Enter Cyprus on Schengen Visa
I am an Indian Passport holder, living in UK and have a valid Schengen Visa which allows multientry- Catergory C. I have a plan to visit Cyprus in April. Can Cyprus be my first port of entry on a Schengen Visa? I was supposed to travel to France in March but was unable to due to the on-going strikes. I am not sure if Cyprus can be by first port of entry on a Schengen Visa which is not used?
Best Answer
According to the Cypriot Embassy in Finland, you can use a multi-entry Schengen visa to enter Cyprus if you have already used that visa to enter a Schengen country:
Third country nationals, holders of a valid Schengen visa (type: double or multiple entry), who have already entered the Schengen area in accordance with the terms upon which their Schengen visa was issued, may travel to Cyprus without a Cypriot national visa
This suggests that Cyprus cannot be the first destination you visit with the visa. You could in theory stop off in a Schengen country on the way, although it's probably best if that's the country that issued the visa.
EDIT: Timatic (the database of visa requirements used by airlines) doesn't mention needing to have used the visa already:
Passengers with a double or multiple entry C visa issued by Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania or a Schengen Member State valid for the period of intended stay. They are visa exempt for a maximum stay of 90 days.
Pictures about "Enter Cyprus on Schengen Visa"
What visa do I need to enter Cyprus?
You may enter the Republic of Cyprus for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes without a visa. For stays longer than 90 days, you will need a temporary residency visa.Does Cyprus count towards Schengen?
Cyprus is a full member of the European Union, one of 28 countries. However, it is not yet in Schengen, although it is expected that it soon will be. The Schengen Agreement is meant to provide freedom of movement for all member countries, some of which are not in the E.U.Is Cyprus in the Schengen zone 2022?
As of May 2022, Cyprus is not part of the Schengen Zone. However, the process of joining the Schengen Zone has started. 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.Which countries can you enter with a Schengen visa?
These countries are: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.Cyprus to Schengen Tourist visa (Schengen Visa update 2022 for Cyprus Students and Cyprus worker)
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.