Cyprus is accelerating efforts to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), aiming to seal the deal before September. American officials are in the country this week, conducting on-site security assessments—a key step in the approval process.
The VWP allows citizens from approved countries to enter the U.S. for tourism or business without a visa for up to 90 days. Cyprus, currently not on the list, has been working to meet the strict entry requirements, especially around security standards and visa rejection rates.
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U.S. experts arrived on Monday and have already carried out inspections at critical infrastructure points including airports, ports, the Ministry of Interior, the Deputy Ministry of Immigration, and police facilities. According to sources close to the Cypriot Presidency, the visit focuses on evaluating how the country handles border security, identity verification, and overall system integrity.
Additional questions from the American side may follow once the site visits conclude. The outcome hinges on a report the U.S. government will submit to Congress. If the findings are favorable, Cyprus could get the green light.
Even with a positive recommendation, inclusion isn’t immediate. It takes two to three months to update U.S. systems before Cypriot travelers can use the streamlined electronic travel process.
Timing is crucial. While there’s no formal deadline, Cyprus is aiming for September to lock in this year’s impressively low visa rejection rate—a core eligibility requirement. To qualify, a country’s refusal rate for U.S. visas must stay below 3% over 12 months ending in September.
Cyprus currently sits comfortably at 2.16%, the third lowest globally, according to the U.S. State Department. Only the United Arab Emirates (1.46%) scored better among active applicants. Some nations, including Liechtenstein and Monaco, showed 0% rejections—but this may reflect no applications rather than flawless approval rates.
On the other end of the spectrum, countries like Laos (82.84%), Liberia (79.38%), and Somalia (77.02%) recorded the highest visa refusal rates.
If Cyprus secures a spot in the VWP, it would mark a major win for both its government and citizens, who would benefit from easier travel to the United States. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether that long-anticipated milestone is finally within reach.
