The Cyprus visa question is one of the most confusing in Europe for citizens of Azerbaijan, and the reason is the island itself: Cyprus is divided in two. The south, that is the Republic of Cyprus, is a member of the European Union but is not in Schengen and requires its own visa. The north, that is Northern Cyprus, is open to citizens of Azerbaijan without a visa via Turkey. The same island, two completely different rules.
In this article we explain how a visa for the Republic of Cyprus is obtained, why a Schengen visa does not work, where the application goes given there is no embassy in Baku, and the visa-free route to Northern Cyprus.
Cyprus visa: brief facts
| Republic of Cyprus (south) | A national visa is required |
| Does a Schengen visa work? | Not for citizens of Azerbaijan |
| Where to apply | There is no embassy in Baku; the Cypriot embassy in Moscow or Tehran, in person |
| Consular fee | About 35 euros |
| Northern Cyprus | Visa-free, via Turkey |
| Direct flight | None to Larnaca; to Ercan via Istanbul |
Why can’t you enter Cyprus on a Schengen visa?
The Republic of Cyprus gives citizens of many countries visa-free entry with a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa. But that rule has two exceptions, and one of them is Azerbaijan, the other Turkey. Which means that even with a five-year Schengen visa in hand, a citizen of Azerbaijan must obtain a separate national visa for the Republic of Cyprus. That is written openly in Cyprus’s official visa policy and can be checked on the visa page of the government of Cyprus.
Where is a Cyprus visa submitted?
The Republic of Cyprus has no embassy in Baku and no country represents it in Azerbaijan. Citizens of Azerbaijan must submit the application in person to Cyprus’s embassy in Moscow or Tehran. Since citizens of Azerbaijan travel to both countries without a visa that is possible, but it means a journey and time. Writing to the embassy in advance to get an appointment and to confirm the current document list is essential, because the rules change often.
Documents for obtaining a Cyprus visa
The documents must be in English. The processing time differs by embassy and is usually 1–3 weeks. There is one more point: the Republic of Cyprus does not consider entry through Ercan airport in Northern Cyprus a legal entry, and crossing from north to south and back can later create problems when applying for a Republic of Cyprus visa.
Read next: An Irish visa: Schengen does not work, Britain does not work. AVATS, VFS and 60 euros
Northern Cyprus: the way to go without a Cyprus visa
The great majority of those going to Cyprus from Azerbaijan are in fact going to Northern Cyprus: the hotels of Kyrenia, Famagusta and Bafra. Northern Cyprus admits citizens of Azerbaijan without a visa, and you fly there via Turkey, from Istanbul to Ercan airport with Pegasus and Turkish Airlines. Since Turkey is visa-free for our citizens too, no visa at all is needed on the route. On entry they do not stamp the passport but stamp a separate piece of paper, and that is so no problems arise later on a trip to the Republic of Cyprus or Greece.
So when the question is «do you need a visa for Cyprus», the first thing to settle is which Cyprus. Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos and Ayia Napa are in the south and require a visa; Kyrenia and Famagusta are in the north and are visa-free.
How do you get from Baku to Cyprus?
There is no direct flight to the south, that is Larnaca, and the Turkish airlines do not fly there. You fly to Larnaca via Vienna, Athens or Warsaw, and as long as you do not leave the transit zone no Schengen visa is needed. To the north you fly to Ercan via Istanbul, and the whole journey is 6–7 hours. When looking for a Baku–Larnaca ticket, check carefully which airport you are flying to: Ercan and Larnaca are different worlds.
For a summer holiday, Northern Cyprus tour packages are among the best-selling from Azerbaijan: there is no visa, there are all-inclusive hotels and the flight via Istanbul is short.
Frequently asked questions about the Cyprus visa
Can you cross from Northern Cyprus to the south?
There are crossing points, but for a citizen of Azerbaijan crossing to the south requires a Republic of Cyprus visa, and someone who entered through Ercan may not be let across. Do not plan that route.
Does a Cyprus visa give entry to the Schengen countries?
No. The Cypriot national visa is only for the Republic of Cyprus.
Will Cyprus join Schengen?
Cyprus is preparing to join Schengen, but the island’s divided situation slows the process. When it joins, a Schengen visa will be valid in Cyprus too; for now a separate visa is needed.
In closing
On the Cyprus visa question the main question is which Cyprus. For the south you need a national visa from the embassy in Moscow or Tehran and Schengen does not work; for the north no visa at all is needed. The Viza.az team helps with preparing the documents for a Republic of Cyprus visa and making contact with the embassy, and with choosing the tour and the ticket for Northern Cyprus.
You can read more about the Cyprus destination and the service fees or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is as of the publication date. Cyprus’s visa policy and the embassies’ acceptance rules can change, so look at the official page once more before applying.
