Cyprus Temporary Residence Permits

For non-EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who wish to reside in Cyprus, there are two main temporary residency options that provide financially self-sufficient applicants and their qualifying dependents with the right to live in Cyprus for periods of more than three months.

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The Temporary Residence Permit, generally known as a 'Pink Slip', is for third-country nationals who wish to extend their stay in Cyprus without employment for up to five years.

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The Digital Nomad Visa is for third-country nationals who wish to live in Cyprus for up to three years while working remotely in the IT sector for a foreign employer or clients.

Temporary Residence Permit

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A 'Pink Slip' in Cyprus is a Temporary Residence Permit (Visitor Visa) that grants legal status to third-country nationals who wish to stay in Cyprus for longer than 90 days.

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It does not offer employment rights. It is a self-sufficiency residence permit that allows holders and their qualifying family members to reside in Cyprus indefinitely as visitors without any requirement for investment, property purchase or business activity.

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The Cyprus Pink Slip is a national residence permit. It does not grant visa-free access to any country other than Cyprus itself. For travel to any other country, the rules of the holder's passport apply. Pink Slip holders can re-enter Cyprus without a separate visa while the permit is valid.

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After five years of continuous legal residence in Cyprus under a Temporary Residence Permit, holders could be eligible to apply for long-term residence status in Cyprus.

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A Pink Slip holder can qualify to be a tax resident of Cyprus by living in Cyprus for more than 183 days per calendar year, potentially offering significant tax benefits.

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Tax residents in Cyprus are subject to taxation on their worldwide income, but Cyprus has signed more than 65 double taxation agreements and dividends and interest income are exempt from tax in Cyprus. There are no inheritance or gift taxes in Cyprus.

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Foreign pension income is taxed at the flat rate of 5% on amounts over €5,000. A taxpayer can also elect to be taxed at the standard annual rate if this is more favourable.

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The application process can take up to six months. Once the application is submitted, the applicant is allowed to stay in Cyprus until the case is processed.

Qualification Requirements

The main qualification requirements are as follows:

Proof of stabled and adequate annual income, that must be sourced from outside Cyprus, of a minimum of €24,000 to cover living expenses in Cyprus. This is increased by 20% for a spouse and by 15% for each dependent child. Source of income may include pensions, dividends, fixed deposits interest, rental income or other passive income.
A title deed, or a rental agreement for at least one year, for a residential property in Cyprus that is for the sole use of the applicant and family members.
A certificate of ‘no criminal record’ and of not being under investigation for criminal offences, that is attested by the relevant authorities of the applicant’s country of current residence.
Initial transfer or deposit from abroad to a Cyprus bank account, typically at least €10,000 for the main applicant and €5,000 for each additional family member, to demonstrate financial self-sufficiency. For renewals, the bank balance should be at least €6,000.
Applicants and their dependents must evidence valid health insurance covering inpatient and outpatient care, as well as repatriation.
An original medical examination certificate from Cyprus to confirm that the applicant does not have certain medical conditions.
Set up a bank guarantee at a Cyprus bank for applicant and each family member. This is to cover the potential costs of repatriation and the amount required varies by nationality. Some countries may be exempt.

Dependent Persons

Eligible family members are a spouse and dependent children under 18 years. Each family member must file a separate application form and, if approved, will receive their own Temporary Residence Permit in Cyprus.

Duration of Permit

A Temporary Residence Permit is valid for 12 months and, provided the applicant continues to meet the requirements, is renewable annually. Holders must not stay out of Cyprus for more than 90 days continuously or the permit could be cancelled.

It is essential that a holder of a Pink Slip should not stay out of the country for more than three months at a time, because this could result in the permit being cancelled.

Required Documentation for a Cyprus Pink Slip application

An applicant should enter Cyprus on a valid entry visa, unless there is no visa requirement, and retain the arrival stamp. To obtain a Cyprus Temporary Residence Permit, the applicant should book an appointment with their local Immigration Unit in Cyprus..

An applicant will be required submit the following required documents to the Migration Department. All documents accompanying application forms should be officially translated into Greek or English and duly certified or ratified.

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Completed application form MVIS8.

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Copy of a valid passport for applicant and family members.

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Marriage certificate, where necessary.

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Children’s birth certificates, where necessary.

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Health Insurance certificate.

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Original Criminal Record Certificate issued by relevant authority in the country of residence.

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Documents to evidence annual income from abroad, including tax declarations, auditor confirmation and originals or certified copies of bank statements, pension certificates, dividend confirmations, rental agreements, etc).

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Title of ownership or contract of sale or long-term rental agreement for property in Cyprus.

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SWIFT confirmation to confirm funds transferred from abroad.

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Bank statement and proof of transfer from abroad for initial cash transfer or deposit.

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Evidence of bank guarantee in a Cyprus bank.

Renewal

A Pink Slip is renewed annually and a temporary permit holder should initiate an application to renew at least one month before it expires.

To renew a Temporary Residence Permit in Cyprus, the applicant must again submit the necessary documents and application forms to the Migration Department, but only copies of bank guarantees and marriage or birth certificates are required. There is no requirement to undergo new medical tests or provide updated criminal records.

Digital Nomad Visa

The Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa Scheme was introduced in 2022 to attract talented tech professionals and entrepreneurs from non-EU and non-EEA countries to strengthen Cyprus as a centre for the provision of electronic services and to develop the Cyprus business ecosystem.

The scheme is open to IT specialists who can perform their work remotely using telecommunications technology, to reside temporarily in Cyprus and work for an employer registered abroad or perform work through telecommunications technology for companies or clients located abroad.

Qualification Requirements

The main qualification requirements are as follows:

Can perform work remotely through telecommunications technology.
Are employed in a company registered abroad, for which they can work location-independently, or are self-employed offering services remotely for clients located abroad.
Can prove that they have stable and sufficient monthly net income of at least €3,500 (after deduction of contributions and taxes). This amount is increased by 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child.
Have a suitable place to stay in Cyprus, either by purchase or rental.

Benefits of Digital Nomad Visa

Individuals who are granted a Digital Nomad residence permit will benefit from the following:

Right of residence for a year in Cyprus, with a possibility of renewal for further two years.
Right of residence for family members, for the same period as the Digital Nomad, without the right to be employed of perform economic activity in Cyprus.
If they reside in Cyprus for one of more periods that exceed 183 days in total within the same tax year, then they are considered tax residents of Cyprus, provided they are not tax residents in any other country.

Application Process

The applicant should enter Cyprus with a tourist visa (unless they already reside in Cyprus under a different status) and has three months to apply for a Digital Nomad Visa and submit documents to the Migration Department.

An applicant will be required submit the following required documents to the Migration Department. All documents accompanying application forms should be officially translated into Greek or English and duly certified or ratified.

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Completed application form MVIS4 and letter of intent.

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Copy of a valid passport for applicant and family members.

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Copy of Cyprus entry visa and stamps.

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Curriculum vitae.

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Marriage certificate, where necessary.

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Children’s birth certificates, where necessary.

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Health Insurance certificate.

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Original Criminal Record Certificate issued by relevant authority in the country of residence.

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Title of ownership or contract of sale or long-term rental agreement for property in Cyprus.

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Documents to evidence salary payments showing net income and bank statements for past six months.

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Employment contracts, confirmation of remote working arrangements and copy of foreign employer's company registration, or self-employed contracts for projects or services with a duration in line with the requested residence permit.

Digital Nomad Visas can generally be obtained within two months. Once an application has been submitted, an applicant can remain in Cyprus until the temporary residence permit is issued.