Cyprus Visa for UAE Residents: VFS in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Fees, Documents and the Schengen Visa Rule

The short answer: Emiratis can visit Cyprus without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180. Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals need a Cyprus visa, unless they hold a valid double- or multiple-entry Schengen visa or a Schengen country's residence permit. A UK, US or Canadian visa does not exempt you. UAE residents apply through VFS Global in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. The fee is AED 390 (€90) plus a VFS service fee of AED 29. Apply at least 15 days before you travel, and allow up to 45 days for a difficult case.

Cyprus is a four-hour non-stop flight from Dubai, with beaches at Ayia Napa and Paphos, Limassol's seafront and the Troodos mountains inland. It is in the EU but not yet in Schengen, so it runs its own visa. Here is what each group of UAE residents needs.

Cyprus visa for UAE residents at a glance

Question	Answer (October 2026)
Emirati passport	No visa, up to 90 days in any 180
India, Pakistan, Philippines, Egypt, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka	Cyprus visa, unless you hold a qualifying Schengen visa or permit
Double- or multiple-entry Schengen visa, or Schengen residence permit	No Cyprus visa needed, up to 90 days in any 180
UK, US or Canadian visa	Does not exempt you from the Cyprus visa
Where to apply	VFS Global, Dubai or Abu Dhabi, by appointment
Fee	AED 390 (€90) per adult, plus AED 29 VFS service fee
Processing	Usually 15 days, up to 45; apply 15 days to 6 months before travel

Visa-free travel for Emiratis

VFS Global's Cyprus page for the UAE says UAE nationals don't need to apply for a visa. You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Carry your passport, return ticket and hotel booking. A border officer can ask how you will support yourself, as with any visitor.

The Schengen visa rule

Cyprus's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says holders of a valid double- or multiple-entry Schengen visa, or a national visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen country, don't need a Cyprus visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180. Turkish and Azerbaijani nationals are excluded from this rule.

• A single-entry Schengen visa doesn't qualify. Check the "number of entries" field on your visa: it must say 2 or MULT.
• Used or unused: some older guides say you must already have used the Schengen visa, or must enter Cyprus from a Schengen country. The ministry's current text sets no such condition.
• Validity: travel with the Schengen visa valid for your whole stay in Cyprus.

If you travel to Europe often, a multiple-entry Schengen visa can save you a separate Cyprus application. See our Schengen visa guide for how to apply from the UAE.

UK, US and Canadian visas don't count

Many websites say a UK, US or Canadian visa lets you enter Cyprus without a visa. It doesn't. The ministry's exemption for those visas covers only the airport transit visa, for changing planes at a Cypriot airport without leaving the international zone. To enter Cyprus, you still need a Cyprus visa or a qualifying Schengen visa.

Who needs a Cyprus visa

Cyprus uses the EU's common list of nationalities that need a visa. India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are all on it. Your UAE residence doesn't waive the visa; it lets you apply in the UAE rather than in your home country.

A Cyprus visa is valid for the Republic of Cyprus only. It doesn't let you travel on to Greece or any other Schengen country. Cyprus expects to join Schengen, and the European Commission has reported positively on its readiness, but no accession date has been set.

How to apply from Dubai or Abu Dhabi

VFS Global handles Cyprus visa applications for the UAE, with centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. There is no e-visa.

1. Book an appointment on VFS Global's Cyprus page for the UAE.
2. Attend in person with your documents, give your fingerprints and pay the fees.
3. Collect your passport with the visa sticker once the consulate has decided.

Syrian and Turkish nationals can't apply through VFS; they book directly with the Embassy of Cyprus in Abu Dhabi.

Documents

Based on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' checklist and VFS's requirements for the UAE, expect to provide:

• Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least three months after you leave Cyprus, with two blank pages
• The visa application form, completed and signed, and a recent photo
• UAE residence visa and Emirates ID, as proof you live here legally
• Return flight reservation and hotel booking. Don't buy non-refundable tickets until you have the visa.
• Travel medical insurance with at least €30,000 cover for the whole stay, including repatriation
• An original no-objection letter or salary certificate from your employer, signed and stamped (VFS doesn't accept copies), or your trade licence and a letter on your income if you are self-employed
• Proof of funds, usually recent bank statements
• An invitation letter from your host in Cyprus, if you are staying with friends or family

Children travelling need a letter signed by both parents and proof of the relationship. Check VFS's current checklist before your appointment, because it can ask for more.

Fees and processing time

• Visa fee: €90 per adult, charged at VFS as AED 390; children aged 6 to 12 pay AED 200, and under-6s are free
• VFS service fee: AED 29 per applicant, including VAT
• When to apply: no earlier than six months and no later than 15 days before you travel
• Processing: usually about 15 days, up to 45 days if the consulate needs to look more closely

In summer, apply four to six weeks ahead. A visa doesn't guarantee entry: the border officer can still ask about your trip and your funds.

Larnaca, Paphos and Northern Cyprus

Fly into Larnaca or Paphos. The Republic of Cyprus treats entry through Ercan airport or the ports in the north as illegal, and its tourism ministry warns that travellers who enter that way may face legal consequences. The authorities in the north take a different view, but if you need a Cyprus visa, or plan to visit the south at all, start and end your trip in the south. You can visit the north through the Green Line crossings and come back the same way.

Flights from the UAE

Emirates and Cyprus Airways fly non-stop from Dubai to Larnaca in about four hours. From Abu Dhabi, and to Paphos, you will need a connection. Schedules change by season, so check with the airline before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Do UAE residents need a visa for Cyprus?

It depends on your passport. Emiratis don't. Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals do, unless they hold a valid double- or multiple-entry Schengen visa or a Schengen residence permit.

Can I visit Cyprus with a Schengen visa?

Yes, if it is double- or multiple-entry and still valid. Cyprus's foreign ministry says holders of those visas, or of a Schengen country's residence permit, can stay up to 90 days in any 180 without a Cyprus visa. Turkish and Azerbaijani nationals are excluded.

Can I enter Cyprus with a UK or US visa?

No. A UK, US or Canadian visa only exempts you from Cyprus's airport transit visa. To enter the country you need a Cyprus visa or a qualifying Schengen visa.

How much is the Cyprus visa fee in Dubai?

AED 390 per adult, the equivalent of €90, plus a VFS service fee of AED 29. Children aged 6 to 12 pay AED 200, and children under 6 are free.

How long does a Cyprus visa take from the UAE?

Usually about 15 days, and up to 45 days in more complex cases. Apply at least 15 days before travel, and four to six weeks ahead in summer.

Does a Cyprus visa let me visit Greece or other Schengen countries?

No. Cyprus is not yet in Schengen, so its visa is valid only for the Republic of Cyprus. For Greece or another Schengen country you need a Schengen visa.

Planning a trip to Cyprus

A week covers Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos and a day in the Troodos mountains, with a hire car. See our visa services for help preparing your application, browse holiday packages, or talk to us about flights and hotels.

Related guides

• Schengen visa for UAE residents
• UK visa from Dubai
• Georgia visa from Dubai
• Montenegro visa for UAE residents

Last checked 9 October 2026 against the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs' visa information page, VFS Global's Cyprus page for the UAE, the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism's entry requirements and airline schedules. This guide is general information, not immigration advice. Confirm the current requirements with VFS Global or the Embassy of Cyprus in Abu Dhabi before you apply or travel.