How to obtain a residence permit in Cyprus in 2025
Foreign investors and expatriates are eager to obtain a permanent residence permit in Cyprus by purchasing real estate in a new building, which requires a minimum investment of 300,000 euros (plus VAT).
Visas
Since joining the EU in 2004, Cyprus is now expected to join the Schengen area by 2025.
It’s important to note that a Cypriot visa cannot be used to enter Schengen countries. However, third-country nationals with a valid Schengen visa of type C (double or multiple entry) who have already entered the Schengen area, as well as those with a Bulgarian visa, are exempt from this restriction. Nationals of Croatia and Romania are also allowed to enter and stay in Cyprus without a national visa, provided their stay does not exceed the remaining validity of their visa.
Types of national visas in Cyprus:
- Airport Transit Visa (ATV).
- Short-term multiple entry visa ©, which allows one or more entries into Cyprus for a maximum of three months per semester. This visa can be issued for up to 3 years, and in exceptional cases, up to 5 years.
The visa fee is 80 euros for adults and 40 euros for children.
Visa applications must be submitted to the Consulate or Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in your country.
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How to Get a Residence Permit in Cyprus
Temporary Residence Permit in Cyprus for Investments
Non-EU citizens can apply for a Temporary Residence Permit in Cyprus, commonly referred to as a «Pink Slip». This permit comes in three categories: visitor, work, and student. The Pink Slip allows the holder to reside in Cyprus for up to one year, although it does not grant the right to work.
To obtain a temporary residence permit in Cyprus, purchasing real estate of any value is sufficient. The standard processing time for the permit is six months. Applicants must reside in Cyprus for at least 180 days per year, and the permit must be renewed annually.
The criteria for obtaining a Pink Slip vary depending on the applicant’s nationality. However, the basic documents required include:
- completed application form (form M.61B);
- original and copy of the passport (including the first page and the page with the last entry stamp) and four photographs;
- title deed or lease agreement;
- bank statements from Cypriot and foreign banks (showing an annual income of 15 thousand euros per spouse, and at least 10 thousand euros per child);
- bank guarantee for 24 months from the date of application;
- health insurance;
- marriage or divorce certificate, and children’s birth certificates (translated into English, apostilled, or certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country and the Embassy of Cyprus in that country).
Upon issuance of the Pink Slip, the applicant also receives an Alien Book, or ARC (Alien Registration Certificate), which serves as an identity card in Cyprus.
Cyprus Work Permit Residency
To work in the Republic of Cyprus, third-country citizens must obtain an entry permit, regardless of their occupation or employer.
Athletes, coaches, clergy, and tourist representatives can enter with a visa.
Upon arrival in the Republic, you must register as a foreigner and obtain a temporary residence and work permit. Applications and fee payments are processed at the Department of Civil Registration and Migration in Nicosia.
Required Documents
To apply for a temporary residence and work permit in Cyprus, third-country nationals must provide the following documents:
- completed MGEN2 application form;
- copy of a valid passport;
- original medical blood tests confirming the absence of Hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis, and tuberculosis (tests must be conducted within four months prior to application);
- original certificate of no criminal record from the country of origin (if the applicant resides in another country, the certificate must be from the country of residence), issued within six months prior to application;
- permit from the Cyprus Department of Labour confirming the employer’s right to employ third-country nationals;
- copy of the employer’s identity card if the employer is a natural person;
- original employment contract with three copies;
- employer’s declaration to cover the departure expenses of the third-country national.
Fees and Charges
- issuance of entry permit and temporary residence and work permit for 1 to 3 years: 120 euros;
- issuance or extension of a residence and work permit for 1 to 3 years: 130 euros;
- registration in the Register of Foreigners (first registration only): 70 euros.
Permanent Residence Permit in Cyprus
Cyprus offers three types of residence permits:
- EU Long-Term Residence Permit (LTRP). Based on European Directive 2003/109/EC, this permit is available to individuals who have legally resided in Cyprus for at least five years. Holders of this permit can reside in EU countries and move freely within the region.
- Permanent Residence. Granted under Directive 2004/38/EC, this status is exclusively for EU citizens and their family members, also known as a Yellow Slip. The primary requirement is five years of legal residence in Cyprus.
- Immigration Permit (Category F). This permit is for immigrants from outside the EU. Let’s take a closer look at this type of residence permit.
Non-EU citizens applying for a permanent residence permit in Cyprus can opt for an accelerated procedure by investing in real estate on the island. Applicants must purchase one or two units in a new building with a total market value of at least 300 thousand euros (plus VAT).
The typical timeframe for obtaining a permanent residence permit is one year. This permit allows the holder to enter and leave Cyprus without restriction and does not require renewal. The immigration authorization extends to the applicant, their spouse, and children under 18. Children between 18 and 25, who are unmarried and dependent on the applicant, may also apply if they are studying at a foreign university for at least another six months from the application date.
In such cases, the parents must provide proof of an additional income of 10,000 euros per year for each dependent child. Note that this authorization will expire when the child reaches 25 years old.
Required Documents
To obtain a permanent residence permit in Cyprus, the following documents must be submitted:
- completed application form (form M.67);
- certificate of ownership of new real estate worth at least 300 thousand euros, registered with the Department of Cadastral Registry;
- proof of stable income from abroad (at least 50 thousand euros per year for the applicant, at least 15 thousand euros for the spouse, and at least 10 thousand euros for each dependent child);
- proof of a term deposit account in a Cypriot bank for three years, amounting to 50 thousand euros (funds must come from abroad);
- medical insurance;
- certificate of no criminal record (issued by the country of residence and accompanied by an official certified translation);
- declaration that the applicant has no intention to engage in employment in Cyprus (the applicant and/or spouse may be shareholders in a Cypriot company and receive dividend income from it);
- marriage certificate and children’s birth certificates (with official certified translations).
Income sources can include wages, dividends, interest from deposits, rent, etc., received from abroad.
All documents attached to the application must be translated into Greek or English and appropriately certified. Applications should be submitted directly to the Cyprus Civil Registry and Migration Department, either in person or through a duly authorised representative. A fee of 500 euros is charged upon submission.
The typical processing time for an application is approximately one year. The applicant or their representative will be informed of the decision. Holders of a permanent residence permit must stay in Cyprus for a minimum of two days every two years and comply with all applicable laws.
This permit is issued indefinitely, allowing permanent residence on the island of Cyprus without the need for an entry visa.
How to Get Cyprus Citizenship
Between 2013 and 2020, Cyprus offered a citizenship-by-investment program, granting citizenship in exchange for investments of at least 2 million euros for a period of five years. However, this program was discontinued by the Cypriot government on November 1, 2020.
Currently, there are several ways to obtaining Cypriot citizenship:
- Naturalisation. Foreign nationals can apply for Cypriot citizenship through naturalisation after legally residing in the Republic of Cyprus for seven years. This period is reduced to five years for parents or children of Cypriot citizens.
- Marriage. Foreign nationals married to Cypriot citizens for at least three years can apply for citizenship, provided they have lived in Cyprus for at least two years during this time. If the Cypriot spouse resides abroad, the applicant must have been married for at least three years and provide a written explanation of their desire to obtain Cypriot citizenship, or have been married for at least five years and have a child together.
- Ethnic Origin. Applicants over 18 years of age, born after August 16, 1960, outside the Republic of Cyprus, can obtain citizenship if at least one parent was a Cypriot citizen at the time of the applicant’s birth. This also applies to applicants born after June 11, 1999, whose mother was a Cypriot citizen at their birth.
- Birth. Individuals born to Cypriot citizens from August 16, 1960, onwards are automatically granted Cypriot citizenship. Those born abroad between August 16, 1960, and December 31, 1999, with a Cypriot mother, can acquire citizenship upon reaching the age of 21.
Cyprus laws permit dual citizenship.
FAQ
To obtain a temporary residence permit in Cyprus, foreigners must purchase property of any value and reside in Cyprus for 180 days per year. The permit must be renewed annually.
There is no minimum investment threshold for a temporary residence permit. However, to obtain a Cyprus Permanent Residence Card, an investment of at least 300,000 euros is required.
Applicants for an investor residence permit must provide an original and a copy of their passport, four photographs, a title deed or lease agreement, bank statements from Cypriot and foreign banks, medical insurance, a marriage certificate, and the birth certificates of children.
To maintain a Cyprus Permanent Residence Permit, residents must stay in Cyprus for at least two days every two years. For a temporary residence permit, residents must live on the island for 180 days per year.
Cypriot citizenship can be obtained by naturalisation after seven years of residence. In some cases, this period can be reduced to three years. To qualify for citizenship under the simplified procedure, applicants must work in high-tech or innovative companies with a representative office in Cyprus or in a company registered in the Register of Foreign Companies of the Department of Accounting and Migration of Cyprus.
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