Getting residence in South Cyprus
Cyprus offers EU access, Category F permit (passive income), employment permits and permanent residence by investment.
The essentials · reside · July 2026
For comparing a residence title: timeline, cost, limits.
2–6 months
Category F (passive income)
$500–$3,000
2–4 months
Work permit / EU
$300–$2,000
3–9 months
Permanent Residence (property investment)
$330,000–$500,000
0 months
Citizenship by investment (suspended)
The routes
- Category F (passive income) — Renewable permit without local work right
- Work permit / EU — Employment-linked residence
- Permanent Residence (property investment) — PR for investor and family
- Citizenship by investment (suspended) — Cyprus passport. Not accessible via the legacy scheme for new applicants
Who it fits
- Category F (passive income) — Stable passive income outside Cyprus, housing, insurance
- Work permit / EU — Local employment or EU citizen
- Permanent Residence (property investment) — Minimum property investment (~EUR 300k + VAT. Verify)
- Citizenship by investment (suspended) — “Golden passport” programme suspended since 2020 for new applications
The limits
- Citizenship by investment (suspended) — Property PR (section 6.2) remains a separate RBI route. Beware intermediaries promising a passport.
Paths by category
Indicative thresholds, timelines and fees. Verify with official sources and local counsel.
Work / employment
Work permit / EU
Process steps
- Contract
- Employer files
- Permit
- Renewal
Sources: moi.gov.cy
Passive income / retirement
Category F (passive income)
Process steps
- Passive income proof
- Lease/property
- Cyprus bank
- Civil Registry dossier
- Permit
Sources: moi.gov.cy
Residence by investment
Permanent Residence (property investment)
Process steps
- Select new property
- Contract + funds
- Immigration dossier
- PR cards
Sources: moi.gov.cy
Citizenship by investment
Citizenship by investment (suspended)
Property PR (section 6.2) remains a separate RBI route. Beware intermediaries promising a passport.
CBI programme closed. Do not budget.
Process steps
- Confirm the offer targets PR (RBI), not citizenship
- Verify with the Ministry of Interior
Sources: moi.gov.cy
How to read the paths
Each card combines a category (how you qualify), an outcome (what you get) and duration (renewable title or permanent). RBI ≠ CBI: the first grants residence, the second a passport.
- EU free movement : EU/EEA citizens register their stay. A consular visa is a different route.
- Work / employment : Status tied to a local employer or qualifying contract.
- Entrepreneur / company : Activity or company setup: the visa follows the project. A passport is a different outcome.
- Passive income / retirement : Stable income (pension, dividends, rent) without local employment.
- Nomad / remote : Remote work for an employer or clients outside the country.
- Residence by investment : Investment or financial threshold leads to residence. A passport is a different outcome.
- Citizenship by investment : Investment or contribution → passport (programmes often restricted).
- Naturalisation / long stay : After years of legal stay: PR, ILR, C permit, etc.
- Other : Visit, transit or routes outside the frames above.