Residence permit in the Republic of Cyprus

Residence Permit in the Republic of Cyprus. Let's look at the requirements for those planning to stay on the island long-term.

There are 15 grounds for applying for a residence permit in Cyprus. Let's consider the most important ones.

• General information about Cyprus residence permit
• Cyprus residence permit through investment
• Cyprus residence permit through income outside Cyprus
• Cyprus residence permit for digital nomads
• Cyprus residence permit with the right to work
• Student residence permit in Cyprus
• Documents for obtaining a residence permit in Cyprus
• Where to apply for a Cyprus residence permit
• Processing times for Cyprus residence permit applications
• Frequently asked questions about Cyprus residence permit

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General information about Cyprus residence permit

More than 15 categories of applicants are eligible for a Cypriot residence permit. These include foreigners with international income, digital nomads, students, researchers, and volunteers.

Investors can obtain permanent residence by purchasing property or shares in Cypriot companies for a sum starting from 300,000 euros. The status is granted within three months, for life.

A residence permit allows a stay of more than 90 days every six months in Cyprus and, in some cases, the right to work. A tourist Schengen or national visa does not provide such opportunities.

After five years of living in the country, a foreigner can apply for and receive a Cypriot passport.

Foreigners with a residence permit in Cyprus need a visa to enter the Schengen area. The visa is issued at consulates in Cyprus, so applicants do not need to go to their home country.

Holders of a residence permit cannot leave Cyprus for more than three consecutive months. Otherwise, their resident status will be automatically canceled.

Cyprus residence permit through investment

Since 2021, permanent residence in Cyprus has been granted for investments of 300,000 euros or more. Funds can be invested in residential and commercial real estate, shares of Cypriot companies, or shares in AIF, AIFNLP, and RAIF investment funds.

The "Golden Visa" program replaced the "Cyprus Citizenship by Investment" program after it ended in November 2020.

Foreigners over 18 with legal income can apply for permanent residence by investment. They must not be included in sanction lists, have criminal records, or be banned from entering the EU or the UK.

An investor can add their spouse or partner and children under 18 to the application. Children between 18 and 25 years old can also apply if they are financially dependent on the investor, unmarried, or studying at a university outside Cyprus.

Since May 2023, investors' parents or spouses cannot be added to the application.

The main applicant must meet the conditions of one of the four investment options, contributing at least 300,000 euros to the country's economy.

Most investors prefer to buy property in Cyprus, such as residential units from developers or commercial properties on the primary or secondary market.

According to the conditions for obtaining a residence permit in Cyprus through investment, property can be rented but not sold; otherwise, the investor loses their Cyprus resident status. The property can be sold after five years of residence in the country and obtaining Cypriot citizenship through naturalization.

Investment amount when purchasing property

The cost of obtaining permanent residence through investment in real estate includes the cost of the property and additional expenses:

• VAT — 19% on the purchase of new real estate;
• Transfer tax on the purchase of resold real estate — from 3 to 8%;
• Legal support — 1%;
• Administrative and registration fees, depending on the investor's family composition;
• Additional expenses (up to 20% of the transaction value).

Financial Requirements for the Investor

In addition to purchasing the property, the investor must also demonstrate financial solvency by providing an annual income of at least 50,000 euros.

This is the minimum income and increases depending on the number of applicants:

• plus 15,000 if the family includes a spouse;
• plus 10,000 for each minor child.

Applicants receive permanent residency within 3 months. However, the processing time depends on the workload of the civil registry and migration department.

The permanent residency is valid for life. The investor does not need to gather documents and renew the status every year; it is sufficient to update the ID card once every five years.

Residence Permit Based on Income Outside Cyprus

Foreign citizens with a stable income outside Cyprus can apply for a residence permit called the Autonomous Visitor Permit, unofficially known as the "Pink Slip." It is valid for one year and can be extended indefinitely. However, the holder cannot stay outside Cyprus for more than 90 days.

The main applicants for the residence permit in Cyprus must be citizens of non-EU countries, aged 18 or older. They can bring their spouse and children under 18 years old with them.

Income Requirements

The main applicant must confirm an income of 2,000 euros per month or 24,000 euros per year. Qualifying income includes salary, pension payments, rental income, and dividends. Before applying for a residence permit, it is necessary to transfer 24,000 euros to a Cypriot bank account.

For a family, the amount must be increased as follows:

• plus 20% if the spouse is included in the application;
• plus 15% for each child.

Residence Requirements

To obtain this type of residence permit, the applicant must have a registered address in Cyprus. Applicants can purchase or rent property and provide either a long-term rental agreement or a sales contract as proof. When buying/renting an apartment or house, the minimum cost is not a factor.

The processing time for a residence permit in Cyprus for financially independent foreigners is at least three months.

The guest residence permit is issued for one year but can be extended indefinitely. The application for an extension must be submitted at least one month before the residence permit expires.

Cyprus Residence Permit for Digital Nomads

This type of residence permit has a quota: only 500 remote workers per year can obtain Cypriot visas for digital nomads.

Requirements for Nomads in Cyprus

• The applicant must be a citizen of a non-EU country;
• The applicant must be employed or self-employed, earning professional income outside Cyprus;
• The applicant must earn at least 3,500 euros net per month.

Spouses and children under 18 years old can obtain a residence permit along with the primary applicant. Additional applicants are not allowed to work for an employer or register a company in Cyprus.

The Digital Nomad visa can be obtained within 5-7 weeks. It is valid for one year and can be extended for another two years.

Cyprus Residence Permit with Work Rights

New Specialist Residence Permit

The work residence permit is obtained after an offer from a Cypriot company. In this case, the employer, not the employee, submits the application for entry permission and residence permit.

Foreigners applying for key positions in a company with a gross monthly salary of at least 2,500 euros can obtain this residence permit. Family members can be sponsored: spouse or partner, children up to 25 years old, parents.

The work residence permit is issued for one year, and the maximum stay in Cyprus is four years. This limit does not apply to highly qualified specialists in key economic sectors.

For sponsored family members, the validity of the Cypriot residence permit is the same as for a specialist who has come to work in Cyprus.

Residence Permit for Transfer to a Branch in Cyprus

Employees of international companies who are transferred to a branch in Cyprus for work or study can obtain a residence permit. The employer handles the documentation for the residence permit and entry.

The following applicants are eligible for a residence permit:

• Branch and department managers;
• Highly qualified specialists;
• Exchange employees and trainees transferred to Cyprus.

The processing time for a residence permit under an intra-company transfer is 90 days. The maximum stay is 3 years for managers and key employees and 1 year for regular employees and trainees.

Applicants can obtain a residence permit for their spouses and children under 18 through the sponsorship or family reunification process.

Student Residence Permit in Cyprus

Foreign applicants who are admitted to Cypriot universities and have paid for their studies can obtain a student residence permit. This also applies to students of English and Greek language courses.

A student residence permit allows foreign students enrolled in accredited state universities in full-time study to work up to 20 hours per week.

The processing time for a student residence permit is 3 months.

The student residence permit in Cyprus is issued for 1 year. The identity card must be renewed annually while the student is studying.

Documents for Obtaining a Residence Permit in Cyprus

The main list of documents for obtaining a residence permit includes the following:

• Application form (download);
• International passport or travel document;
• Blood test results for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, as well as results of fluorography;
• Health insurance;
• Certificate of no criminal record issued within the last 6 months;
• Proof of residence, such as a rental agreement or property sale agreement in Cyprus;
• Bank statement confirming the financial capability of the primary applicant;
• Marriage certificate;
• Children’s birth certificates.

The list of documents may be extended depending on the type of residence permit. For example, applicants for a Digital Nomad visa must provide contracts with non-Cypriot companies. Financially independent individuals will be asked to provide a bank guarantee letter confirming that the applicant's primary account will be used to cover possible repatriation expenses.

A full list of documents, forms, and instructions for obtaining a residence permit is published on the Department of Civil Registration's website and Cyprus Migration Department's website.

Where to Submit a Residence Permit Application in Cyprus

The applicant must submit the application to the immigration department of the city where they reside. Below are the addresses of the immigration departments in each district.

• Nicosia District: Agamemnonos 6, Engomi, 2411 Nicosia
• Limassol District: Franglinou Rousvelt 223, Zakaki, Building "D. Nikolaou", 2nd floor, 3046 Limassol
• Larnaca District: Tasou Mitsopoulou 34, 6027 Larnaka
• Paphos District: Eleftheriou Venizelou & Kaningos 22, 2nd floor, 8021 Pafos
• Famagusta District: Eleftherias 83, Tapolos Bld, Derynia Plaza, 1st floor, 5380 Derynia

Processing Times for Cyprus Residence Permit Applications

The processing times for obtaining a residence permit depend on the workload of the Department of Civil Registration and Migration and the specific situation of each applicant.

Below are the approximate processing times for different types of residence permits in Cyprus:

• for the investment program — 3+ months;
• temporary residence permit, or Pink Slip — 3 months;
• for digital nomads — 3 months;
• for workers with a job offer — 3 months;
• for transferred employees — 1 month;
• for students — 2 months.

csca.crmd.moi.gov.cy

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Frequently Asked Questions about Cyprus Residence Permit

When should I apply for an extension of my residence permit?

You must apply for an extension of your residence permit no later than one month before the expiration date of your current permit.

My passport details have changed, how can I update them on my residence permit?

You must apply for a reissue of your residence permit with the new passport details by submitting your new passport and its copy, as well as your previous passport or its copy. A corresponding fee for reissue will be charged, and the relevant procedure will apply, including the collection of biometric data and signatures.

I lost my residence permit, what should I do?

You should report the loss of the document to the police and apply for a replacement of the document.

How can I obtain information about the status of my residence permit application?

If your application is approved, you will receive a notification about receiving the residence permit. In case of rejection, you will receive a corresponding letter. All correspondence will be sent to the address indicated in the application.

I have a residence permit, and I am planning to travel abroad. How can I return to Cyprus?

If you have a valid temporary residence permit, you can re-enter Cyprus by presenting your permit and valid passport, provided that you have not been abroad for more than three months.

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