Cyprus Progresses on US Visa Waiver Program After Department of Homeland Security Delegation Visit Hosted by U.S. Embassy in Nicosia

A Department of Homeland Security delegation visited Cyprus on July 13-14, 2026, as the island moved through the final assessment for the Visa Waiver Program and kept its push for visa-free travel in motion. Rob Law, the under secretary for strategy, policy, and plans, led the team, and John Gountanis, a deputy assistant secretary, joined him for the talks. Talks were direct.

In a July 17 statement, the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia framed the review around border security and immigration control. The message was blunt.

"Through bilateral border security cooperation, the United States and the Republic of Cyprus strengthen the national security of both countries. The security and integrity of our borders and immigration system remain the highest priority for President Trump and his administration. The Department of Homeland Security relies on strong relationships with security partners to prevent criminals, terrorists, and fraudsters from illegally crossing borders and traveling to the United States."

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"DHS continues to monitor these efforts as it considers the designation of the Republic of Cyprus into the Program and looks forward to continued cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus towards achieving this goal."

The meetings in Nicosia covered border security and management, illegal migration, human smuggling, intelligence sharing, and regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, a mix that tied migration control to broader security work across the region. The agenda was wide. It was also concrete.

Cyprus has said it has finished the technical requirements for membership, including travel information exchange and enhanced law enforcement cooperation, two of the core items tied to the review. The refusal rate still matters. U.S. rules set the nonimmigrant visa refusal threshold below 3%, and Cyprus has been working to stay inside it.

The island is one of the last few European Union member states outside the program, alongside Romania and Bulgaria, which keeps the issue high on the political agenda in Nicosia and in talks with Washington. Joining remains a top strategic priority in Nicosia and would mark a major milestone in relations with the United States. The gap is small, but the symbolism is large.

The July visit also reflected a deeper strategic partnership. U.S. officials see Cyprus as a reliable and predictable partner, and they describe the island as a pillar of stability in a geopolitically sensitive region. The view is deliberate.

ESTA would replace embassy visa appointments

If Cyprus enters the program, citizens would no longer need to apply for a B1/B2 visa at a U.S. embassy for short trips, and the familiar appointment process would fall away for that category of travel. They would use ESTA instead, a faster and significantly less expensive authorization. Visits would be limited to up to 90 days for tourism or business.

Officials expect the change to support bilateral tourism, dynamic business contacts, and educational exchanges, all of which would become easier if the waiver comes through and would no longer depend on a U.S. embassy visa interview for short visits. The current visa appointment step would fall away. Travelers would feel that first.

The department said it continues to monitor the effort as it considers designation of Cyprus into the program, and that watching phase can run before any recommendation is made. That step usually comes before a formal recommendation to the U.S. Congress. The monitoring phase is still underway, and Congress comes next.