Why Cyprus won’t join the Schengen Area in 2025

Many expect Cyprus to become part of the Schengen Zone soon, but the reality is more complex. Despite its official intention to join, full accession in 2025 is highly unlikely. Why?

Key obstacles:

• Lack of control over the entire territory

Cyprus remains a divided island, and the buffer zone with Northern Cyprus creates challenges for border control. The EU cannot include a country in Schengen that does not fully control its own borders.

• Risks of illegal migration

Due to its geographic location, Cyprus is highly exposed to migration flows. The EU fears that open borders could exacerbate the migration crisis, especially given that Cyprus is already under pressure from asylum applications.

• Technical barriers

Despite Cyprus’s readiness for the Schengen Information System (SIS), it still needs to pass security and border management compliance checks. This is a lengthy process, making a 2025 accession unrealistic.

Possible next steps for Cyprus?

• Cyprus may gain partial Schengen participation – for example, in visa procedures, similar to Croatia before its full accession in 2023.
• The issue remains politically complex, requiring not just technical preparations but also diplomatic agreements within the EU.
• Full Schengen membership for Cyprus is a matter of years, not the near future.

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