FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – Lawmakers in the Cypriot parliament passed legislation establishing a new Information and Visa System (VIS), a key step toward aligning the country with European Union Schengen standards.
The measure, which received 27 votes in favor, passed despite 10 abstentions from members of the left-wing AKEL party. The law outlines procedures for implementing a national VIS that may eventually link to the EU’s central system, contingent on Cyprus’s full accession to the Schengen area.
It also strengthens alignment with the EU Visa Code, regulating border procedures and integrating the system with broader security tools including the Entry/Exit System and the national stop list.
The legislation includes provisions for safeguarding personal data handled by external visa service providers.
Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has not yet become part of the Schengen Zone, but this legislative move signals momentum in that direction.
