Published: 21.07.2026
The Cypriot government has expressed an intention to join the Schengen Area in 2026 or early 2027. According to the source, accession would allow residence and work permit holders to travel visa-free within Schengen, while non-EU workers could be required to obtain a type D long-stay visa through a Cypriot embassy or consulate before travelling.
According to the source, possible Schengen accession would affect not only travel between Cyprus and other Schengen countries but also the process for obtaining work authorisation for non-EU nationals. The current employer pre-authorisation route could be replaced by a requirement to obtain a type D long-stay visa from abroad, making document preparation and timing more important. The development is most relevant to prospective non-EU workers, their employers and people planning to use Cypriot residence status for Schengen travel. It is worth monitoring, but until accession takes place, current Cypriot visas and residence permits should not be treated as granting free movement within Schengen.