This section provides information for nationals of countries that are not members of the EU.

If you have purchased a property in Cyprus for the purpose of holiday making there is no need to apply for a residence permit. The visa granted on the grounds of property ownership will allow you to stay in the Republic of Cyprus altogether 180 days a year, 90 days every six months.

In case you plan to live in Cyprus on more or less permanent basis you should apply for a residence permit. Cyprus offers probably the best conditions in the European Union for this.

See below the procedures for obtaining permanent and temporary residence permits. 

Permanent Residence Permit. Simplified Procedure of Obtaining

Fast-track procedure of obtaining PR permit for foreign nationals is available in Cyprus. The term for obtaining PR is 6-8 months. Previously, this procedure took 2 months, but now, due to the large influx of applicants, the terms have lengthened.

Benefits of Fast-track Procedure

Obtaining of PR permit by fast-procedure offers a lot of benefits:

• The residence permit is granted not only to the applicant but also to applicant’s spouse, minor children, financially dependent adult children up to 25 years (if they are not married), as well as the parents of the applicant and applicant’s spouse
• PR permit holders are free to enter and live in Cyprus without the need to obtain a visa
• They are not obliged to actually relocate to Cyprus - they simply need to visit Cyprus once every two years to maintain the permit
• The PR holder and family have a ‘second home’ in Cyprus
• Being a holder of a Cyprus PR permit in itself does not affect one’s tax liability in Cyprus
• Actual residence in Cyprus may lead to eligibility for Cyprus citizenship by naturalization, currently after 7 years (2.555 days) of staying in Cyprus within 10 calendar years

To accomplish obtaining of PR permit by fast-track procedure the applicant will have to meet the following criteria.

Investment criteria

The applicant must make an investment of at least € 300,000 (plus VAT if applicable) in one of the following investment Categories:

(A) Investment in a house/apartment. The property should be new and purchased from a developer. The applicant may purchase up to two housing units (not necessarily from the same developer).

The applicant must submit a title of ownership or contract of purchase for a property. Payment of at least €200.000 (net of VAT) to be made in order to file an application. Evidence must be provided that the investment money has come from abroad.

Investments are also possible in the resale property, if the sale agreement for it was registered with the Land Registry before 05/07/2013.

It is noted that the properties do not have to be purchased from the same development company.

(B) Investment in commercial real estate (such as offices, shops, hotels or similar developments or a combination of those). The property can be either new or resale.

(C) Investment in share capital of a Cyprus company. A company should be based and operate in the Republic of Cyprus and employ at least five (5) people.

(D) Investment in shares of Cyprus Collective Investment Funds (type AIF, AIFLNP, RAIF)

In addition to the above-mentioned investments the applicant must provide evidence that his/her annual income amounts to at least €30.000. It can be salary, dividends, rental revenue, interest from bank deposits, pension and etc.

Applicant must also demonstrate an additional minimum income of €5.000 a year for any dependent family member (spouse and children).
The additional minimum income of €8.000 a year should be shown for any applicant’s and/or applicant spouse’s parents if they are to be included in the application for the PR. In calculating the total income, the income of the applicant's spouse can also be taken into account.

In case of Investment in Category (A) the income sources should be located outside of Cyprus. For other investment Categories the total income or part of it can also come from sources within Cyprus.

Quality criteria

• The applicant must submit a certificate of no criminal record and of being under no investigation for criminal offences attested by relevant authorities of the country of his/her residence
• The applicant and his/her spouse will certify that they do not intend to work in Cyprus with the exception of their employment as Directors in a Company under investment category (C). In cases of investment in Categories (A), (B) and (D) the applicant and/or his/her spouse may be shareholders in companies registered in Cyprus. They may also hold the position of Director with no salary in such companies.
• In cases where the applicant chooses to invest in Categories (B), (C) or (D), he/she must present information about his/her place of residence in Cyprus (eg title deed, real estate purchase document, rental document).

The status of a permanent resident does not impose any restrictions to the period of stay in Cyprus. The only exception is that an applicant should visit Cyprus at least once every 2 years.

Relatives of Applicant also receiving PR Permits

Permanent residence permits are granted to the following applicant’s relatives.

• Applicant's spouse. In case they wish, two separate PR permits can be issued for each spouse without the requirement for the dependent spouse to purchase a property.
• Dependent minor children up to the age of 18 years of the applicant and his/her spouse.
• Single children from 18-25 years old and financially dependent, who prove to be students for at least six more months from the date of the application. They may apply to obtain the “for so long” PR permit for themselves, without the need to invest in additional real estate. In this case the parents will need to prove additional income of at least €5,000 a year for each dependent child. The PR Permit will still remain valid even after the Permanent Residency holder turns 25 years and even if he/she is no longer single and/or a student and/or financially dependent on his/her parents. However, it is understood that their future spouse and children will not be entitled to obtain the PR permit.
• The parents of a couple (of both husband or wife) who applied or they are already in possession of the Residence Permit, are also entitled to acquire the PR permit without investing in additional real estate. The applicant must prove additional income of at least €8,000 a year for each dependent parent. A separate application must be submitted for each dependent parent.

PR Permit for Two (Several) Families

Suppose an applicant who has adult financially independent children over 25 years old wishes to obtain permanent residence permit not only for his/her family but also for the families of his/her adult children. In case the applicant has one adult child he/she shall purchase property amounting to at least €600.000 (net of VAT). Property investment rises to €900.000 for two children.

In case the investment will be in Categories (A) and (B), a proof of payment of at least 2/3 of the contract amount for the real estate must be submitted.
Each family shall state annual income of at least €30.000 (plus €5.000/8.000 per each dependent family member) a year.

Permanent Residence Permit. Normal Procedure of Obtaining

Suppose you are not entitled to obtaining permanent residence permit according to simplified procedure. For example:

• You have purchased property the value of which is below €300.000
• You have purchased resale property
• Two families (yours and your adult child’s over 25 years old) purchased new property the value of which is over €300.000 but below €600.000. Respectively only one family may enjoy the simplified procedure but not the both

In those cases one can resort to the standard procedure of obtaining permanent residence permit. Besides documents for property, you have to prove sources of income outside of Cyprus and availability of funds in a Cyprus bank. The law does not stipulate precise figures of income and cash assets. Allegedly they should be sufficient for applicant’s normal living in Cyprus. The timeframe for processing your application for permanent residence permit is again not stipulated.

It should be noted that since 2019 the Cypriot state has not issued a single permanent residence under the standard procedure. Do not expect to receive it at this time.

Temporary Residence Permit

Perhaps you do not wish or cannot claim the status of a permanent resident of Cyprus but at the same time you have to stay in Cyprus for the most part of your time.

In this case you can achieve a status of a temporary resident for the period of one year, so-called Pink Slip. This immigration status assumes stay in the country up to 365 days a year.

Pink Slip may be extended for an unlimited number of times. To accomplish this one should submit documents for extension one month prior to the expiration of the current Pink Slip validity. Your application may be considered for 1-3 months. Over this period you will be staying in the country on a legal basis. If for some reason or other you have to leave the country after expiration of current Pink Slip validity but before obtaining a new one you will have to obtain a single visa or to use a multiple visa obtained earlier to be able to enter Cyprus again.

Temporary residence permit has two drawbacks as compared to permanent one.

• Firstly it should be extended on a yearly basis (that however is not a complicated procedure if assisted by a Cyprus lawyer)
• Secondly you cannot be absent from Cyprus for over three months. In case you leave the country and do not return (do not cross the border) within three months time then your Pink Slip becomes invalid. Subsequently you will have to enter the country on a visa and then to apply for a new Pink Slip all over again

Requirements for Applicant

In order to obtain Pink Slip one should submit the following documents to the Immigration Office:

• Property documents (Purchase Contract, Ownership Certificate or Rental agreement)
• Abstract of account at a Cyprus Bank showing transactions and current balance of cash assets. Transactions will show that your source of income is abroad while expenditures of money are made within the area of Cyprus. As to your account balance it is desirable to amount to approximately €15.000 per adult family member and €10.000 per minor (under 18) family member. Such balance shall be only at the time of bank statement. Subsequently you can dispose of that money at your discretion.
• Income statement
• Bank guarantee for at least 1 year. Issued by a bank after depositing €512 on an account (per person)
• Certificate from school stating that a child attends it for school-age children (if it is so)
• Medical insurance

And finally we will note that it is desirable not to have your immigration status in Cyprus registered on your own but to apply to a professional lawyer who specializes in immigration issues. Legal companies – associate members of Alliance – have a great experience in solving immigration matters and will gladly provide you all the required support.