According to Cyprus Mail, Cyprus will resolve all technical issues necessary to join the Schengen area by 2025, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday. The political aspects of the matter have already been addressed, he added.
Cyprus and Ireland remain the only EU member states outside the Schengen area, as they have no land borders with other EU countries. Speaking at the “Beyond Sea and Sun” conference in Nicosia, organized by Hermes Airports, Christodoulides highlighted the benefits Schengen membership would bring to Cyprus, particularly in tourism and investment.
“We have addressed all political concerns regarding the ceasefire line and are now finalizing the technical details required for accession,” he said. A dedicated team at the foreign ministry is overseeing this process.
The Schengen area, which spans over 4 million square kilometers and includes nearly 420 million people, comprises 29 countries. This includes 25 of the 27 EU member states, all members of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), Croatia (since 2023), and Bulgaria and Romania (as of January 2025). According to the European Council, internal border controls with Cyprus remain in place, and Ireland is not part of Schengen.
Christodoulides also announced that Cyprus is in the final stages of lifting the US visa requirement for Cypriot travelers. A US delegation is expected to visit Cyprus soon, with announcements forthcoming.
The president discussed efforts to enhance tourism, including opening new embassies in Kazakhstan and Armenia to boost visitor numbers. These efforts aim to offset the loss of Russian tourists by attracting travelers from the United States and India.
He cited Poland as an example of successful diversification, noting that it has become Cyprus’ second-largest tourism market after the UK.
Cultural tourism was also getting a push, as was sports tourism, with Fiba 2025 and marathons being hosted by Cyprus.
He also highlighted Cyprus’ upcoming EU presidency in 2026, which is expected to attract 200,000 visitors and has spurred discussions on direct flights between Larnaka and Brussels.
As regards results so far, Christodoulides said 2024 was a record year for tourism, as Cyprus broke the 4 million tourist barrier and recorded a revenue of around €3 billion, which contributed 13.5 per cent to the country’s GDP, up from 12.8 per cent in 2023.
Contact us on this link Contact | Magnet Immigration to know more about real estate investment opportunities and how to obtain Cyprus European Permanent Residency.