KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The Cyprus Golden Visa requires a minimum investment of €300,000 + VAT in qualifying real estate — most commonly a new-build residential property. Only non-EU, non-EEA, non-Swiss nationals are eligible; EU citizens do not need this programme.
- Applicants must demonstrate annual income of at least €50,000 from sources outside Cyprus (salary, dividends, rental income, pension). An additional €15,000/year per dependent (spouse + children) is required.
- Processing time under the fast-track route (Regulation 6.2) is 6–9 months, per the Civil Registry and Migration Department (CRMD) published service standards.
- The residency permit is permanent — valid for life, with no minimum stay requirement in Cyprus. You must visit Cyprus at least once every two years to maintain the permit.
- Golden Visa holders cannot work in Cyprus under this permit category — but can hold an unpaid directorship or be a shareholder in a Cyprus company. A separate work permit is required for employment.
In November 2020, Cyprus closed its Citizenship by Investment programme after a significant scandal. What remains — and what is referred to colloquially as the “Golden Visa” — is the Permanent Residency by Investment scheme under Regulation 6.2 of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations. This is a different proposition entirely: it grants permanent residency, not citizenship, and it has operated continuously since the citizenship programme closed. For non-EU nationals seeking a stable, low-maintenance EU residency with a long-term path to citizenship, it remains one of the most straightforward routes available in Europe in 2026.
Who Is Eligible
The Cyprus Golden Visa is available to non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss nationals only. EU citizens have the right to reside in Cyprus under EU freedom of movement provisions and have no need for this programme. The applicant must be over 18 years of age and have a clean criminal record.
The main applicant may include the following dependants in the same application:
- Spouse or partner
- Financially dependent children up to the age of 25
- Parents and parents-in-law of the main applicant (treated as a separate application category with slightly different requirements)
The Investment Requirement: €300,000 + VAT
The qualifying investment must total at least €300,000, exclusive of VAT. The most common qualifying investment is the purchase of one or two new-build residential properties — where the 19% VAT rate applies in full — or commercial real estate. Resale properties (second-hand homes) qualify at the 5% reduced VAT rate applicable to primary residences, per the Cyprus VAT Law.
Key rules around the investment:
- The €300,000 must be paid in full by the time of application — a reservation deposit or mortgage does not satisfy the requirement. Payment must be demonstrated by bank transfer records from an overseas account or a Cypriot bank account to the developer/vendor.
- The property must be purchased from a developer or seller in the Republic of Cyprus. Investments in the Turkish-controlled northern part of the island do not qualify.
- The investment must be retained for the lifetime of the residency permit. Selling the qualifying property without replacing it with an equivalent qualifying investment terminates the permit.
The Income Requirement: €50,000/Year from Abroad
Beyond the capital investment, applicants must demonstrate an annual income of at least €50,000 from sources outside Cyprus. This income threshold increases by €15,000 per year for each dependent family member included in the application (spouse and children). Parents included as dependants require an additional €8,000/year each.
Qualifying income sources include: foreign employment salary (documented by employer certificate and tax returns), dividends from companies outside Cyprus, overseas rental income, and pensions. Income from Cyprus sources does not count toward the threshold for this purpose.
The income requirement is assessed at the time of application and must be demonstrated through two consecutive years of tax returns or equivalent certified documentation from the country of income origin.
The Application Process
Applications are submitted to the Civil Registry and Migration Department (CRMD). The process under the fast-track Regulation 6.2 route:
- Engage a licensed Cypriot immigration lawyer — not legally required, but strongly recommended given the documentation complexity. Lawyer fees typically run €3,000–€8,000 per application.
- Complete the property purchase — title deed or notarised contract of sale with full payment documented.
- Compile documentation: valid passport, clean criminal record certificate (apostilled from country of origin), medical certificate (specific format), proof of income (last 2 years’ tax returns), proof of health insurance, passport-size photos.
- Submit to CRMD along with the application fee: €500 per applicant (main applicant and each dependent).
- Biometrics collection in Cyprus — applicants must be physically present for fingerprinting and photography at CRMD.
- Processing: 6–9 months under the fast-track route per CRMD published standards.
What the Permit Grants — and What It Does Not
A Cyprus Permanent Residency permit under Regulation 6.2 is issued as a physical card (the ARC — Alien Registration Certificate) and is valid indefinitely. It carries no expiry date and no renewal requirement, as long as the holder continues to satisfy the underlying conditions (income threshold and property retention).
The permit grants the right to reside in Cyprus. It does not grant the right to work — Golden Visa holders who wish to be employed in Cyprus need a separate work permit, which requires employer sponsorship. Holding an unpaid directorship or being a shareholder in a Cyprus company is permitted and does not require a work permit.
The permit does not provide Schengen Area access — Cyprus is not a Schengen member. Travel within the Schengen Area requires separate visas for non-EU nationals (or a Schengen residence permit from another member state).
Path to Citizenship
Cyprus citizenship through naturalisation (not by investment — that programme is closed) requires 8 years of legal residence in Cyprus, per the Civil Registry Law. Golden Visa holders’ residency time counts toward this period. Citizenship applications require demonstrated integration, Greek language proficiency at A2 level minimum, and a clean criminal record throughout the residency period. Citizenship grants full EU citizenship and an EU passport.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum investment for Cyprus Golden Visa?
The minimum qualifying investment is €300,000 excluding VAT in real estate in the Republic of Cyprus. For new-build residential property, VAT of 19% (or 5% for primary residences under specific conditions) is added on top of the purchase price. The full amount must be paid before application.
How long does Cyprus Golden Visa processing take?
Under the fast-track Regulation 6.2 route, the Civil Registry and Migration Department (CRMD) publishes a target processing time of 6–9 months from complete application submission. In practice, timelines can extend to 12 months if documentation is incomplete or if CRMD backlogs are elevated.
Can my family be included in the Cyprus Golden Visa application?
Yes. The main applicant can include a spouse or partner and financially dependent children up to age 25. Parents and parents-in-law can be included under a separate but parallel application. Each additional dependent requires an additional €15,000/year (or €8,000/year for parents) of qualifying overseas income and a €500 application fee.
Does the Cyprus Golden Visa lead to citizenship?
Not directly — but it creates the residency basis for naturalisation. After 8 years of legal residence in Cyprus (the time spent on the Golden Visa counts), holders can apply for Cyprus citizenship through naturalisation. Cyprus citizenship grants EU citizenship and an EU passport with full freedom of movement across the EU.
Can I work in Cyprus on a Golden Visa?
No. The Permanent Residency by Investment permit does not authorise employment in Cyprus. Holders can be unpaid directors or shareholders in Cyprus companies. Employment requires a separate work permit obtained through employer sponsorship, which is governed by a different application process through the CRMD.
