A U.S. interagency delegation is visiting Cyprus this week to conduct a technical evaluation of the country's security procedures, as part of the ongoing review process for Cyprus’s potential inclusion in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.

The visit was announced on Sunday in a press release by the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus and also shared on the social media platform “X” by U.S. Ambassador Julie Fisher.

According to the Embassy’s statement, the team of U.S. specialists will assess the security operations and procedures of the Republic of Cyprus. This assessment is a key step in the standard U.S. Government review to determine whether Cyprus meets the necessary criteria for its participation on the program.

>>Cyprus Expected to Join U.S. Visa Waiver Program by September 2025<<

As noted by the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, the Visa Waiver Program is “a security partnership that makes America safer, stronger, and more prosperous by facilitating legitimate travel to the United States.”

Participation in the program, the statement added, provides tangible benefits by strengthening economic and commercial relations and enhancing international travel security.

The program allows eligible citizens of Visa Waiver Program member countries to travel to the United States without a visa for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days.

However, participation is limited to countries that meet strict criteria, including:

• Low non-immigrant visa refusal rates

• Issuance of secure travel documents

• Close cooperation with U.S. security authorities

The current visit to Cyprus is part of the established evaluation process conducted by the U.S. Government to determine whether the country fulfills these requirements.