A residence permit in Cyprus is a document with which you can reside in the state from a year to 3 years. As a temporary resident, you have the right to leave the country and return without a visa, count on social guarantees, enjoy the privileges of health care and education systems. Certain types of residence permits allow you to work or represent a business in the state. A residence permit in Cyprus is granted in accordance with the norms of the national law “On Foreigners and Immigration”.

The Republic of Cyprus is a member of the European Union, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the World Trade Organization, the Commonwealth of Nations. The state also claims to join the Schengen Treaty. EU residence permit is your way to free travel to the countries of the union, economically profitable employment, development of commercial activity at the international level. In the future, after a long stay on the island, you will be able to obtain a permanent resident card, and then - the citizenship of Cyprus and the EU.

What privileges provides Cyprus residence permit

Cyprus residency allows you to move to a warm, economically stable and safe European Union country for the long term and gives you access to the following rights and benefits:

• formalizing reunification with close relatives to live together on the island;
• for certain types of permits - official employment in a state with an average salary of 2400 EUR per month as of 2025;
• opening or relocation of a company with representation in foreign markets, including the EAEU;
• switching to Cypriot tax residency to reduce the burden, e.g., to pay corporate contribution at a rate of only 10% of profits;
• seeking medical care in modern, well-equipped clinics with qualified staff;
• opening accounts in European banks on simplified terms, including low-interest loans;
• the prospect of obtaining permanent residency status and a European Union passport.

In order to gain visa and economic freedom and to move to Cyprus without additional conditions, it is possible to obtain EU citizenship under a simplified procedure. Immigrantinlaw's experienced lawyers can help you decide on the best immigration program and obtain a second passport within a year. Sign up for a free consultation to find out more information.

Procedure of applying for a residence permit in Cyprus

To apply for a Cyprus residence permit, you will need to follow a certain algorithm and act in this way:

1. Determine the way to open residency and prepare documents.
   You compare the conditions of various immigration programs in Cyprus and the requirements for their participants, decide on the best option for yourself, and then form the necessary dossier.
2. Obtain a permit to enter the Republic.
   You make an appointment in advance at the diplomatic mission of Cyprus at the place of permanent residence and appear there to open an entry visa. The document is issued for a year, the basis for its receipt must coincide with the one on which subsequently will be issued a residence permit. You submit the documents, pay the visa fee and have an interview with the consul.
3. Move to Cyprus and apply for a residence permit.
   Upon arrival on the island before your visa expires, you must apply for a Cyprus residence permit by going to the nearest office of the Department of Civil Registry and Migration or the police station (depends on the type of residency and where you live in the country). You will need to be fingerprinted and photographed, pay an administrative fee and submit a file. You will be issued an Alien Registration Card (ARC) upon initial application.
4. Wait for the decision and pick up the finished document.
   Usually, applications for a residence permit are processed in up to 4 months, unless additional information or documents are required from you. After the decision is made, you will receive a notification and/or a letter at the address provided in the application. It will provide information on when you can pick up your temporary resident card.

What conditions must be met to obtain a Cyprus residence permit

To obtain a temporary residence permit, you must have a legitimate reason to move to Cyprus. For example, you can come to the island for employment or business, reunification with relatives, education, as a startup entrepreneur, refugee or financially independent person. The following requirements must also be met:

• absence of diseases dangerous to public health;
• no criminal record in the country and abroad;
• availability of a full package of documents for residence permit and health insurance policy;
• no history of violation of the country's migration laws and no entry ban;
• ability to provide for oneself without applying to the authorities for social benefits;
• no threat to the state, which may result in the applicant being placed on the list of undesirable persons.

As a resident of Cyprus, you are obliged to adhere to the norms of the current legislation, respect the rights and interests of other residents of the island. Please note that the temporary residence permit is canceled if you leave the country for more than 90 consecutive days.

Required documents

The general list of documents required when obtaining a Cyprus Temporary Resident Card includes:

• a passport for travel abroad that is valid for at least six months after the expected date of departure to the islands;
• a completed application form according to the type of residency requested (for work, study or other purposes);
• a receipt for the payment of administrative fees (you must pay the fees for the opening of the visa and the processing of the residence permit itself);
• health insurance policy with a minimum coverage of 30 thousand EUR;
• results of medical examination for absence of infectious diseases;
• certificate of absence of criminal record from your country of origin or the country where you are permanently residing at the time of submission of the request;
• civil status certificates (marriage, divorce, birth of children, if applicable).

To the basic dossier you need to add documents that prove that you have a legitimate reason to move to Cyprus. Example - an invitation from your employer, a certificate of enrollment in a university, a bank statement (as proof of financial independence).

International law specialists of Immigrantinlaw will help you to properly organize the procedure of moving to Cyprus. With the support of professional lawyers, you can be sure that you will receive guaranteed residency or citizenship of the European Union country.

Ways to obtain a Cyprus residence permit in 2025

Cyprus offers different immigration programs for foreigners, under which you can temporarily reside in the country and naturalize (in the future). On the type of chosen residence permit depends on the state duty to be paid - its size can be from 70 to 130 EUR. In addition, you will have to spend 70 EUR for inclusion in the Register of Foreigners (one-time fee). Applications are usually processed within 120 days from the date of registration. The most common grounds for obtaining a residence permit are listed below.

Official employment

You can move to Cyprus after concluding a work contract with a local organization. In most cases, companies are obliged to obtain permission from the Ministry of Labor to invite foreign employees. The authorities must ensure that there are no local applicants for the vacancy. The residence permit is paid at the rate of 120 EUR (130 EUR if the entry permit is included).

A standard temporary residence permit is issued for a period of one to 3 years, and in general you can stay in the territory of the state for up to 4 years (there are exceptions, for example, for athletes, journalists and agricultural workers). Chances to obtain permanent residence in Cyprus are available to those who have a permanent job and at the same time does not create competition for local citizens. Also, on the island are provided short-term types of work residence permits, which are valid from 3 to 12 months - which are paid at a rate of 50 EUR and do not give the right to subsequent naturalization.

Domestic and seasonal work            

It is possible to obtain the right to reside in Cyprus as a domestic worker provided that your salary is at least 460 EUR per month. You have to pay an administrative fee (70-80 EUR) and sign an official contract with a family whose annual income is between 24,000 EUR (depends on the number of adults and children). You must be able to communicate in Greek or English, except when working for foreigners. The residence permit is valid for up to 3 years and can be renewed.

It is also possible to move to Cyprus for seasonal work. You get the right to stay in the country for up to 8 consecutive months during the year unlimited for 6 years. It is allowed to change employers, the main thing is to cooperate officially. The state fee for opening a residence permit is 85 EUR.

Family circumstances

You can move to the island as a family member of the holder of a Cypriot residence permit (permanent or temporary), or as a national or European Union citizen. As a general rule, reunification is granted to children who are under 21 years of age and not legally married, as well as to spouses. Nationals may also invite their parents, an adult child (e.g., if he or she is a student or needs special care), and similar relatives of their husband or wife to live together.

Usually, in order to reunite with family members, the applicant must prove that he or she has the means to provide for the invited relatives, as well as a place to accommodate them in Cyprus (both buying and renting residential property is suitable). The cost of registration of a residence permit is 70-80 EUR, and the term of validity of the document is usually a year, but not more than the period of validity of the host country's resident card. Holders of short-term residence permits (e.g., for seasonal work or internships) are not eligible for this program.

Educational activities

Temporary residence in Cyprus is available to:

• students of higher education institutions registered with the Ministry of Education who are enrolled as full-time students and have received a relevant invitation;
• participants in international student exchange programs, including student mobility within the European Union;
• students of Cypriot schools, provided that their relocation is approved by their parents or guardians (in the case of minors);
• participants in official internship and advanced training programs on the island;
• volunteers who take part in a voluntary mission of Cyprus or the European Union states.

The residence permit is granted for a period not exceeding 6-12 months, usually with the right to extend it until the completion of educational activities. Registration of the document costs 55-115 EUR, depending on the basis.

Scientific research activity

It is possible to immigrate to Cyprus for scientific activities at the invitation of the competent authority with the approval of the Research and Innovation Fund. For this purpose, it is necessary to have a doctoral degree in the profile or its equivalent, as well as funds for self-support in the amount of 2000-2500 EUR. Research activities can be combined with teaching (up to 6 hours per week). A residence permit will cost 55-70 EUR and will be valid for one year. According to the decision of the migration authorities, you also have the right to apply for permanent residency if your knowledge and skills will benefit the country.

Residency for financially independent persons

You can apply for a residence permit to familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of life in Cyprus, provided you are able to support yourself. It is forbidden to engage in any economic activity, whether it is working or running a business, on the island.

Your minimum income should be 2000 EUR per month or 24 000 EUR per year, in case of a family relocation - you will need another 20% of the amount to provide for your spouse and 15% for each child. You can receive funds in the form of salary from remote work, pension, rent or dividends. You can also use deposits in a bank account abroad. The residence permit is issued for a year, the state fee is 70 EUR.

Digital nomads

Cyprus annually grants up to 500 temporary residence permits to those who work remotely in the field of telecommunication technologies. You can be employed by a foreign company or provide freelance services as a self-employed person, the main thing is to have a legal monthly income of 3500 EUR (after deduction of contributions and taxes). You can move with your family, but neither you nor your relatives have the right to economic activity in the country. The residence permit is issued for 12 months and can be extended for a maximum of 2 years. The cost of registration is 70 EUR.

EU passport holders

Citizens of the EU and the European Economic Union, as well as the UK, have the right to move to Cyprus without seeking immigration grounds. It is enough to be able to support yourself without seeking social support. You are allowed to get a job or run a business on the island. You do not need a residence permit, you just need to obtain a certificate of registration of residence in the Republic (MEU1) by paying an administrative fee of 20 EUR. You can move together with family members (spouses, parents, children under the age of 21).

A number of European Union states have simplified procedures for foreigners wishing to obtain a passport. You will not have to live in the country before or after becoming a citizen, take an integration test, demonstrate your income level and invest in the economy. You can analyze the chances of applying for a second EU passport in 4-12 months with Immigrantinlaw's migration specialists.

Humanitarian grounds

The Republic of Cyprus grants the right of residence to the following categories:

• recognized refugees who cannot remain in their home country due to threats to their life and/or health;
• applicants for subsidiary or international protection (e.g., those sentenced to death in their home country);
• victims of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, domestic and other violence;
• other foreigners who have a valid and documented reason to reside on the island.

Each case is considered by the Cypriot authorities on a case-by-case basis. Not all humanitarian applications are approved, especially if the applicant is not a citizen of a country where active hostilities are taking place. A strong dossier of evidence is required to obtain a temporary residence permit.

Key investors, including real estate buyers, can immediately apply for permanent residency in Cyprus. The minimum amount of funds to be invested in the economy of the state is 300 000 EUR. Permission to immigrate with no time limit is also granted to those whose activities can bring significant benefits to the island's economy, such as large businessmen, qualified researchers or in-demand specialists.

What are the reasons for refusal?

Permission to reside in the Republic of Cyprus is not granted to those who are listed as persona non grata, for example because of links with banned extremist organizations or past violations of local laws. Often the refusal is due to errors in the immigration procedure, submission of incomplete or incorrectly compiled dossier. The request is rejected if you do not meet at least one of the conditions for issuing a residence permit. The obtained residence permit is not extended if your reason for living on the island is no longer relevant.

In order not to face rejection when applying for European immigration documents, it is worth enlisting the support of specialized professionals. Immigrantinlaw's international law specialists independently perform the tasks of creating a dossier and organizing appointments with the authorities, which will minimize your efforts, expenses and worries.

Individual selection of immigration program

Get more information about the peculiarities of immigration to the EU at a free consultation

Book a consultation

Renewal of residence permit and obtaining a permanent residence permit

The application for renewal of a Cyprus residence permit must be submitted at least one month before the expiration date of the current document. You make an appointment in advance at the Department of Civil Registry and Migration or at the Police Station, pay the administrative fee again and submit the necessary documents. It takes up to 4 months to extend your residency, during which you can legally reside in the Republic.

In general, a permanent residence permit of Cyprus is granted after five years of continuous residence on the island. Permanent residence is not given to those who are in the country as a student, temporary employee (including domestic and seasonal workers), asylum seeker, holder of subsidiary protection status. A permanent residence card is issued through the migration authorities or the police. Immediately obtain permanent residence can be obtained for investment, through the purchase of real estate, opening a business with a large turnover or if you have high qualifications.

You can apply for citizenship of Cyprus by naturalization after seven years of residence in the Republic, of which 12 last months you need to stay here permanently (it is allowed to leave for no more than 90 days). It is necessary to confirm knowledge of the Greek language at level B1 and above, pass an exam on the basic elements of the political and social structure of the country, rent or buy housing on the island, be financially secure and law-abiding.

All the rights of a Cypriot citizen can be obtained with a passport of another EU country, issued in 4-12 months with the help of Immigrantinlaw international law lawyers. Find out more about this during a free consultation.

About the author

Diana Weber

Lawyer of international law

Diane Weber is an international law specialist with 10 years of legal practice experience. Her portfolio includes successful stories of citizenship in different European Union countries under simplified procedures. Diana provides detailed advice and helps many people to achieve their immigration goals in a short period of time, including resolving visa issues, assisting in obtaining residence permits and citizenship in the EU countries. In her blog, Diana Weber enjoys providing readers with detailed information about the features of most popular programs for obtaining a second passport.