Visa-Free Travel to the US for Cypriots Could Be Introduced in 2025

The House Foreign Affairs Committee has held hearings on a bill that would allow Cyprus to join the US Visa Waiver Program.

During the committee session, Justice Minister Marios Hartziou stated that if the bill is passed by the end of 2024, Cyprus could potentially be included in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) by 2025.

Committee Chairman Haris Georgiades confirmed that the bill will be presented for a plenary session vote this week, emphasizing the urgency expressed by the executive branch.

The committee head also noted that Cyprus is among the last three European countries, along with Bulgaria and Romania, that do not have such an agreement with the US.

On June 17, the governments of Cyprus and the US signed an intergovernmental agreement on travel information sharing, including risk assessment of individuals deemed dangerous to either country.

The aim is to allow Cypriot passport holders to travel to the United States without a visa.

Subsequently, the government drafted a bill that requires legislative approval.

Under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), Cypriot passport holders with passports containing an embedded electronic chip will be able to arrive at a US port of entry and request permission to travel in the United States. This is for up to 90 days under B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visas. Without applying for a visa at the US Embassy beforehand.

The visa waiver does not eliminate the visa category for the traveler but removes the need to apply at the US Embassy or attend an in-person interview with a US consular officer before traveling.

If visa-free travel to the US for Cypriot citizens is introduced, Cyprus will join the list of 41 countries currently having access to the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), 24 of which are European Union members.