Cyprus has applied for schengen membership in Sep 2019 and likely to join the schengen area in the future, according to the latest information from Foreign Ministry
The European Union will commence the evaluation process in five phases.
Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ireland are the only EU member states that do not participate in the schengen area.
Due to its territorial division, Cyprus has so far not joined the Schengen area. Cyprus joined European Union in May 2004 and uses Euro as main currency.
According to European parliament on the enlargement of schengen area
“Despite Bulgaria and Romania fulfilling the necessary criteria and repeated calls from the European Parliament to let them join, the Schengen area has not been expanded to these two countries yet as EU national governments must unanimously decide to allow new states to enter the border-free zone.
The process regarding Croatia’s entry is ongoing, while Cyprus has a temporary derogation from joining the Schengen area.”
Applicant countries undergo a “Schengen evaluation” before joining the Schengen Area and periodically thereafter to ensure the correct application of the legislation.
The following are the main conditions to be satisfied for joining schengen area
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Countries must take responsibility for controlling the EU’s external borders.
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They must apply a common set of Schengen rules, such as controls of land, sea and air frontiers, as well as the issuing of uniform Schengen visas
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To ensure a high level of security within the Schengen area, states must cooperate with law enforcement agencies in other Schengen countries and operate the Schengen Information System (SIS).
The Schengen area was formed in 1985  to enable the free movement European working population to freely travel and settle in any EU State. The first schengen agreement was signed by 5 countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands
From 2021 onwards, the EU will be implementing Electronic Travel Authorization (ETIAS) to enter Schengen area from visa waiver countries.
