Cyprus Tourist Visa Rules 2026
Last checked: 21 March 2026
Planning a holiday to Cyprus with a full British citizen passport? This guide explains the current tourist entry rules for UK travellers, including whether you need a visa, how long you can stay, passport validity rules, what Cypriot border officers may ask to see, important rules about the north of Cyprus, longer-stay visitor issues, electronic systems now in use, costs, and the official government links to check before travel.
This article is restricted to tourist entry for UK citizens. It does not cover work, study, residence permits, or long-stay immigration routes except where needed to explain what does not apply to a normal holiday.
Cyprus uses the euro (€) and is not part of the Schengen area.
Index
- 1. Quick answer
- 2. Passport and stay rules
- 3. What Cypriot border control may ask for
- 4. Entry rules for the north of Cyprus
- 5. Staying longer than 90 days
- 6. Electronic systems in use, or not applicable
- 7. Costs for UK tourist entry
- 8. Official UK and Cypriot government links
- 9. Frequently asked questions
1. Quick answer
No tourist visa is required for a UK citizen visiting Cyprus for a short holiday.
For most British tourists, the key points are:
- You can visit Cyprus without a visa for up to 90 days.
- Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years.
- Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave.
- Your passport must have at least one blank page for stamping.
- You may need to show a return or onward ticket.
- You may need to prove that you have enough money for your stay.
- Cyprus is not in the Schengen area.
- Cyprus is not affected by EES, so you do not register for EES when entering Cyprus.
In simple terms, most UK holidaymakers can travel to Cyprus without applying for a tourist visa, provided the trip stays within Cyprus’s own 90-day visa-free allowance and the passport rules are met.
2. Passport and stay rules
If you are travelling to Cyprus as a tourist on a full British citizen passport, your passport should meet these conditions:
- It must have a date of issue less than 10 years before the date you arrive.
- It must have an expiry date at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave Cyprus.
- It must have at least one blank page for stamping.
- You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or if you try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
UK citizens can stay in Cyprus for tourism for up to 90 days without a visa.
This is separate from Schengen. Visits to Cyprus do not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit in the Schengen area, and visits to Schengen countries do not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit in Cyprus.
Make sure your passport is stamped on entry and exit. If your passport is missing a stamp, keep evidence of when and where you entered or left, such as boarding passes or tickets, and ask border guards to add the date and location in your passport.
Do not overstay your permitted time. You could be questioned by immigration on exit and placed on a stop list refusing future entry for up to 5 years.
3. What Cypriot border control may ask for
Even though UK tourists do not need a visa for a short holiday, Cypriot border officers may still ask for supporting documents.
- A return or onward ticket
- Proof that you have enough money for your stay
In practice, it is sensible to keep your onward travel details, accommodation details, and proof of available funds easy to show, even though a normal UK tourist does not need to apply for a visa in advance.
4. Entry rules for the north of Cyprus
This is one of the most important Cyprus-specific travel points.
The Republic of Cyprus authorities will count time spent in the north of Cyprus towards your 90-day visa-free total.
You can use any crossing point to move between the north and south of the island, but there are restrictions at some pedestrian crossings such as Ledra Palace and Ledra and Lokmaci Street.
Important: if you enter the Republic of Cyprus through the north, for example through Ercan Airport, the Republic of Cyprus authorities will consider you to have entered illegally.
- You could be fined for illegal entry.
- You could be refused entry to or exit from the Republic of Cyprus.
- You could be prevented from crossing back into the north.
For a normal tourist trip, the safest approach is to use a lawful point of entry recognised by the Republic of Cyprus.
5. Staying longer than 90 days
If you want to stay in Cyprus for more than 90 days as a visitor, you need to move beyond the normal tourist-entry rules.
UK government guidance says that if you want to stay longer than 90 days as a visitor, you need to apply for temporary residency as a third country national.
If your visit may run close to or beyond the 90-day point, check the Cypriot Migration Department rules before you travel rather than relying only on the basic tourist guidance.
6. Electronic systems in use, or not applicable
Cyprus does not currently require a separate Cyprus-only tourist eVisa or a Cyprus-only tourist ETA for a visa-free UK holiday visit.
However, there are two important points to know:
Cyprus’s own visa system
Cyprus has its own official visa system for travellers who actually need a visa. The official government pages explain the short-stay visa route and note that Cyprus visas and residence permits currently have validity only for the Republic of Cyprus.
No EES for Cyprus
Cyprus is not part of the Schengen area, so it is not affected by the new Entry/Exit System (EES). You do not need to register for EES when entering Cyprus.
Because Cyprus is outside Schengen, the upcoming Schengen-only travel authorisation system does not govern normal tourist entry to Cyprus either.
So the current position for UK tourists is:
- No Cypriot tourist visa requirement for a standard UK short visit
- No Cyprus-only tourist eVisa requirement identified
- No Cyprus-only tourist ETA requirement identified
- EES does not apply to entry into Cyprus
- Cyprus’s own visa system exists for travellers who need a visa
7. Costs for UK tourist entry
Cyprus uses the euro (€). For a normal UK tourist visit, the official entry costs are simple because no tourist visa is required.
Approximate pound conversions below use the European Central Bank reference rate published on 27 March 2026 of €1 = £0.86720.
| Item | Does it apply to a normal UK tourist? | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus tourist visa | No | €0 (£0) |
| Cyprus-only tourist eVisa | No official system identified for UK tourists | €0 (£0) |
| Cyprus-only tourist ETA / pre-travel authorisation | No official system identified at present | €0 (£0) |
| EES registration | No, not a Cyprus entry requirement | €0 (£0) |
| Short-stay visa, only if someone outside the visa-free route needs one | Not applicable to a normal British tourist | €90 (about £78.05) |
| Children aged 6 to 12, only if a visa is needed | Not applicable to a normal British tourist | €45 (about £39.02) |
Important: the €90 and €45 figures above are part of Cyprus’s general visa system and do not apply to an ordinary British citizen tourist travelling under the normal visa-free route.
8. Official UK and Cypriot government links
Use these official pages before booking, before travel, and again shortly before departure:
- UK Government travel advice for Cyprus
- UK Government Cyprus entry requirements
- UK Government foreign travel checklist
- UK Government living in Cyprus guidance
- Cyprus government visa information
- Cyprus government short-stay visa information
- Cyprus government consular visa fee information
If your circumstances are unusual, for example dual nationality, a route involving the north of Cyprus, or a planned stay beyond 90 days, rely on the official pages above rather than third-party websites.
9. Frequently asked questions
Do UK citizens need a visa for Cyprus?
No. A British citizen does not need a tourist visa to enter Cyprus for short visits of up to 90 days.
How long can a British tourist stay in Cyprus without a visa?
Up to 90 days.
How long must my passport be valid for Cyprus?
Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before arrival, must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave, and must have at least one blank page for stamping.
Does Cyprus count towards the Schengen 90-day rule?
No. Cyprus is not part of the Schengen area, so visits to Cyprus do not count towards your Schengen 90-day limit.
Do I need to register for EES when entering Cyprus?
No. Cyprus is not affected by the Schengen Entry/Exit System, so you do not need to register for EES when entering Cyprus.
Can I enter the Republic of Cyprus through the north?
You should be careful. If you enter the Republic through the north, for example through Ercan Airport, the Republic of Cyprus authorities consider that illegal entry.
Does time in the north of Cyprus count towards my 90 days?
Yes. The Republic of Cyprus authorities count time in the north of Cyprus towards the 90-day visa-free total.
What if I want to stay longer than 90 days?
You should check the temporary residency rules for third country nationals rather than relying on the normal tourist-entry rules.
How much is the Cyprus tourist visa for a UK citizen?
For an ordinary British citizen tourist, the cost is €0 (£0) because no tourist visa is required.
Final check before travel
For most UK holidaymakers, Cyprus is straightforward on the visa side: no tourist visa is required for a short stay. The main things to get right are your passport rules, your 90-day limit, and understanding the separate rules that apply if your trip involves the north of Cyprus or if you plan to stay for more than 90 days.
