Cyprus residence permit in 2024. How to get a Cyprus residence permit.

Residence permit Cyprus

All foreign nationals who want to move to Cyprus have to obtain a Cyprus residence permit or a Cyprus immigration permit.

A Cyprus residency permit (for foreign nationals) allows persons travelling to Cyprus to legally reside in the country for longer than a short stay period of 90 days (three months).

Before obtaining the Cyprus residence permit, you must get a visa in your country of residence specifying your reason for travel.

After this time, and after arriving in Cyprus, you can apply for a residence permit.

You can choose between two types of residence permits:

Cyprus Temporary Residence Permit.
Cyprus Permanent Residence Permit (PR for short).

You can also obtain an immigration permit to get residency in Cyprus.

Cyprus Immigration Permits (categories A to E).

Throughout this article, we will examine the criteria for each category and how to get a Cyprus residence permit in 2023.

Table of contents

Temporary residence permit Cyprus
How do I get a resident permit in Cyprus?
Cyprus residence permit for non EU
How to get a permanent residence permit in Cyprus
Cyprus permanent residence permit
Cyprus residence permit real estate
Cyprus residence permit by investment
Cyprus Golden Visa PR
Cyprus residency permit for EU/EEA nationals
Cypriot Citizenship
Cyprus residency permit FAQ
Contact information

Temporary residence permit Cyprus

Also known as the pink slip, the Cyprus temporary residence permit allows foreign nationals the right to temporarily reside on the island.

Before a temporary permit can be issued, all non-EU nationals are required to obtain a short-stay visa as part of the Cyprus temporary residency process.

All short-stay visa types are valid for 90 days and foreign nationals can use it to enter Cyprus more than once in 3 months.

However, if their short stay extends to more than 90 days, foreign nationals must apply for the pink slip.

This slip, or permit, is a temporary residence permit granting non-EU residents the right to reside in Cyprus for up to 4 years.

Depending on the purpose of travel, foreign nationals can choose from the following residence permit categories:

Student Visa.
Visitor Visa.
Employment Visa.

Student Pink Slip/Visa

The student visa is specifically for international students who must be enrolled in a Cyprus educational institution for long-term studies.

The students must apply for the visa from their home country through an official Cyprus Embassy or Consulate.

Visitor Pink Slip/Visa

The visitor’s visa is applicable when a non-EU resident fulfils the following criteria.

A Cypriot citizen’s parents-in-law.
A foreign-born child of Cypriot descent.
Married to a Cypriot citizen.
A person who does not need to obtain a work permit, and has enough funds to live in Cyprus without needing to work.

Employment Pink Slip/Visa

The employment visa is for foreign workers with the qualifications and skills required by a company based in Cyprus.

In this case, the employer must apply on their foreign employee's behalf.

The employer must do this at the Civil Registry and Migration Department, or the District Office of the Aliens and Immigration Unit.

The employee must also complete the appropriate paperwork and register with the Aliens and Immigration Unit of the Police.

What documents are required for pink slip applications?

At the immigration office, foreign nationals will have to complete the application form (MVIS3) to apply for a temporary residency permit.

The following documents are also required to fulfil the application process.

Application fee of €140.
4 passport photographs.
Passport photocopies of the first page and the last entry stamp.
Bank statements to prove adequate funds or sources of income.
Employment contract copies or certificate.
Children’s birth certificate, and apostille translation (if applicable).
Marriage certificate, and apostille translation (if applicable).
Immigration Medical Insurance.

Further information for Cyprus pink slip

We recommend hiring an immigration lawyer to assist you through the process to make your process as smooth as possible.
It is advisable to have the necessary insurance coverage arranged in advance.

To see our article that covers Pink Slip Cyprus in detail, see here.

How do I get a resident permit in Cyprus?

After arriving in Cyprus, you have to apply for a Cyprus Temporary Residence Permit to extend your short-stay visa. This should take place within seven days of arriving in Cyprus.

For that, you need to go to one of the following locations.

The Civil Registry and Migration Department (CRMD) if you will be living in Nicosia.
Another District Immigration Unit, if you will reside in another district.
You must apply at the CRMD if you are applying for a Cyprus PR permit or an Immigration Permit.

You should visit the CRMD website to look for their contact information to make an appointment.

Students or foreign workers will have help from their school or employer with the application process.

When applying, the Cypriot immigration authorities will take your biometrics, i.e. fingerprints and photograph.

They will contact you to receive your residency card if the application is approved.

They will inform you of the reason if the application is not approved.

Cyprus residence permit for non EU

Immigration permits

All non-EU residents need to obtain an immigration permit to reside in Cyprus permanently.

If the foreign migrant is in one of the following categories they can apply for long-term residency permits.

Categories A-D

This category is specifically for non-EU members who plan to work as self-employed in agriculture, and related areas, trades, or professions, including science.

Category E

This category is specifically for foreigners who have been offered permanent employment in the country.

The company hiring the foreign national must prove that this will not create undue local competition and there were no Cypriot citizens suitable for the role.

How to get a permanent residence permit in Cyprus

After obtaining a short-stay visa and a temporary permit (pink slip), there are several ways to get a permanent residence permit in Cyprus (Cyprus PR).

Long term residence permit Cyprus

After living in Cyprus for 5 years, the foreign national can apply for Cyprus PR by naturalisation.

Cyprus permanent residence permit

Cyprus PR by naturalisation

Both EU and non-EU residents who have legally resided in Cyprus for 5 consecutive years are eligible to be granted permanent residency.

This is known as the naturalisation scheme (M127) based on the cumulative years of residence in Cyprus.

Cyprus PR by marriage

Persons married to a Cypriot citizen are eligible for permanent residency rights. They are allowed to apply for a residency permit with an unlimited duration.

In addition, their minor children from a previous marriage and parents of the Cypriot citizen (or parents-in-law) can also be granted the residency permit.

Cyprus residence permit by investment

Acquiring Cyprus PR and citizenship by investment should not be confused with the CIP investment scheme (which has ended).

This investment option for acquiring permanent residency is for foreign investors who wish to purchase property in Cyprus before settling in the country.

Foreign investors must show sufficient income from their home country and purchase property in Cyprus, at a minimum of 300K (Category 6.2 permanent residency).

Category 6.2 permanent residency

As above, category 6.2 requires a minimum investment of €300,000 (including VAT).

New legislation

Changes were made to the PR eligibility criteria on May 2nd, 2023, to improve the current immigration system.

Category 6.2 PR permits can be issued to non-EU applicants if they fulfil one of the investment criteria below.

The applicant has to make a €300,000 investment (minimum) in one of the following categories:

Residential real estate (house or apartment)

Purchase a new (non-resale) house or apartment (being sold for the first time) from a land development company. The residential property must be at least €300,000 (plus VAT - 19%).

Commercial real estate (not houses or apartments)

Purchase a new or resale commercial property, such as offices, hotels, shops, development complexes, or a combination of all, with a value of €300,000 at minimum.

The income amount (all or partial) for investing in commercial property may include funds from business activities originating within Cyprus, so long as these funds are taxed in the country.

Acquisition of shares (a company based in Cyprus)

Make an investment of €300,000 minimum in the share capital of a new or existing company that is based, registered, and operating in Cyprus.

The personnel and business activities must be situated in the country, with a proven physical presence (i.e. economics substance) with a minimum of five employees.

Shares of a Cyprus Investment Organisation

Shares of a Cyprus Investment Organisation for Collective Investments, (the types: AIF, RAIF, AIFLNP, UCITs) with investments carried out in Cyprus.

6.2 income requirements

The investor must show evidence of a €50,000 annual income (minimum) from abroad.
The total income calculation may also include the spouse’s income.
The annual income should be increased by €10,000 for each dependent minor child and €15,000 for a dependent spouse.
This income amount can include rent money, salaries, dividends, pensions, and fixed deposits. The origins of the money must be proven by the applicant’s tax declarations from the country that they are a tax resident.

The applicant must continue to hold valid health insurance if no longer registered with the GHS.

Adult children

Non-dependent adult children may also be granted immigration permits if a higher-value investment of €300,000 is made for each adult child.

Each adult child must prove an annual income of €50,000 at minimum, to be increased by €10,000 for each dependent child and €15,000 for a dependent spouse.

Parents (and parents-in-law) requirements

As of May 2nd 2023, applicants can no longer include their parents-in-law or parents on their application.

Cyprus Permanent Residency

For further clarification and the full set of rules for acquiring permanent residency, read our complete guide to Cyprus permanent residency.

Cyprus Golden Visa PR

The Cyprus Golden Visa is officially known as "the Scheme for Naturalisation of Investors", and Cyprus Permanent Residency.

The golden visa in Cyprus is a legal status that allows non-EU citizens to reside permanently in Cyprus with zero limitations.

This visa also allows the applicant’s eligible dependents (spouses and family members) to enter and remain in the country as permanent residents.

The scheme has successfully granted Cypriot citizenship to over 3,000 investors since its official launch in 2016.

The island country has numerous advantages for foreign investors making the Cyprus golden visa one of the best investment programs worldwide.

Moreover, it grants foreign nationals the right to apply for Cypriot citizenship (once they have met the criteria specified by the Cyprus government).

To see our article that covers Golden Visa in-depth, see here.

Cyprus residency permit for EU/EEA nationals

All EU nationals have the right to work and live in all other EU countries. Therefore if they want to stay in Cyprus longer than 90 days (3 months), they simply have to register their stay.

They should register at the CRMD in Nicosia to obtain a Registration Certificate (Yellow Slip).

Cypriot Citizenship

Foreign nationals without Cypriot ancestry are only eligible to apply for Cypriot citizenship once they have lived in the country for at least seven years.

They must also meet the following criteria.

They are over 21 years of age.
They have a clean criminal record.
They have lived in Cyprus for 7 consecutive years preceding the application.

Cyprus residency permit FAQ

How much is a resident permit in Cyprus?

For each family member, the registration and application fee for a pink slip is €70.

The registration fee is payable only for the first time of application. If you need to renew your pink slip, you will be charged a further €70.

The cost for short-stay visas is typically €20 each.

Which countries can I visit with Cyprus residence permit?

The Cyprus residence permit is only valid for Cyprus.

You cannot travel in Europe or elsewhere with a Cyprus residency permit.

How long will it take to get Cyprus residence permit?

Cyprus Residence Permit applications are processed in the approximate timeframes.

For studying: up to 3 months.
For employment: up to 4 months.
For family reunification: up to 9 months.
For permanent residency: up to 12 months.

The above are general guidelines only. The processing times may change depending on each specific case.

Immigration insurance for Cyprus residency permit

If you are beginning the process of moving to Cyprus, it’s important to note that immigration insurance is mandatory.

It’s advisable to have adequate health insurance and immigration insurance coverage. Without the right insurance, you could face unnecessary medical and legal fees.

You can obtain both insurance types from Pitsas Insurances with policies starting from only €120. We offer some of the most competitive coverages in Cyprus.

In addition to this, you can apply for insurance easily from the comfort of your home. Moreover, our dedicated team will be available to help you.

We provide:

Competitive packages for families.
Extensive and immediate coverage of outpatient & inpatient expenses.

We can also provide coverage for pensioners up to 80 years old.

You can find more details about our immigration packages on our website. See here.

Immigration insurance quote

When obtaining insurance for Cyprus PR, it’s good to know your options.

For a hassle-free quote, see here.

Contact information

Attention: Pitsas Insurances is not a legal company. We do not provide legal services or advice on immigration issues.

This article has been written for information purposes only.

For more information, you can send an email to [email protected].

Pitsas Insurances

Limassol, Cyprus

21/11/2022

Updated 18/12/2023 (with the legislation changes as of 2nd May 2023).