A senior delegation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security visited Nicosia on 13–14 July and, according to a statement released on 20 July, described Cyprus’ progress toward joining the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) as “significant”. Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy & Plans Rob Law met the Deputy Minister to the President, the Deputy Migration Minister and the Foreign Ministry’s top civil servant to audit recent upgrades in border management and information-sharing. Cyprus has spent two years installing U.S.-compatible Advance Passenger Information (API) systems at Larnaca and Paphos airports and has passed new legislation on passenger-name-record retention. The DHS team also reviewed the island’s refusal-rate statistics, which must fall below 3 % for a country to qualify for VWP designation. If admitted, Cypriot nationals would enjoy 90-day visa-free travel to the United States for business or tourism—a boon for the tech, shipping and professional-services sectors whose executives shuttle frequently between the two countries. Conversely, Cypriot authorities would be obliged to roll out enhanced screening of outbound travellers and tighten over-stay enforcement, measures the government says are already embedded in its new National Migration Strategy 2026-2029. Businesses should note that, even under an optimistic timeline, Cyprus is unlikely to enter the VWP before mid-2027; B-1/B-2 visa appointments therefore remain essential for longer stays or work-containing trips. Travel managers are advised to monitor DHS announcements and ensure employees’ e-passports meet the electronic-chip standards required under the programme.
Source: Cyprus Business News (CBN)
