have a visa-exempt passport (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan…), today you can enter Cyprus visa-free with a valid passport, for up to 90 days. Once ETIAS starts, you'll need to apply before you travel (€20). Cyprus may ask you to show case-by-case (no fixed amount). Visa-required nationalities (India, China, South Africa…) need a Schengen visa.
What you need for Cyprus, by passport
| Your passport | Today | Once ETIAS starts |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan… | No visa Valid passport | ETIAS required Online application, €20 |
| Visa required India, China, South Africa, Turkey, the Philippines… | Schengen visa | Schengen visa ETIAS doesn't apply |
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
Not sure which group you're in? Use the Do I need ETIAS? checker or see the official list of nationalities.
What border officers in Cyprus can ask for
Even without a visa, officers in Cyprus can check that you meet the Schengen entry conditions. Keep these handy, printed or on your phone:
- A valid passport. Valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Europe and issued within the last 10 years.
- Purpose and accommodation. Hotel booking, invitation letter or the address where you'll stay, plus anything that backs up your trip (tourism, business, family).
- A return or onward ticket. Proof that you'll leave before your 90 days are up.
- Travel insurance. Not mandatory if you travel visa-free, but strongly recommended, and you may be asked about it.
- Enough money: Assessed case by case (no fixed daily amount). (reference amount set by the country, European Commission, 08/06/2026)
Where your border check happens when you travel to Cyprus
Main international airports in Cyprus: Larnaca (LCA), Paphos (PFO).
If Cyprus is the first Schengen country on your trip, the passport check and EES registration happen at the airport where you land. If you connect through another Schengen hub (Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki…), the check happens there and your flight to Cyprus is treated as an internal Schengen flight.
Cyprus is an island country with no land borders: you will always enter through an airport or a seaport.
Cyprus and the EES
This country isn't part of the Schengen Area and doesn't use the Entry/Exit System (EES), so border control follows its own system.
Cyprus in depth: the Green Line and the north
Cyprus is in the EU and will require ETIAS, but it does not fully apply Schengen yet: it does not use the EES, still stamps passports, and counts its 90 days separately from the rest of the Schengen Area.
The island is divided by the UN buffer zone, the Green Line. The north is not under the control of the Republic of Cyprus. Entering through ports or airports in the north (such as Ercan) is not considered a legal entry into the Republic, which can cause problems later.
Larnaca and Paphos are the legal international airports. Crossing points on the Green Line in Nicosia let visitors who entered legally visit the north.
Good to know about Cyprus
- Entering via the north: arriving through ports or airports in the north of the island (not controlled by the Republic of Cyprus) isn't considered a legal entry into the Republic of Cyprus.
- Cypriot residence permits only exempt you from ETIAS for travel to Cyprus, not the other countries.
- Cyprus doesn't use the EES, and your 90 days there are counted separately.
How long you can stay
Up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Heads-up: Cyprus is counted separately. Time in Cyprus doesn't eat into your 90 days for the other countries, and vice versa.
Frequently asked questions
Do days in Cyprus count toward my Schengen 90 days?
No. Cyprus has its own 90-in-180 count, separate from the other countries.
Does Cyprus use the EES?
No. Cyprus isn't one of the 29 countries that use the EES.
Do US citizens need a visa for Cyprus?
No. US citizens can visit Cyprus visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Today a valid passport is enough; once ETIAS launches, you will also need an approved ETIAS (€20) before you travel.
Do UK citizens need ETIAS for Cyprus?
Not yet, because ETIAS has not started. Once it launches, British passport holders will need ETIAS to visit Cyprus, unless they are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement as residents of an EU country.
How much money do I need to enter Cyprus?
Assessed case by case (no fixed daily amount). Border officers may ask you to show it with cards, bank statements or cash.
Keep reading
Sources
- European Commission: reference amounts (08/06/2026)
- European Commission: who should apply for ETIAS
- European Commission: ETIAS FAQ (Cyprus counted separately)
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.