Cyprus with its warm and stable climate and convenient geographical position is considered as an attractive place
for residence and employment. Residence and employment in Cyprus are governed by the Aliens and Immigration
legislation of Cyprus (Alien and Immigration Law Chapter 105 of the Laws as amended; Alien and Immigration
Regulation KDP 242/72 of 22.12.1972 as amended).
Entry
The requirements for visa vary depending on the nationality of each foreigner. EU citizens pass the so-called
face and passport control without receiving an entry stamp at their passport. Other nationals are required to
secure their entry visa prior to arrival in Cyprus at the Embassy of Cyprus at their country. All other nationals
receive the official stamp that witnesses their arrival.
The entry visa is usually given from one to four weeks depending on the case. The visa can be extended up to
three month by submitting the required documents to the District Aliens and Immigration Office.
Residence Permit
A. Temporary Residence Permit
An alien may request for the issue of the temporary residence permit for the purpose of holidays, tour around
the island and for the search of a possible temporary or permanent settlement in Cyprus.
To receive a residence permit in Cyprus an alien resident must fulfill one of the following requirements:
- Property in Cyprus (holiday house).
- Disposition of secured annual income
In some cases the Immigration Officer may secure a permit for an alien if he has stable and secured income
from abroad.
It may be his pension, dividends from investments, interest from deposits, etc.
Alien students/pupils
Pupil permits for aliens are granted for attending registered secondary and primary educational institutes.
In these cases the applications are submitted by the educational Establishment the aliens will attend. Such
a permit is subject to be issued for a specific educational institute and a change of the institute means an
abolishment of the existing permit and an obligation to obtain a new one.
Other cases of the temporary residence permit
Any person that permanently or temporarily stays in Cyprus or has a work permit may invite close members of
his (her) family to stay together with him (her) and apply for the temporary residence permit for them. The
document that must be presented to the District Aliens and Immigration Office are the work and/or residence
permit and a bank letter of guarantee.
An immigration officer may require additional information in each separate case.
B. Permanent Residence Permit.
In order to settle in Cyprus permanently an alien may apply to the Chief Immigration Officer, Nicosia, Cyprus
by submission of application form M.67..In accordance with the Regulation 5 of the Alien and Immigration
Regulations of 1972 an alien person must belong to one of the following Categories:
Category A: Persons who intend to work as self employed in agriculture, cattle breeding, bird breeding or
fish culture in the Republic, provided that they have in their possession adequate land or a permit to acquire
same, they have fully and freely at their disposal capital of CY?250,000 and such an employment should not
negatively affect the general economy of the Republic.
Category B: Persons who intend to work as self employed in mining enterprises in the Republic, provided that
they have in their possession a relative permit, they have fully and freely at their disposal capital of
CY?200,000 and such an employment should not negatively affect the general
economy of the Republic.
Category C: Persons who intend to work as self employed in a trade or profession in the Republic, provided that
they have in their possession a relative permit, they have fully and freely at their disposal capital of
CY?150,000 and such an employment should not affect negatively the general economy of the Republic.
Category D: Persons who intend to work as self employed in a profession or science in the Republic, provided
that they have academic or professional qualifications, for which there is demand in Cyprus. Possession of
adequate funds is also necessary.
Category E: Persons who have been offered permanent employment in the Republic, which will not create undue
local competition.
Category F: Persons who possess and have fully and freely at their disposal a secured annual income, high enough
to give them a decent living in Cyprus, without having to engage in any business, trade or profession. The annual
income required should be at least CY?3,800 for a single applicant and moreover at least CY?1,800 for every
dependent person, but the Immigration Control Board may demand additional amounts as necessary.
Most applicants come under this Category F, the majority of them being pensioners or retired persons. If the
application is finally approved an alien will not be allowed to engage in any form of business profession or
occupation, whether paid or unpaid while residing in Cyprus and will have to support himself(herself) and all
his(her) family from his(her) own income.
If the application is finally approved by the Civil Registry and Migration Department of Nicosia and the permanent
residence permit is granted an alien receives an official stamp to his(her) passport and is not obliged to renew
his(her) residence permit annually.
Cyprus has recently implemented The Directive of the European Union 2003/109/EC, which says that migrants who live
in Cyprus for five years, legally and continuously, are entitled for permanent residence permit.
The Directive was published on 23 January 2004 and since 23 January 2006 is in force in Cyprus.