These are the data of the updated rating of the international consulting company Henley & Partners.
In July 2024, the passport of the Republic of Cyprus scored 178 points in the Henley & Partners rating. Cyprus managed to climb to 13th place from 16th, which it held in 2023. The rating has been compiled since 2006. The best indicator of Cyprus is the 12th place in 2016, the worst is the 20th in 2012. In addition to the current year, Cyprus took the 13th place only once more — in 2007.
AND WHAT ABOUT SCHENGEN AND VISA-FREE TRAVEL TO THE USA?
The Cyprus problem and the impossibility of 100% control of the “Green Line”, through which illegal migrants can enter the Republic of Cyprus from the occupied territories of the island, and among them there may be criminals, negatively affects the position of the Cypriot passport in the passport rating. The unresolved problem of the divided island hinders the process of admission of the Republic of Cyprus to the Schengen area.
Among the priorities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus is also the introduction of a visa-free regime with the United States. Nicosia will soon fulfill the technical requirements for this. In early 2025, Cyprus plans to join the American Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows Europeans to visit the United States for tourism, business or transit for up to 90 days without an American visa.
Now, with a Cypriot passport, you can enter 26 EU countries without visas, as well as the United Kingdom, which has withdrawn from the EU. The same can be said about almost all countries in South and Latin America (with the exception of Cuba, Puerto Rico and Guyana). Citizens of Cyprus can get to Canada and Greenland without visas.
From the states of the former USSR, a visa is not needed to enter Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia (EU countries), Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan (the visa in the last two is placed at the airport upon arrival).
Citizens of the Republic of Cyprus can enter Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, South Africa, as well as a number of countries in the Middle East (Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Iran) and Southeast Asia (Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Taiwan) without a visa.
You do not need a visa to visit the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Egypt. When entering Turkey, visa holders of passports of the Republic of Cyprus are given upon arrival at the ports and airports of the country.
WHICH COUNTRIES REQUIRE VISAS?
From the countries of the former USSR, Russia and Azerbaijan require e-Visa registration. To enter Turkmenistan, citizens of the Republic of Cyprus must obtain a visa at one of its embassies and consulates. Holders of Cypriot passports need a visa or e-Visa to enter China, Australia, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. More than half of African countries, including Algeria, Libya, Niger, Sudan and the DRC, require a visa.
CITIZENSHIP OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS
Recall that at the end of 2023, the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus made changes to the naturalization process. According to the new requirements, foreigners need to live in the country for at least eight years and pass an exam for knowledge of the Greek language, as well as the history and culture of the Republic of Cyprus.
An accelerated naturalization process has also been introduced for highly qualified employees of
international companies who need to live in the Republic of Cyprus for at least four years and speak Greek.
A source: evropakipr.com
