Turkey has quietly overhauled its entry regime for holders of Republic of Cyprus passports. In a notice published on 27 December 2025, Ankara confirmed that the on-arrival “sticker” visa — long obtainable at border posts and airports — will be abolished from 2 January 2026. From that date, Cypriot nationals must secure either an e-visa in advance through Turkey’s online portal or apply in person at a Turkish embassy or consulate.
The sticker visa, introduced in the 1990s, allowed Cypriot leisure and business travellers to pay a fee at the border and receive a short-stay entry stamp. While convenient, it created unpredictability for companies relocating staff across the East Mediterranean because availability sometimes varied by port and political temperature. By forcing advance authorisation, Turkey aligns Cypriot travellers with most other non-EU citizens — a move Ankara says will “streamline border procedures and enhance security.”
For Cypriot citizens who prefer a hassle-free solution, global visa agency VisaHQ can manage the entire Turkish e-visa application on their behalf, ensuring forms are completed correctly and documents uploaded in the required format. Travellers can start the process online via https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/ and receive guidance on processing times, fees and any supplementary paperwork — a useful back-up for companies that cannot risk last-minute travel disruptions.
![Turkey Ends Sticker Visa for Cypriot Passports, Electronic Visa Now Mandatory]()
Practical implications are immediate for the roughly 80,000 Cypriot business and leisure visitors who entered Turkey in 2025. Companies should update travel policies to include e-visa lead times (usually 24 hours but occasionally longer during peak seasons) and budget for the current US $60 online fee. Travellers without an e-visa after 2 January risk airline boarding denials or being turned away at Turkish immigration desks.
Immigration advisers also warn that embassy processing can exceed two weeks, affecting assignees who need multiple-entry visas for projects in Istanbul, Ankara or Izmir. Firms with cross-border operations — particularly in shipping, construction and tourism — are urged to create contingency plans, including alternative meeting points in Athens or Dubai, until the new system stabilises.
Although Ankara has not linked the change to Cyprus’ EU-backed push for Schengen accession, diplomats view the decision as part of Turkey’s broader digitisation of border controls ahead of its own long-stalled EU visa-liberalisation bid. In the short term, however, Cypriot nationals face an extra administrative layer just as January business travel ramps up after the holidays.
The sticker visa, introduced in the 1990s, allowed Cypriot leisure and business travellers to pay a fee at the border and receive a short-stay entry stamp. While convenient, it created unpredictability for companies relocating staff across the East Mediterranean because availability sometimes varied by port and political temperature. By forcing advance authorisation, Turkey aligns Cypriot travellers with most other non-EU citizens — a move Ankara says will “streamline border procedures and enhance security.”
For Cypriot citizens who prefer a hassle-free solution, global visa agency VisaHQ can manage the entire Turkish e-visa application on their behalf, ensuring forms are completed correctly and documents uploaded in the required format. Travellers can start the process online via https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/ and receive guidance on processing times, fees and any supplementary paperwork — a useful back-up for companies that cannot risk last-minute travel disruptions.
Practical implications are immediate for the roughly 80,000 Cypriot business and leisure visitors who entered Turkey in 2025. Companies should update travel policies to include e-visa lead times (usually 24 hours but occasionally longer during peak seasons) and budget for the current US $60 online fee. Travellers without an e-visa after 2 January risk airline boarding denials or being turned away at Turkish immigration desks.
Immigration advisers also warn that embassy processing can exceed two weeks, affecting assignees who need multiple-entry visas for projects in Istanbul, Ankara or Izmir. Firms with cross-border operations — particularly in shipping, construction and tourism — are urged to create contingency plans, including alternative meeting points in Athens or Dubai, until the new system stabilises.
Although Ankara has not linked the change to Cyprus’ EU-backed push for Schengen accession, diplomats view the decision as part of Turkey’s broader digitisation of border controls ahead of its own long-stalled EU visa-liberalisation bid. In the short term, however, Cypriot nationals face an extra administrative layer just as January business travel ramps up after the holidays.
