The latest Henley Passport Index, released on 13 January, confirms that the Republic of Cyprus holds on to 14th place worldwide, granting its citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to 174 countries and territories. The index, based on data from the International Air Transport Association, ranks 199 passports by the number of destinations they unlock without advanced visas.(in-cyprus.philenews.com)
Cyprus has maintained a spot in the top 20 for two decades, peaking at 12th in 2012 and 2024. Analysts attribute its strong showing to consistent EU membership, a broad bilateral visa-waiver network and recent e-visa agreements in the Gulf and Latin America. The 2026 table is topped by Singapore (192 destinations) with Japan and South Korea joint second (188). Within the EU, Cyprus now sits just behind Greece (185) and ahead of emerging economies such as Brazil and South Africa.
Whether you hold a Cypriot passport or another travel document, platforms such as VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork behind those 174 visa-free, visa-on-arrival and e-visa options. Through its Cyprus-specific portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/), the service pre-screens requirements, files electronic authorisations and even arranges courier pick-up for physical visas, saving both individual travellers and corporate mobility teams valuable time.
![Henley Passport Index 2026: Cypriot Passport Retains 14th Place With Visa-Free Access to 174 Destinations]()
For Cypriot businesses the ranking translates into smoother market-entry planning, fewer consular costs and faster deployment of staff to client sites. Professionals in shipping, energy and tech—sectors where Cypriots are heavily represented—benefit from reduced paperwork when rotating through hubs such as Singapore, Dubai or Seoul.
Global mobility advisers still caution travellers that visa-free does not equal “right to work”; work permits may be required even where entry is visa-exempt. They also note growing use of electronic travel authorisations (e.g., Canada’s eTA, the forthcoming US ESTA fee increase and the EU’s delayed ETIAS), which could erode the headline numbers in future indices.
Nevertheless, the 2026 results reinforce Cyprus’ reputation as a passport that opens doors—useful leverage as the government markets the island as a headquarters location for fintech and shipping firms seeking agile talent mobility.
Cyprus has maintained a spot in the top 20 for two decades, peaking at 12th in 2012 and 2024. Analysts attribute its strong showing to consistent EU membership, a broad bilateral visa-waiver network and recent e-visa agreements in the Gulf and Latin America. The 2026 table is topped by Singapore (192 destinations) with Japan and South Korea joint second (188). Within the EU, Cyprus now sits just behind Greece (185) and ahead of emerging economies such as Brazil and South Africa.
Whether you hold a Cypriot passport or another travel document, platforms such as VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork behind those 174 visa-free, visa-on-arrival and e-visa options. Through its Cyprus-specific portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/), the service pre-screens requirements, files electronic authorisations and even arranges courier pick-up for physical visas, saving both individual travellers and corporate mobility teams valuable time.
For Cypriot businesses the ranking translates into smoother market-entry planning, fewer consular costs and faster deployment of staff to client sites. Professionals in shipping, energy and tech—sectors where Cypriots are heavily represented—benefit from reduced paperwork when rotating through hubs such as Singapore, Dubai or Seoul.
Global mobility advisers still caution travellers that visa-free does not equal “right to work”; work permits may be required even where entry is visa-exempt. They also note growing use of electronic travel authorisations (e.g., Canada’s eTA, the forthcoming US ESTA fee increase and the EU’s delayed ETIAS), which could erode the headline numbers in future indices.
Nevertheless, the 2026 results reinforce Cyprus’ reputation as a passport that opens doors—useful leverage as the government markets the island as a headquarters location for fintech and shipping firms seeking agile talent mobility.
