Despite meeting all technical requirements and maintaining one of the lowest visa refusal rates in the world, Cyprus will not be able to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) in 2025.
Cyprus Has Met All Visa Waiver Program Technical Requirements
Cypriot authorities have emphasized that all technical and legal conditions set by Washington have been fulfilled.
This includes the ratification of bilateral agreements and the implementation of a passenger data collection and exchange system (PNR) across all airports and seaports in the country.
In addition, the Cypriot government has signed cooperation agreements with the United States in the areas of crime prevention and counterterrorism, which are key prerequisites for joining the Visa Waiver Program.
Nevertheless, Cypriot citizens will still need to obtain a B-category visa for tourism and business trips to the U.S.
Meanwhile, citizens of most EU countries have long enjoyed the simplified ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) system, which allows visa-free travel to the U.S. for up to two years and multiple entries.
Politics and Immigration — The Main Reasons for the Delay
According to experts, the main reason behind the delay is domestic political factors in the United States.
Changes within the administration and stricter visa controls introduced in 2024 have slowed down the review of new applications.
Moreover, U.S. authorities have recently focused on southern border security and immigration policy reform, temporarily pushing the expansion of the Visa Waiver Program into the background.
As of now, in Europe, only Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania remain outside the Visa Waiver Program, despite active negotiations and a high level of cooperation with Washington.
Hope for 2026 and Strengthening U.S.–Cyprus Relations
Officials remain optimistic, expressing confidence that the issue will be revisited in the next U.S. political cycle, which began on October 1, 2025.
According to representatives of the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dialogue with Washington is ongoing, and both sides view the country’s entry into the program as a strategic step in strengthening bilateral relations.
Joining the Visa Waiver Program would not only simplify travel for Cypriot citizens but also deepen economic, tourism, and diplomatic ties between the two nations.
It would serve as a symbol of trust and partnership, particularly amid the growing cooperation in energy and security across the Eastern Mediterranean.
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