Cyprus has confirmed that it will not join the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) when the biometric border-control platform goes fully live across the Schengen Area on 10 April 2026. The decision, reported by Cyprus Mail, means that third-country visitors will continue to receive the familiar ink passport stamp rather than having their fingerprints and facial image captured on arrival.
Background: The EES is the EU’s biggest border-technology upgrade in decades. It replaces manual stamping with an automated register of each traveller’s identity data, entry/exit dates and authorised length of stay. EU states inside Schengen have spent years installing e-gates, cameras and software capable of handling up to 1.4 billion crossings a year. Systems integration problems, however, have caused multiple launch delays, and airports from Madrid to Munich are already warning of longer queues during the transition.
Why Cyprus is different: Although an EU member, Cyprus remains outside Schengen pending a final evaluation of technical readiness. Until accession is approved by all current Schengen members, Larnaca and Paphos airports will run their own border controls. For non-EU tourists, the process remains as simple as handing over a passport and receiving a dated stamp. EU citizens and legal residents of Cyprus keep their existing free-movement rights.
![Cyprus stays outside Schengen’s new Entry/Exit System, sparing visitors border delays]()
Practical implications:
• Airlines selling summer seats to Cyprus can continue to advertise the island as a “hassle-free” Mediterranean alternative to Schengen hotspots that will be trialling new biometric kiosks.
• Tour operators expect fewer staff-training costs because no EES or ETIAS pre-registration is required for Cyprus packages.
• British expatriates living on the island should note that while their “yellow slip” residence certificate exempts them from EES checks when travelling onwards to the Schengen zone, they will need to replace it with a biometric card before 2027.
If you’re unsure whether your nationality requires a visa or any advance documentation for Cyprus, VisaHQ’s quick-check tool at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/ can clarify the rules in minutes. The platform also handles online applications and couriered submissions for Cyprus and hundreds of other destinations, keeping travellers up to date with every regulatory change so they can focus on planning their trip.
Looking ahead: The European Commission is due to publish its “special evaluation report” on Cyprus’ Schengen readiness before the end of February. President Nikos Christodoulides has set joining in 2026 as a government priority, but unanimous approval by all 29 current Schengen members—plus a ratifying vote in the European Parliament—will still be required.
Background: The EES is the EU’s biggest border-technology upgrade in decades. It replaces manual stamping with an automated register of each traveller’s identity data, entry/exit dates and authorised length of stay. EU states inside Schengen have spent years installing e-gates, cameras and software capable of handling up to 1.4 billion crossings a year. Systems integration problems, however, have caused multiple launch delays, and airports from Madrid to Munich are already warning of longer queues during the transition.
Why Cyprus is different: Although an EU member, Cyprus remains outside Schengen pending a final evaluation of technical readiness. Until accession is approved by all current Schengen members, Larnaca and Paphos airports will run their own border controls. For non-EU tourists, the process remains as simple as handing over a passport and receiving a dated stamp. EU citizens and legal residents of Cyprus keep their existing free-movement rights.
Practical implications:
• Airlines selling summer seats to Cyprus can continue to advertise the island as a “hassle-free” Mediterranean alternative to Schengen hotspots that will be trialling new biometric kiosks.
• Tour operators expect fewer staff-training costs because no EES or ETIAS pre-registration is required for Cyprus packages.
• British expatriates living on the island should note that while their “yellow slip” residence certificate exempts them from EES checks when travelling onwards to the Schengen zone, they will need to replace it with a biometric card before 2027.
If you’re unsure whether your nationality requires a visa or any advance documentation for Cyprus, VisaHQ’s quick-check tool at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/ can clarify the rules in minutes. The platform also handles online applications and couriered submissions for Cyprus and hundreds of other destinations, keeping travellers up to date with every regulatory change so they can focus on planning their trip.
Looking ahead: The European Commission is due to publish its “special evaluation report” on Cyprus’ Schengen readiness before the end of February. President Nikos Christodoulides has set joining in 2026 as a government priority, but unanimous approval by all 29 current Schengen members—plus a ratifying vote in the European Parliament—will still be required.
