Cyprus-bound business travellers from the United Kingdom, the United States and 57 other visa-exempt jurisdictions now know exactly what the forthcoming European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will cost them: €20. The Times reported on 4 February that EU ministers have agreed the price of the electronic permit, ending months of industry speculation. ETIAS is scheduled to go live in late-2026, a few months after the EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) finishes its phased roll-out. Although Cyprus has not yet joined the passport-free Schengen zone, it will participate fully in both EES and ETIAS, meaning all non-EU nationals who currently enter the Republic visa-free will need the new authorisation.
ETIAS is often compared to the United States’ ESTA or the United Kingdom’s new ETA. Travellers will complete a short online form, pay the €20 fee (cards and digital wallets will be accepted) and receive approval linked to their passport for three years or until the document expires, whichever comes first. Automated checks against EU security and migration databases should clear the vast majority of applicants “within minutes,” but cases that raise red flags could take up to 30 days and may require additional documentation.
Seasoned travellers or corporate mobility teams who prefer to outsource the paperwork can turn to VisaHQ, whose Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) already tracks the evolving ETIAS requirements and will notify clients as soon as applications open. The platform’s step-by-step interface and dedicated support staff can simplify the process, double-check passport validity and ensure that the €20 fee is paid through the official channel, helping travellers avoid mistakes and scam sites.
![€20 ETIAS Fee Confirmed for Visa-Exempt Travellers Entering Cyprus and the Schengen Area]()
For employers managing short-term assignments to Cyprus, the system brings both predictability and new compliance risks. Airlines will be obliged to verify ETIAS approval before passengers board, so mobility managers will need to build the extra step—and the possibility of delays—into travel approvals. The €20 fee will be waived for minors under 18 and adults over 70, but those travellers must still obtain the permit; failure to do so will mean denied boarding or refusal of entry on arrival. The European Commission says a six-month “soft-launch” transition period will allow carriers and border posts to adapt before fines for non-compliance are imposed.
Travel-risk advisers are already warning of scam websites charging inflated fees. The Commission insists that only the official web portal and forthcoming mobile app should be used and that no intermediary can guarantee approval. Once ETIAS and EES are running in parallel, stamped passports will largely disappear at Cyprus’ airports: instead, third-country nationals will present their biometric data at automated gates, with overstays and re-entry bans calculated automatically.
For Cyprus, which relies heavily on tourism and is pushing to attract digital nomads and remote workers, clear communication will be critical. Hoteliers and destination-management companies fear that confusion—especially during the initial months—could deter last-minute bookings. The Deputy Ministry of Tourism says it is preparing a multilingual campaign to explain the new rules well in advance of the 2026 high season.
ETIAS is often compared to the United States’ ESTA or the United Kingdom’s new ETA. Travellers will complete a short online form, pay the €20 fee (cards and digital wallets will be accepted) and receive approval linked to their passport for three years or until the document expires, whichever comes first. Automated checks against EU security and migration databases should clear the vast majority of applicants “within minutes,” but cases that raise red flags could take up to 30 days and may require additional documentation.
Seasoned travellers or corporate mobility teams who prefer to outsource the paperwork can turn to VisaHQ, whose Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) already tracks the evolving ETIAS requirements and will notify clients as soon as applications open. The platform’s step-by-step interface and dedicated support staff can simplify the process, double-check passport validity and ensure that the €20 fee is paid through the official channel, helping travellers avoid mistakes and scam sites.
For employers managing short-term assignments to Cyprus, the system brings both predictability and new compliance risks. Airlines will be obliged to verify ETIAS approval before passengers board, so mobility managers will need to build the extra step—and the possibility of delays—into travel approvals. The €20 fee will be waived for minors under 18 and adults over 70, but those travellers must still obtain the permit; failure to do so will mean denied boarding or refusal of entry on arrival. The European Commission says a six-month “soft-launch” transition period will allow carriers and border posts to adapt before fines for non-compliance are imposed.
Travel-risk advisers are already warning of scam websites charging inflated fees. The Commission insists that only the official web portal and forthcoming mobile app should be used and that no intermediary can guarantee approval. Once ETIAS and EES are running in parallel, stamped passports will largely disappear at Cyprus’ airports: instead, third-country nationals will present their biometric data at automated gates, with overstays and re-entry bans calculated automatically.
For Cyprus, which relies heavily on tourism and is pushing to attract digital nomads and remote workers, clear communication will be critical. Hoteliers and destination-management companies fear that confusion—especially during the initial months—could deter last-minute bookings. The Deputy Ministry of Tourism says it is preparing a multilingual campaign to explain the new rules well in advance of the 2026 high season.
