Is Cyprus Part Of The Schengen States
. Ireland Romania Bulgaria Croatia and Cyprus are part of the European Union but do not form part of the Schengen Agreement. This means that Cyprus cannot currently issue Schengen Visas.
The first thing you need to know is that although Cyprus began the process of joining the Schengen Area of European countries earlier this year it is not yet within the passport-free zone despite the country being an EU member. Two of the non-EU members Iceland and Norway are part of the Nordic Passport Union and are officially classified as states associated with the Schengen activities of the EU. The Schengen zone of the European Union is a 26 country partnership wherein each member state allows passport-free movement of people within the borders of the travel area.
Cyprus joined European Union in May 2004 and uses Euro as main currency.
Switzerland was allowed to participate in the same manner in 2008. This means that national visas issued by the Embassies of Cyprus are valid for Cyprus only. They do not permit the holder to enter other Schengen zone countries. Schengen Area covers most of the EU countries except Ireland and the countries that are soon to be part of Romania Bulgaria Croatia and Cyprus.
