RELOCATE WITH CONFIDENCE
Cyprus Residency
Choose a residence category to see eligibility, financial criteria, deadlines and five practical steps.
Reviewed: 23 October 2026. Published examination times assume a complete file and are not guaranteed decision dates.
Visitor Residence
Live in Cyprus with independent financial means.
Requirements & steps →02Permanent Residence by Investment
Plan a qualifying investment and long-term residence.
Requirements & steps →03EU Citizens & Family Members
Registration and residence for eligible European citizens and families.
Requirements & steps →04Employment & Business Relocation
Coordinate your employment and residence arrangements.
Requirements & steps →05Digital Nomad Residence
Reside in Cyprus while working remotely for overseas businesses or clients.
Requirements & steps →06Family Residence & Reunification
Find the correct route for joining family in Cyprus.
Requirements & steps →Visitor ResidenceRequirements · finances · deadlines · five steps
Eligibility
Third-country nationals with independent resources; no economic activity in Cyprus. Accommodation, health cover and the relevant personal certificates are required.
Income
At least €2,000/month or €24,000/year from abroad; +20% for a spouse and +15% per child. A couple with one child: €32,400/year. Bank evidence of overseas remittances is required.
Deadlines and duration
Apply before lawful stay expires; renew before permit expiry. Initial permit: normally 1 year, subject to passport validity. Published examination estimate: usually under 4 months for a complete file.
Five practical steps
Check your eligibility
We review your nationality, foreign income and intended stay, and confirm whether the visitor route suits your plans.
Prepare your documents abroad
Obtain the required personal and financial records, with certification and official translations where required.
Plan your arrival
Confirm entry requirements and arrange accommodation, insurance and the supporting financial evidence.
Submit your application
Prepare the visitor application and attend the required appointment and biometric registration.
Maintain your status
Track renewal and absence conditions. A visitor permit does not authorise local employment.
Permanent Residence by InvestmentRequirements · finances · deadlines · five steps
Examination and work rights
Published examination estimate: approximately 2 months from a complete application. Local employment is restricted; a specific exception concerns directorship in the company invested in under this policy. Investment funds must be documented as originating abroad.
Investment and eligibility
At least €300,000: first-sale residential property (+VAT), other qualifying property, qualifying Cyprus company capital or eligible fund units. Company investment requires physical presence and at least 5 employees. Clean criminal records and health cover are required.
Income
Secured annual income: €50,000 + €15,000 for a spouse + €10,000 per dependent minor child. For residential-property investment, income must come from abroad; other investment routes may include Cyprus-source income.
Residence obligations
Applicants residing abroad must establish residence within 1 year of approval. Absence for 2 years or acquisition of permanent residence abroad ends the permit. Maintain the investment and required monitoring evidence. The adult card is replaced after 10 years. Filing alone gives no entry or stay right.
Five practical steps
Assess the route
We review the investment category, financial position and family members before you commit funds.
Check the investment
Review the proposed property, business or fund investment and the applicable eligibility conditions.
Document your funds
Prepare evidence of the source and transfer of funds, income, insurance and personal records.
File the application
Assemble the investment and supporting documents and coordinate filing and biometric requirements.
Protect your residence
Maintain the qualifying investment and required evidence, and observe residence and absence conditions.
EU Citizens & Family MembersRequirements · finances · deadlines · five steps
Eligibility
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens staying over 3 months: employment, self-employment, studies or sufficient resources with health cover, depending on the category. Non-EU family members use a separate residence-card procedure.
Financial criteria
No single fixed euro threshold applies to all MEU1 applicants. Economically inactive applicants must demonstrate sufficient resources for their household and comprehensive health cover; employment and student categories have their own evidence.
Deadlines and duration
MEU1: apply within 4 months of entry. Published examination time: up to 1 month for a complete application. The registration certificate has no expiry date. Do not apply these MEU1 timings automatically to non-EU family members.
Five practical steps
Identify the right procedure
Confirm whether EU citizen registration or a family-member residence procedure applies.
Prepare personal records
Gather passports or identity cards and the family certificates relevant to your application.
Confirm your residence basis
Document employment, self-employment, studies or sufficient resources and health cover, as applicable.
Register in Cyprus
Prepare the relevant application and arrange submission to the competent district authority within the applicable deadline.
Keep your records current
Retain your registration evidence and obtain advice when your circumstances or family status change.
Employment & Business RelocationRequirements · finances · deadlines · five steps
Highly paid staff of foreign-interest companies
The employer must qualify and be registered. Employee: relevant academic qualifications or at least 2 years of relevant experience, and an employment contract lasting at least 2 years. Incorporation alone does not grant residence.
Salary
At least €2,500 gross/month under this highly paid employment route. This is not a universal minimum for all work permits; support staff and other employment routes have different requirements.
Deadlines and duration
Arrange lawful entry and the required residence/work application before starting unauthorised work. Online renewal window: 90–30 days before expiry. Permit: up to 3 years, depending on contract. Published examination time: 1 month for complete applications.
Five practical steps
Review the proposed role
We assess the employer, position and appropriate permit route, including eligible foreign-interest companies.
Check employer requirements
Confirm company eligibility and the employment approvals and supporting records required for the chosen route.
Prepare before entry
Gather qualifications, employment records and personal certificates; confirm whether an entry permit is required.
Apply for the relevant permits
Coordinate the employer and employee documentation, submission and biometric registration.
Manage ongoing compliance
Monitor permit conditions, renewals and changes of employer or role before taking action.
Digital Nomad ResidenceRequirements · finances · deadlines · five steps
Eligibility
Non-EU/non-EEA nationals working remotely for employers or clients abroad. No work or services for Cyprus-based employers or clients. Health cover and accommodation evidence are required; scheme availability must be checked.
Net income
At least €3,500/month after taxes and contributions; +20% for a spouse/partner and +15% per child. Couple with one child: €4,725 net/month. Income evidence and bank statements are required.
Deadlines and duration
Apply within 3 months of arrival, while lawfully present. Initial permit: 1 year; renewal up to 2 further years. Apply for renewal at least 1 month before expiry. Published examination estimate: 5–7 weeks. Family permits do not authorise economic activity in Cyprus.
Five practical steps
Check the scheme
Confirm eligibility, current application availability and whether your remote work is for overseas employers or clients.
Evidence remote work and income
Prepare contracts and financial records showing the required stable net income and remote working arrangements.
Organise your supporting records
Gather personal certificates, accommodation and health-cover evidence, with certification and translations where needed.
Submit after lawful entry
Coordinate the application within the applicable deadline and attend biometric registration.
Plan renewals and family needs
Check renewal limits and family conditions. Tax residence requires a separate assessment.
Family Residence & ReunificationRequirements · finances · deadlines · five steps
Standard third-country family reunification
Normally: sponsor with 2 years of lawful residence, a permit valid for at least 1 year and prospects of permanent residence. Spouse: age 21+ and marriage at least 1 year before application; unmarried children under 18. Exceptions depend on sponsor status. EU/Cypriot family routes differ.
Resources
Evidence of adequate family resources, accommodation and health cover is assessed under the applicable route and household circumstances. There is no single income figure for every family category; visitor and digital-nomad dependants follow their respective thresholds.
Entry, renewal and examination
Prior entry permission is normally required for standard reunification. First family permit: normally 1 year, no later than sponsor expiry. For eligible online renewals: 90–30 days before expiry. Published standard examination period: up to 9 months for complete files; special categories differ.
Five practical steps
Identify the sponsor’s status
We review nationality and residence status to select the correct family procedure.
Confirm family eligibility
Assess the relationship, dependent children and the sponsor’s qualifying conditions.
Prepare certificates abroad
Obtain marriage, birth and custody records, together with any required consent, authentication and translation.
Arrange entry and filing
Confirm whether prior entry approval is needed and coordinate the residence application and biometrics.
Review your family’s rights
Check permit duration, renewal requirements and employment rights for each family member.
General information only; this is not legal advice. Eligibility and procedures may change. Residence permission and tax residence are assessed separately.