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Comment by anovikov | Hacker News Reader

For Cyprus citizens, no. But for third countries nationals living there it will change everything. Now they are locked in because Schengen visas are almost impossible to get because embassies mostly issue single-entry ones, waiting times are several months for 1 trip, and all slots are bought out by bots... Many live here for several years and never had a single trip just because it is too hard and expensive (up to 1k per person per trip + several months), to get a visa.

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I got a Schengen visa for my Cambodian(!) girlfriend for 300€ and ~45 days, even though one application got rejected because she comes from the bottom of the list of countries. We just needed to write a little essay to give them an idea of who we are. Btw, we asked for a single entry VISA and got granted multiple entries. My point is that Schengen VISAs look impossible to get because everyone complains about them, but the reality is different if you actually apply and go through the process with an open mind. (yes, I hated applying and getting rejected, but I have to admit that it was not as bad as I was told in the end). Not trying to minimize Cyprus people’s administrative problems with Europe, but trying to show that the reports about Schengen VISAs are not accurate.

For people who already live in Europe, they're pretty keen to approve them unless you're from a country considered outright dangerous. An Indonesian friend received multiple even without having a great salary or an owned house. Would have been declined if living in Indonesia

Who are the third country nationals in Cyprus? Why wound they have free pass in the Schengen zone?

Russians mainly by my experience.

The person complaining has a name ending with "ov" and needs a schengen visa, which is quite representative of the third country nationals who have issues with this

Mainly Russian, Ukrainian, Philippino, Syrian, Lebanese.

imo schengen doesn't matter for Cyprus. On the contrary it will make Cyprus even more attractive to financial refugees who will use it's geographic location as a stepping stone to the rest of EU. That means a lot more cost for the government to house people until their refugee status applications are processed.

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