Country topic
Visas in Cyprus
Cyprus is in the European Union but outside the Schengen area. The European Commission says Cyprus takes part in Schengen cooperation but the Council has not yet abolished internal border controls, and the US State Department says Cyprus is not a party to the Schengen Agreement (copy of 9 July 2026). Cyprus sets its own entry rules. Whether that status changes is for the Council; check before you travel. [V1] [V2] Cyprus’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States among the countries whose nationals do not need a visa for a stay of up to 90 days, provided they are bona fide visitors. The copy we read is the Internet Archive’s of 6 December 2025, because the live page refuses automated access. [V3]
What we found
The research, with its sources.
Research information, not advice. Rules change, so check the source before you act on one.
- Cyprus is in the European Union but outside the Schengen area. The European Commission says Cyprus takes part in Schengen cooperation but the Council has not yet abolished internal border controls, and the US State Department says Cyprus is not a party to the Schengen Agreement (copy of 9 July 2026). Cyprus sets its own entry rules. Whether that status changes is for the Council; check before you travel. [V1] [V2]
- Cyprus’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States among the countries whose nationals do not need a visa for a stay of up to 90 days, provided they are bona fide visitors. The copy we read is the Internet Archive’s of 6 December 2025, because the live page refuses automated access. [V3]
- Government travel advice agrees on the visa-free visit: the US says a tourist visa is not required for stays under 90 days, Canada says no tourist or business visa is needed for up to 90 days, and Australia says up to 90 days in a 6-month period. Canada adds that anyone planning to live in Cyprus must get the correct visa or residency permit. We found no entry page for New Zealand passports beyond the Foreign Ministry list. [V2] [V4] [V5]
- Canada advises that your passport be valid for at least 6 months beyond the day you expect to leave Cyprus; the US lists six months’ remaining validity as recommended and two blank pages for the entry stamp. Airlines may apply stricter rules. [V4] [V2]
- The Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa is for non-EU and non-EEA nationals who work remotely through telecommunications technology, either employed by a company registered abroad or self-employed for clients located abroad. They need a stable net income of at least €3,500 a month after contributions and taxes. To be safe, show more than €3,600 a month. The page gives no separate figure for family members. [V6]
- The first nomad permit lasts one year; a renewal lasts up to two years. Apply within 3 months of arrival at the Migration Department’s central offices in Nicosia. The fee is €70, plus €70 for registration on a first application, and examination takes 5 to 7 weeks. Spouses or partners and underage children can stay for the same period but may not work. The cap is 500 permits; how many remain is not stated. [V6]
- The Category F immigration permit is for people with a secured annual income from abroad and no business, trade or profession in Cyprus. It asks for about €9,600 a year for the applicant and about €4,600 for each dependant, and pensions, dividends, deposit interest and rents count. To be safe, show more than €9,600 for one person, more than €15,000 for two and more than €19,000 for three. [V7]
- Category F has no age minimum and no deposit, and the fee is €500 for everyone on the application. The right of residence has unlimited validity, with the card renewed every 10 years, but it lapses after 2 years’ absence from Cyprus or on permanent residence abroad. Applications are made only at the Nicosia offices, and the Immigration Control Committee recommends and the Deputy Minister decides. [V7]
- A news report says third-country nationals may work in Cyprus only in sectors where non-EU employment is permitted, with each case approved by the Department of Labour and the Migration Department. It lists agriculture, livestock farming, food delivery, manufacturing, retail and shortage occupations, and says construction follows the same procedures. Which trades are open to which passports is unknown here. [V8]
- Canada’s advice warns that it is illegal to enter the island of Cyprus through the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and that crossing points at the UN buffer zone may refuse passage to people who entered that way. Fernshore’s figures describe the Republic of Cyprus, the government-controlled area. [V4]
The Fernshore Index
How the Index grades visas, by passport.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Visa, United States passport
Unknown
Research for US passports is being checked
Visa, Canada passport
Unknown
Research for Canadian passports is being checked
Visa, Australia passport
Unknown
Research for Australian passports is being checked
Visa, New Zealand passport
Unknown
Research for New Zealand passports is being checked
The country
More on Cyprus.
Topics
More about Cyprus.
Questions about Visas in Cyprus.
How long can I stay in Cyprus without a visa?
Cyprus’s Foreign Ministry lists Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States as visa-free for up to 90 days as a bona fide visitor. The US and Canada say the same, and Australia says 90 days in a 6-month period. Living or working there needs a permit. Rules can differ by consulate.
Is Cyprus in the Schengen area?
No. Cyprus is in the EU but outside Schengen: the European Commission says it takes part in Schengen cooperation but internal border controls have not been abolished, and the US State Department says it is not a party to the Agreement. Cyprus sets its own entry rules. Check before you travel.
How much income do I need for the Cyprus digital nomad visa?
The Migration Department asks for a stable monthly net income after contributions and taxes, from an employer registered abroad or clients located abroad. To be safe, show more than €3,600 a month. The page gives no separate figure for family members.
How long does the digital nomad permit last, and what does it cost?
The first permit lasts one year and a renewal up to two years. The fee is €70, plus €70 for registration on a first application; examination takes 5 to 7 weeks. Apply within 3 months of arrival in Nicosia. The scheme is capped at 500 permits.
Can I live in Cyprus on savings or a pension?
Category F is for people living on income from abroad who do not work in Cyprus. It asks for a yearly income plus an amount per dependant (to be safe, more than €9,600 for one person or about €15,000 for two). The fee is €500, there is no deposit, and a committee decides each case.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [V1] Schengen Area, European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs. Checked 15 October 2026. Says Cyprus takes part in Schengen cooperation but internal border controls have not yet been abolished by the Council.
- [V2] Cyprus: international travel information, US Department of State (travel.state.gov). Checked 15 October 2026. Internet Archive copy of 9 July 2026; the live page refuses automated access.
- [V3] Categories of persons and countries whose nationals do not require a visa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus (gov.cy). Checked 15 October 2026. Internet Archive copy of 6 December 2025; the live page refuses automated access. Lists Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States for a stay up to 90 days as bona fide visitors.
- [V4] Cyprus travel advice and advisories: entry requirements, Government of Canada (travel.gc.ca). Checked 15 October 2026. Page updated 11 August 2026.
- [V5] Cyprus travel advice, Australian Government (Smartraveller). Checked 15 October 2026. Internet Archive copy of 12 October 2026 (page updated 23 July 2026).
- [V6] Digital nomads and family members (Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa), Migration Department, Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection (gov.cy). Checked 15 October 2026. Read from the Internet Archive copy of 26 September 2026; the live page refuses automated access.
- [V7] Immigration Permits (categories A to F), Migration Department, Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection (gov.cy). Checked 15 October 2026. Read from the Internet Archive copy of 31 August 2026; the live page refuses automated access.
- [V8] Cyprus labour shortages: who can legally work (Cyprus Mail, 27 September 2026), Cyprus Mail (news site). Checked 15 October 2026. A news summary of how third-country nationals are approved to work; not the Migration Department's own page.