President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, has revealed that the country is “very close” to announcing its membership to the United States Visa Waiver Programme, which would enable Cypriots visa-free travel to the 50-state country.

Representatives from the United States and Cyprus have discussed the matter recently, and chances for Cypriots to visit the US visa-free within 2025 are very likely, Schengen.News reports.

These remarks were made during a meeting between the members of Cyprus’ government and the US Assistant Secretary. The two parties have met to discuss future agreements, including investment and law enforcement.

Cyprus ‘Very Close’ To Reach Targets for Visa-Free Travel to the US

One of the requirements that the US government has for Cyprus membership in the Visa Waiver Programme is reducing the rejection rates for visa applications filed. According to the rules, less than three per cent of visa applications filed by Cypriots can be rejected.

According to government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, Cyprus was close to reaching this target last year, and the government hopes to reach the threshold in 2024.

There is still an agreement to be signed and we hope that this will be done in the very near future. We will fulfil all our obligations. The difficulty of the three-per-cent barrier remains, but we are optimistic that we will be able to achieve this goal. 

Once Cyprus meets all the requirements, it will become the 42nd country to join the US visa-free scheme and the 25th EU member state that has access to this programme.

According to the official data of the US Department of State, in 2023,  a total of 5,537 visas were granted to Cypriot applicants, up by 50.4 per cent compared to the previous year.

US & Cyprus Discuss Cooperation Across 5 Areas

The Visa Waiver programme was one of many key points discussed in the meeting, as the two countries showed commitment to strengthening their relationship and improving their cooperation.

We believe there are enormous opportunities to elevate our bilateral relationship to the next level, and it is up to us to transform these opportunities into concrete achievements. 

By signing cooperation agreements with the US, Cyprus can receive more funding and strengthen law enforcement cooperation. In addition, the European country has the chance to experience new initiatives in research, technology, and innovation, as well as educational exchanges, including an expanded Fulbright programme.