Cyprus’s Schengen Entry: What’s Next

Veronika Seredenko is a first year Philosophy, Politics and Economics student.

(veronika.seredenko.25@ucl.ac.uk / www.linkedin.com/in/veronika-seredenko)

Introduction

Cyprus aims to join the Schengen Area in 2026 [1]. The country’s prospective accession is one of the most significant stages of its post-EU integration process. More than a question of border technicalities, Schengen membership is at the centre of mobility, security and political coordination and harmonisation within the European Union (EU), making Cyprus’s case particularly noteworthy, given its geopolitical position and unresolved territorial division. This article will cover what the Schengen membership will mean for Cyprus and other members of the Area, and what political and economic effects it entails. It will also discuss which criteria Cyprus has already met and what is yet to be achieved.

Requirements of Schengen Membership

The Schengen Area is a free travel area, meaning it has no internal border controls within the territory of its members. As of 2025, Schengen comprises 29 member states [2]. Cyprus participates in the Schengen cooperation. However, internal border controls have not yet been abolished [3]. Legally, Cyprus is obliged to join the Area as part of the obligations of EU membership, because all member states, except Ireland, are expected to work towards Schengen accession once the required conditions are fulfilled [4]. The conditions of entry into the Zone include effective external border control, namely employment of the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), participation in common information systems, such as the Schengen Information System (SIS), alignment with EU visa policy, data protection compliance, and enhanced police and judicial cooperation [3][5].

Implications of Schengen Membership

With Cyprus possibly becoming its 30th member, the additional change is likely to bring certain geopolitical shifts.

For Cypriots, joining Schengen would mean passport-free movement within the Area, easier mobility for work and education, and reduced administrative barriers for travel [6].

On a broader level, for Cyprus, Schengen membership is expected to increase tourism inflows, strengthen cross-border economic activity, attract foreign investment and elevate the country's strategic and diplomatic position within the EU [7]. This is particularly relevant for tourism and real estate sectors, where increased accessibility and mobility are expected to increase demand, investment interest and property values. Tourism, specifically, is a significant contributor to Cyprus’s economy. This means that any reduction in travel barriers could be particularly beneficial for the economy as making travel easier for visitors already within the Schengen Area, may directly support growth. This change could have a greater impact in Cyprus than in other EU economies, where tourism contributes a smaller share of overall economic activity [8].

For other members of the Schengen Area, Cyprus’s accession would mean improved cooperation on migration and security, increased use of shared information systems and stronger collective oversight of the EU’s external borders [3].

What Has Been Done

Earlier this May, the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, officially announced that Cyprus is ready to join the Schengen Area as it has been actively working towards fulfilling all the criteria of membership. The President felt confident that all “technicalities” would be settled before the end of 2025 [14].

As of now, the Cypriot government aims to complete all the necessary preparations in 2026, currently focusing on securing political backing from EU member states and finalising technical evaluations required by the European Commission (EC) [10]. Recently, Cyprus has strengthened its diplomatic engagement with key EU partners, including France, to secure more political support for its membership [11].

Following a meeting with members of the EC in Brussels this November, Deputy Minister for Migration, Nicolas Ioannides, announced that Cyprus is technically prepared for accession and that the EC is expected to complete its remaining technical assessments by the end of 2025. Officials have repeatedly emphasised that the remaining steps are largely procedural rather than substantive, which shows confidence in Cyprus’s overall readiness [12].

What Is Yet To Be Achieved

According to EU institutions and regional reporting, Cyprus is yet to fulfil the final political approval process, including unanimous consent from existing Schengen members and the complete operational implementation of border, migration and security systems [4].

The continued division of the island along the Green Line, which has historically raised questions about the possibility of a full application of Schengen rules, especially in relation to border surveillance and migration management, remains an ongoing concern. These final phases remain politically uncertain as unanimity is a mandatory condition, and concerns related to migration pressures continue to influence member state positions [9]. This also raises more questions about how Schengen rules can be uniformly applied in such politically divided territories and shows tension between the required legal harmonisation by the Schengen and political reality within.

What’s Next

It has long been Cyprus’s goal to join the Schengen Area. After more than 20 years of being in the EU, Cyprus remains the only EU member state required to accede that is not in the Schengen [13]. Cyprus’s accession invites reflection on whether Schengen expansion represents a strategic gain for the EU as a whole or whether it reveals structural weaknesses in border governance and political harmonisation, particularly in regions that have or have had unresolved conflicts or political division.

It is clear that the country has had a long-standing commitment towards joining. It seems like, at this point, it is only a matter of time before Cyprus becomes a member of the Schengen Area.

Works Cited

[1] Kathimerini Cyprus (2025) Cyprus will join Schengen in 2026, says President. Available at: https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-will-join-schengen-in-2026-says-president (Accessed: 19 December 2025).

[2] Council of the European Union (2025) Schengen Area. Available at: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/schengen-area/#schengen (Accessed: 19 December 2025).

[3] European Commission (2025) Schengen Area. Available at: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/schengen-area_en (Accessed: 19 December 2025).

[4] AGP Law (2025) Cyprus and the Schengen Area. Available at: https://www.agplaw.com/cyprus-and-the-schengen-area/ (Accessed:22 December 2025).

[5] ETIAS (2025) Cyprus committed to Schengen entry by 2026. Available at: https://etias.com/articles/cyprus-committed-to-schengen-entry-by-2026 (Accessed: 26 December 2025).

[6] VisaHQ (2025) Cyprus secures EU backing to join Schengen Zone by 2026. Available at: https://www.visahq.com/news/2025-11-20/cy/cyprus-secures-eu-backing-to-join-schengen-zone-by-2026/ (Accessed: 27 December 2025).

[7] Cyprus Mail (2025) We will join the Schengen Zone in 2026. Available at: https://cyprus-mail.com/2025/05/11/we-will-join-the-schengen-zone-in-2026 (Accessed: December 2025).

[8] Aspen Trust (2025) Cyprus joins Schengen: A new era for business, investment and mobility. Available at: https://aspentrust.com/cyprus-joins-schengen-a-new-era-for-business-investment-mobility/ (Accessed: 22 December 2025).

[9] Kathimerini Cyprus (2025) Cyprus Schengen entry in 2026: Don’t bet on it, says CIRen. Available at: https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-schengen-entry-in-2026-don-t-bet-on-it-says-ciren (Accessed: 27 December 2025).

[10] GK Law Firm (2025) Cyprus and the Schengen Zone. Available at: https://gk-lawfirm.com/publications/cyprus-schengen-zone/ (Accessed: 24 December 2025).

[11] Government of Cyprus (2025) Strategic partnership agreement and letter of intent for Schengen signed between Cyprus and France. Available at: https://www.gov.cy/en/president-of-the-republic-presidency/the-president-of-the-republic-of-cyprus-and-the-president-of-the-republic-of-france-signed-today-a-strategic-partnership-agreement-between-the-two-countries-and-a-letter-of-intent-for-schengen/ (Accessed: 21 December 2025).

[12] Cyprus Mail (2025) Cyprus aims for Schengen membership by 2026. Available at: https://cyprus-mail.com/2025/11/19/cyprus-aims-for-schengen-membership-by-2026 (Accessed: 27 December 2025).

[13] European Union (2025) Cyprus. Available at: https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/eu-countries/cyprus_en (Accessed: 18 December 2025).

[14] Ekathimerini (2025) Cyprus eyes Schengen next year. Available at: https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1269543/cyprus-eyes-schengen-next-year (Accessed: 26 December 2025)