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According to a report by Kathimerini's Dorita Yiannakou, Cyprus is progressing toward inclusion in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, a move expected to simplify travel for Cypriots while strengthening cooperation between the two nations in combating serious crime. An agreement signed between the two countries is a key step toward this, focusing on the exchange of information from databases to enhance crime-fighting efforts. In 2023, Cyprus issued around 5,530 visas for citizens traveling to the U.S., with this number expected to increase in the coming years.
A Foreign Ministry official informed the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs that significant progress has been made, with some technical issues still to be resolved before a final assessment is presented to the U.S. State Department and Congress. The timeline for Cyprus to officially join the program is expected to be finalized by 2025. Currently, Cyprus, along with Bulgaria and Romania, remains one of the few EU member states not yet included in the Visa Waiver Program. The European Commission has emphasized that all EU states must join by 2027.
Some concerns were raised during the committee discussion, particularly regarding data protection and how the U.S. would handle Cypriot data. A police official clarified that the U.S. would not have unrestricted access to Cyprus' databases. Instead, any requests for information must be specific to individuals involved in criminal investigations or convicted of serious crimes. The agreement excludes asylum seekers from the fingerprint register, and Cypriot authorities will have reciprocal access to relevant U.S. data.
The agreement, formally titled "Enhancing Cooperation to Prevent and Combat Serious Crime," was signed in Nicosia in July 2024 and is part of the broader PCSC Agreement between the two nations, originally established in December 2015. Once activated, the agreement allows both parties to use biometric data to assess individuals who pose a potential public safety threat due to their involvement in serious crimes. This measure aims to bolster national security and facilitate visa applications.
