Cyprus Golden Visa

Cyprus is a low-tax, business-friendly jurisdiction that enjoys a warm, Mediterranean climate. Its permanent residence program has a relatively low investment threshold – in a European context – and enables a path to EU citizenship within 8 years of physical residence.

Though applicants must visit the country once every two years to maintain their permanent residency status, the program stipulates no physical presence requirements.

Applicants may include both their nuclear family members as well as their parents in a single application, the processing of which is generally completed within 2-3 months and with very high rates of approval.

Prospective participants in the program have four different investment options:

• €300,000 (plus VAT) investment in new residential property.
• €300,000 (plus VAT) purchase of up to two new or used non-residential (i.e., commercial) properties.
• €300,000 investment in the share capital of a company registered and operating in Cyprus, employing at least five people.
• €300,000 invested in the Cyprus Investment Funds Association’s collective investments (AIF, AIFLNP, RAIF).

The main applicant must demonstrate a secured annual income of at least €50,000 from abroad, plus €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 for each dependent child. Acceptable income sources include employment salaries, rental income, pensions, interest on deposits, and dividends.

• Path to citizenship
• Minimal physical presence requirements
• Permits dual/multiple citizenship
• Ability to include three or more generations of family members in the application
• Lower taxes
• Safety and security
• Warm climate
• Enhanced education opportunities
• Enhanced business access to large economies
• Short processing time
• English as official language

After completing the necessary application steps and completing the background checks, the application will then be examined by the Civil Registry and Migration Department and will be submitted to a permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior. After receiving approval the applicant will need to visit Cyprus to obtain their ID, and PR card valid for five years.

Holders of the Cyprus permanent residence permit may apply for Cypriot citizenship through naturalization. Under the standard route, applicants must have accumulated 8 years of legal residence in Cyprus (totaling at least 2,555 days). Applicants must demonstrate basic knowledge of the Greek language, as well as the history and culture of Cyprus.

Note that the investment-route residency does not require physical presence beyond a biennial visit, but the naturalization path to citizenship requires substantial physical presence in Cyprus.

Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.

Applications for this program may be directed to Civil Registry and Migration Department.

Legislation upon which this program is based on Regulation 6(2) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations.