Northern Cyprus announces eVisa for Armenian, Nigerian, and Syrian nationals

The $40 eVisa replaces in-person consular applications for the only three nationalities that currently need a visa to enter Northern Cyprus

Northern Cyprus will introduce an eVisa system for citizens of Armenia, Nigeria, and Syria, replacing the current requirement to apply for a visa in person at a consular office abroad. Prime Minister Ünal Üstel announced the regulatory changes on August 24, 2026, according to the Cyprus Mail. No specific launch date has been set.

The Northern Cyprus eVisa will cost $40 (€34.30). Applications will be processed within 30 days under normal circumstances, with an extension to 60 days permitted where additional administrative review is required.

Citizens of Armenia, Nigeria, and Syria are currently the only three nationalities required to apply for a visa before visiting Northern Cyprus. Applications must be submitted in person at a Turkish Cypriot representative office abroad, excluding the offices in Geneva and Strasbourg. Citizens of all other countries can enter Northern Cyprus without a visa at the border.

The current in-person consular visa process for citizens of Armenia, Nigeria, and Syria will be discontinued once the eVisa platform goes live. All applications from Armenian, Nigerian, and Syrian nationals will move to the online system.

Applications submitted through the Northern Cyprus eVisa system will undergo preliminary review by the migration department. The police and other relevant institutions will be consulted depending on the applicant's stated purpose of visit. Üstel stated that security and eligibility checks will take place before the traveler arrives in Northern Cyprus, not only at the border.

The Northern Cyprus cabinet retains the authority to add more nationalities to the eVisa system at any point after launch. The interior ministry can also modify the criteria and conditions for applications without requiring a fresh cabinet decision.

In the event of a technical failure on the eVisa platform, staff at border crossing points and at Ercan (Tymbou) airport, Northern Cyprus's sole international airport, can issue visas in person. This fallback requires the interior minister to issue a circular authorizing the manual procedure.

Do I need a visa for Northern Cyprus?

Most nationalities do not need a visa to visit Northern Cyprus. Citizens of all countries except Armenia, Nigeria, and Syria can enter without a visa and receive their entry authorization at the border. The maximum permitted stay is 90 days within any 180-day period.

Citizens of Armenia, Nigeria, and Syria are the only three nationalities that currently require a visa before arrival. Once the Northern Cyprus eVisa system launches, those travelers will apply online at a cost of $40 instead of visiting a consular office in person. The 90-day stay limit will apply equally to eVisa holders.

How much does a Northern Cyprus visa cost?

The Northern Cyprus eVisa for citizens of Armenia, Nigeria, and Syria will cost $40 (€34.30) per application. For all other nationalities, entry to Northern Cyprus is free of charge, as border authorities issue the authorization at the point of arrival without a fee.

No additional service charges or processing fees have been announced beyond the $40 eVisa cost. The Turkish Cypriot authorities have not indicated whether the fee will change once the system is operational.

Will the eVisa also apply to students?

University students from Armenia, Nigeria, and Syria who are enrolled at institutions in Northern Cyprus will also use the eVisa system. Under the new framework, a university invitation letter will no longer automatically guarantee entry.

Northern Cyprus universities must electronically submit student information and documentation to the migration department, which will conduct its own assessment in consultation with the police directorate before granting authorization. Students whose entry is approved will be assigned an identification number that tracks their status from arrival through university registration to residence permit issuance.