With hundreds of flights scrapped after the 1 March drone strike on RAF Akrotiri and the widening US-Iran conflict, many non-EU residents found themselves unable to re-enter Cyprus before their documents expired. In response, the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection issued an emergency order on 11 March 2026 granting an automatic extension until 30 April 2026. The measure covers three groups: (1) holders of valid residence permits who left the island after 28 February and exceeded the three-month absence limit; (2) applicants who possess a renewal-receipt but whose new card has not yet been issued; and (3) first-time entrants whose entry permits originally required arrival between 1 and 31 March. Airlines have been instructed, via a NOTAM, to accept expired cards accompanied by the government notice. Officials described the move as a ‘force majeure’ response to circumstances beyond travellers’ control. They will reassess the deadline in mid-April if Middle East airspace remains volatile. Immigration lawyers note that the blanket extension removes the need for individual waiver letters and prevents inadvertent overstays that could jeopardise future citizenship applications. Employers that rotate staff through regional hubs welcomed the clarity, saying it avoids costly re-filing. However, HR teams should update mobility policies to attach a copy of the ministry circular to boarding-pass documentation and advise passengers to arrive early in case airline ground staff are unaware of the change. The episode also highlights Cyprus’ vulnerability to external shocks: the island is inside the EU but outside Schengen, so it retains full control over its visa regime and can act quickly—a flexibility that proved critical in this crisis.
Source: In-Cyprus
