Best answer to — does Cyprus want to join Schengen?

Contents

Yes, Cyprus is already a member of the Schengen Area.

Detailed response

Cyprus became a member of the Schengen Area in 2004, along with seven other countries. As a member of the Schengen Area, Cyprus enjoys the benefits of free movement within the continent. In addition, it is a popular tourist destination for European travelers. According to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, “Cyprus is considered a safe country with a low level of criminality and a stable political and social environment.”

However, there have been discussions in recent years about the enlargement of the Schengen Area, and Cyprus is yet to become a full member of the Schengen Agreement. In 2021, the European Parliament called on the European Council to “urgently begin work on the accession process for the Schengen area” for Cyprus and other countries.

According to the European Commission’s 2018 annual report on the functioning of the Schengen Area, Cyprus still has some challenges to overcome in terms of effectively managing its external borders and addressing issues such as irregular migration. Nevertheless, the report also noted that “significant progress has been made” by Cyprus in recent years.

A table summarizing the current Schengen status of European countries:

Country	Schengen member?
Austria	Yes
Belgium	Yes
Czech Republic	Yes
Denmark	No
Estonia	Yes
Finland	Yes
France	Yes
Germany	Yes
Greece	Yes
Hungary	Yes
Iceland	Yes
Italy	Yes
Latvia	Yes
Liechtenstein	Yes
Lithuania	Yes
Luxembourg	Yes
Malta	Yes
Netherlands	Yes
Norway	No
Poland	Yes
Portugal	Yes
Slovakia	Yes
Slovenia	Yes
Spain	Yes
Sweden	No
Switzerland	Yes

As John Major, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, once said: “The Schengen Agreement is not an optional extra, it is a cornerstone of the Union.” The Schengen Area remains an important aspect of European integration, facilitating the free movement of people and goods across borders.

IT\'S IMPORTANT: Quick response to — does Amazon ship to Cyprus?

Response via video

There are other opinions

Even though Cyprus applied for Schengen Membership in September 2019, the country will still have to wait for such a process to be finalized, as according to EU’s Vice President Margaritis Schinas, “in this revised strategy for us, Schengen enlargement is a priority for the three countries, Romania, Bulgaria, and

As of April 2021, Cyprus is not part of the Schengen Zone. However, the country has formally started the process of joining the Schengen area. National visas issued by the Embassies of Cyprus are valid for Cyprus only and do not permit the holder to enter other Schengen zone countries. According to the European Union’s Home Affairs Commissioner, Ylva Johansson, Cyprus is not yet ready to become the newest member of the borderless zone.

As of April 2021, Cyprus is not part of the Schengen Zone. However, the process of joining the Schengen Zone has started. This means that national visas issued by the Embassies of Cyprus are valid for Cyprus only. They do not permit the holder to enter other Schengen zone countries.

14/04/2021. The Republic of Cyprus has announced that it has formally started the process of joining the Schengen area. This revelation marks the country’s first step towards Schengen membership and could in time make it a destination that many European’s may travel to passport-free.

The European Union’s Home Affairs Commissioner, Ylva Johansson, has extinguished the hopes of Cyprus to join the Schengen Area, as according to her, the island nation is not yet ready to become the newest member of the borderless zone yet.

More interesting on the topic

Will Cyprus ever join Schengen?

As an answer to this: Cyprus will be joining the Schengen Information System on July 25th, 2023 after having been positively assessed and following decades of efforts.

Why can't Cyprus join Schengen?

The Benefits of Cyprus in the Schengen Zone
Cyprus joined the EU in 2004. The country adopted the Euro in 2008, creating economic standardization. But it hasn’t joined the Zone due to continued disputes over Cyprus’s national borders. As an island nation, Cyprus is hard to access.

Which country will join Schengen in 2023?

Croatia
Schengen enlargement: Croatia joined the Schengen area on 1 January 2023. This is the first enlargement over a decade and it is a significant achievement for Croatia and the Schengen area.

Which country will join Schengen?

Croatia
Croatia received unanimous support from the 26 Schengen member states and joined Europe’s passport-free travel zone welcomed at the start of 2023.

Is Cyprus ready to join Schengen?

As an answer to this: Now that Cyprus has declared its intent to join Schengen it enters a period of evaluation from the EU. The country will be required to pass through a 5 step approval process, which will access, amongst other things, the country’s ability to maintain the Schengen area’s border integrity and security.

Is Cyprus in the Schengen zone?

As an answer to this: As of April 2021, Cyprus is not part of the Schengen Zone. However, the process of joining the Schengen Zone has started. This means that national visas issued by the Embassies of Cyprus are valid for Cyprus only.

Why did Cyprus ask the EU to grant access to SIS?

The authorities of Cyprus had asked the EU countries to grant them access to the European Union’s Schengen Information System (SIS), as if that happens, Cyprus would be able to carry out more effective border controls and, thus, enhance the island’s security.

Which countries are part of the Schengen zone?

As an answer to this: The Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands are special members of the EU and part of the Schengen Zone, even though they are located outside the European continent. There are four more EU members that have not joined the Schengen zone: Ireland – which still maintains opt-outs, and Romania, Bulgaria, and Cyprus – which are seeking to join soon.

Is Cyprus ready to join Schengen?

Response will be: Now that Cyprus has declared its intent to join Schengen it enters a period of evaluation from the EU. The country will be required to pass through a 5 step approval process, which will access, amongst other things, the country’s ability to maintain the Schengen area’s border integrity and security.

Is Cyprus in the Schengen zone?

As of April 2021, Cyprus is not part of the Schengen Zone. However, the process of joining the Schengen Zone has started. This means that national visas issued by the Embassies of Cyprus are valid for Cyprus only.

Which countries are joining the Schengen Area?

Answer: However, Bulgaria and Romania are currently in the process of joining the Schengen Area and already applying the Schengen acquis to a large extent. On 1 January 2023 Croatia became the newest member state to join the Schengen area. Additionally, also the non-EU States Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have joined the Schengen Area.

Why did Cyprus ask the EU to grant access to SIS?

Response: The authorities of Cyprus had asked the EU countries to grant them access to the European Union’s Schengen Information System (SIS), as if that happens, Cyprus would be able to carry out more effective border controls and, thus, enhance the island’s security.