Visa-free travel with a Cyprus residence permit or TRC card
Updated:
Which countries can I visit with a Cyprus residence permit? Can I travel to the European Union visa-free as a permanent resident of Cyprus? For the EU the answer is no. Cyprus is outside the Schengen area, and no Cyprus permit, the Pink Slip (TRC card) included, replaces a Schengen visa.
A Cyprus residence permit is not a Schengen visa. A few countries outside the EU accept it all the same. Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia and, for some nationalities, Moldova let holders in without a visa. Everywhere else, your passport decides.
This guide sets out the rules country by country: the Schengen area, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Canada, and the four countries that accept the permit. EU Blue Card holders have a rule of their own. If you hold a Cypriot passport, see visa-free countries for Cypriot passport holders.
Contents ˅
Cyprus residence permits
Cyprus issues residence permits to third-country nationals (non-EU nationals or TCNs) under certain conditions. A TCN can come to Cyprus to study, work, set up a business, or as a person of independent means who will invest or retire in the Republic of Cyprus.
Residence permits are permanent or temporary. The temporary permit for people who live in Cyprus as visitors on their own income is commonly called the Pink Slip or TRC card (temporary residence card). People who come to work or study hold other temporary permits. For travel the type makes no difference: none of them is a Schengen document. Note that criteria apply, and look at our firm's specific subject guides for all the relevant information.
Travelling with a Cyprus residence permit
The European Commission's EU Immigration Portal sets out the rule for non-EU nationals who already live in the EU. A residence permit or long-stay visa issued by a Schengen country lets you travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Cyprus is not a Schengen country, so a permit issued by Cyprus is outside that rule.
- With a Schengen visa, you can travel in the Schengen area for as long as the visa is valid, up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- For a stay of more than 90 days in another EU country, you need a long-stay visa or a residence permit from that country.
For a short trip, your nationality decides. If your passport lets you into the Schengen area without a visa, you travel on it like any other visitor. If it does not, you apply for a Schengen visa, and the Cyprus permit does not replace it. Check with the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit.
Countries that accept a Cyprus residence permit
A few countries outside the EU let in foreign nationals who hold a residence permit from an EU member state, and a Cyprus permit is one. The rules below come from each country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as published in October 2026.
| Country | Who qualifies | How long you can stay | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serbia | Holders of a valid residence permit of an EU member state. Emergency travel documents and travel documents issued under international conventions, such as refugee travel documents, do not count. | Up to 90 days in a six-month period, within the validity of the permit | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia |
| Albania | Holders of a valid residence permit issued by an EU member state. Iranian nationals need a visa in all cases. | Within the validity of the permit, leaving Albania at least 3 days before it expires | Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania |
| North Macedonia | Third-country nationals with temporary or permanent residence in an EU member state or a Schengen country | Up to 15 days per entry, no more than 90 days in any 180-day period | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia |
| Moldova | Only nationals of the countries Moldova marks in its visa list, India, China, Thailand and Saudi Arabia among them. Nationals of Pakistan or Nigeria need a visa. | Within the validity of the permit | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova |
These rules change. North Macedonia's related visa decision runs for the 2026 calendar year only, so check the ministry's page before you book. Everywhere else, the passport you hold decides whether you need a visa.
Schengen area
As of October 2026, Cyprus is not a member of the Schengen area. The European Commission found Cyprus technically ready in July 2026, and joining still needs a unanimous decision of the EU Council. A Cyprus residence permit does not give a TCN the right to enter Schengen states without a separate Schengen visa, and it is not equivalent to a category D long-stay visa issued by a Schengen state.
Travel in the other direction is easier. Cyprus accepts a valid double-entry or multiple-entry Schengen visa for visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, under EU Decision 565/2014. A long-stay (category D) visa or a residence permit issued by a Schengen state works the same way. Nationals of Turkey and Azerbaijan cannot use this route and apply for a Cyprus visa.
For the current status of Cyprus's accession process, see our dedicated publication: Cyprus and the Schengen area.
The category D visa is the so-called "long-stay visa" issued across the EU.
Greece
The Embassy of Greece in Nicosia says that, for a journey to Greece from the Republic of Cyprus, a TCN should apply either for a short-term Schengen visa or, for a stay longer than 90 days, a long-term national visa.
Applications are by appointment only, booked through the Embassy's online system. The Embassy is at 8-10 Vyronos Avenue, 1096 Nicosia, and its visa section answers on +357 22445050 (internal 1) and at [email protected]. The same office takes Schengen visa applications for Malta. Details are on the Embassy of Greece in Cyprus visa page.
Bulgaria and Romania
Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen area for air and sea borders on March 31, 2024, and became full members on January 1, 2025. Both now apply Schengen entry rules. A Cyprus residence permit does not replace a Schengen visa, so a resident of Cyprus whose passport needs a visa for the Schengen area needs one for Bulgaria or Romania too.
EU Blue Card holders
An EU Blue Card issued by Cyprus gives one travel right a Pink Slip lacks. Cyprus does not apply the Schengen rules in full, so Article 20(2) of Directive (EU) 2021/1883 lets the holder enter other EU countries for business activity for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, on the Blue Card and a valid passport. Denmark and Ireland are not bound by the Directive. For a holiday, your passport decides.
The United Kingdom
A Cyprus residence permit plays no part in entry to the UK. Your nationality decides. Visa nationals apply for a UK visitor visa. Most other visitors, Europeans and Americans included, need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), which costs £20 and lets you travel to the UK for up to 6 months. The list of countries that need a visa is here: UK visa requirements - gov.uk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries can I visit without a visa with a Cyprus residence permit?
Four countries outside the EU accept it: Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia and, for some nationalities such as India and China, Moldova. Serbia allows up to 90 days in a six-month period and North Macedonia up to 15 days per entry. A Cyprus permit does not replace a visa for the Schengen area or the UK, and Turkey does not count it for its e-Visa.
Can I travel to other EU countries with a Cyprus EU Blue Card?
For business, yes. A Blue Card issued by Cyprus lets you enter other EU countries for business activity for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, on the card and your passport. Denmark and Ireland are not bound by this rule. For tourism, your passport decides whether you need a visa.
Does a Cyprus residence permit count as a Schengen visa?
No. Cyprus is not in the Schengen area, and a Cyprus residence permit gives no right of entry to Schengen states. To travel to any Schengen country, a third-country national resident in Cyprus needs a separate Schengen visa issued by the destination country or a Schengen state acting on its behalf. For accession updates, see our guide to Cyprus and the Schengen area.
Does the Cyprus pink slip (TRC card) allow visa-free travel in the EU?
No. The pink slip, also known as the TRC card or temporary residence card, is a Cyprus residence document. It does not grant visa-free access to the EU or the Schengen area. A few countries outside the EU accept it, Serbia and Albania among them. Elsewhere, travel requirements depend on the holder's nationality. For the process of obtaining one, see our Cyprus pink slip guide.
Can I travel to Greece with a Cyprus residence permit?
No. Greece is in the Schengen area. A third-country national resident in Cyprus needs a short-term Schengen visa for stays up to 90 days, or a long-term national visa for stays beyond 90 days. The application is made to the Embassy of Greece in Nicosia.
Can I travel to Turkey with a Cyprus residence permit?
Not on its own. Your nationality decides whether you need a visa for Turkey. For some nationalities, such as India and Pakistan, Turkey offers a one-month e-Visa to holders of a Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa or residence permit, and a Cyprus permit is not on that list. Holders of a Cypriot passport need a visa, online or from a Turkish mission: Turkey stopped issuing them at the border on 2 January 2026.
Can I enter Serbia with a Cyprus residence permit?
Yes, in most cases. Serbia lets foreign nationals who hold a valid residence permit of an EU member state enter without a visa and stay up to 90 days in a six-month period, within the validity of the permit. A Cyprus permit qualifies. The rule does not cover emergency travel documents or travel documents issued under international conventions, such as refugee travel documents.
Can I travel to Canada with a Cyprus residence permit?
No. The Cyprus permit is not relevant to Canadian entry. Depending on your nationality, you need either a visitor visa or, if you fly in, an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization). Canada publishes the list by nationality at What you need to enter Canada - canada.ca.