Published: 27.07.2026
The EES has been fully operational since 10 April 2026. Holders of Cypriot residence permits and long-stay visas are registered, while non-EU family members of EU citizens who hold a valid residence card or permit are exempt.
Travelers crossing the external border should account for EES registration: holding a Cypriot residence permit or long-stay visa does not by itself create an exemption. The exemption applies to non-EU family members of EU citizens and certain associated European nationals only when they hold a residence card or residence permit. Without such a document, they will be registered. According to the source, this matters most for mixed-nationality families and frequent travelers to Cyprus, while other movers should treat it as a relevant border-control procedure.