Cyprus business visa

The Cyprus business visa is not a short-stay visa. It is the permanent residence permit that allows company owners and employees to live and work in Cyprus, granted under Categories C and E of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations.

This guide covers who qualifies, the documents you need, the fees, and how the application runs at the Migration Department.

Cyprus business visa: Category C and Category E

A Cyprus business visa is a residency option for people who run a business in Cyprus or who hold permanent employment with a Cyprus employer. Its legal basis is Regulation 5 of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations, under Categories C and E. The same route is sometimes referred to as permanent residency through company formation.

Two types of permanent residence permits, Category C and Category E, are intended for business people.

The Cyprus Category C permit is for people who intend to work as self-employed in a trade or profession in Cyprus. The applicant must hold any business licence the activity requires and have capital of approximately €260,000 freely at their disposal. The work must not harm the general economy of the Republic. In practice, this is the route many owners use after forming a Cyprus company.

A Category E permit (visa) for Cyprus grants unlimited permanent residency for people who have been offered permanent employment in the Republic. The employment must not create undue local competition in that line of work. Spouses and children under 18 can be included as dependents.

Cyprus residence through company formation

Most Category C applicants run their own Cyprus company and apply for residence as its owner. The company is set up first, then the residence application is filed on the strength of the business and the capital behind it. For the registration steps and incorporation documents, see our guide on Cyprus company formation.

A company can also sponsor staff. Under Category E, a Cyprus employer offers permanent employment and applies for the worker's permit, as long as the role does not create undue local competition. Companies that hire third-country staff usually do this through the Business Facilitation Unit and the Cyprus work permit route.

Forming the company does not by itself give you residence. The capital behind the company and the supporting documents are what the Migration Department assesses.

Permanent residency characteristics

Duration

The residence right under Category C and Category E is valid for an unlimited duration for the holder and adult dependants. The permit card expires 10 years from the date of issue and must be renewed at that time, and cards issued to children remain valid until they turn 18.

The right is lost if the holder settles permanently abroad or is absent from Cyprus for two years. The same applies if the holder does not take up residence in Cyprus within one year of the application being approved.

Category C and E rules for family members

Spouses and children up to 18 years old can be included as dependents on the permit. The spouse holds an unlimited right for as long as the principal applicant keeps the permit. A child's permit stays valid until they turn 18.

Visa-free travel

Cyprus business visas and permits do not allow visa-free travel to other countries.

Documents required for a business visa

• A passport for the applicant and family members.
• Valid temporary residence permit, if you already live in Cyprus.
• Cyprus alien card or ARC (Alien Registration Certificate).
• Curriculum Vitae for the applicant (including academic qualifications).
• A health insurance policy covering the applicant and family members.
• Original criminal record certificate for the applicant and his/her spouse (official and certified translation).
• Current bank statements from your Cyprus accounts, and from abroad where relevant.
• Original employment agreement duly certified and stamped.
• The original rental agreement of a property in Cyprus, duly certified and stamped.
• Income tax returns or a tax clearance certificate for the relevant years (original)
• Social insurance statement to show contributions for all the years
• Swift from a bank abroad and a declaration from the Cyprus bank on the amount of money the applicant has personally transferred from abroad
• Documents to prove business activities in other countries and income (if applicable)

Duly certified and stamped: signatures must be verified by a certifying officer or muhtar and stamped at the Tax Office.

Company documents for Category C permit

• Certificate of incorporation and certificate of shareholders from the Registrar of Companies.
• Business plan.
• Social Insurance Documents to show Current Employees.
• Current company bank statements showing deposits.
• A letter from the auditors mentioning the total amount the company invested/transferred to Cyprus from abroad for the company's/business activities.
• Income Tax Clearance documents.
• VAT registration certificate, if applicable.
• Swift from abroad, and a bank confirmation of the amount the applicant has transferred to the company.
• Office Rental Agreement duly certified and stamped.
• Documents to prove activities.

Please note that criminal records, marriage, and children's birth certificates should be translated into English. They must also be certified by the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or Embassy), which will issue them, and the Cyprus Embassy.

Application procedure

The application is filed at the Migration Department in Nicosia, in person or through an authorised representative such as your lawyer, so you do not have to handle the submission yourself. The applicant still has to attend in person at some stage to give biometric data (a photograph and fingerprints) and to sign. Children under six are not asked for fingerprints or a signature. If you are outside Cyprus when the application is lodged, the biometric data must be collected before the residence card is issued.

After submission, the Migration Department reviews the file. An application that is not accompanied by all required documents is not accepted, so the file must be complete on the day it is lodged.

Processing time

The process for obtaining Cyprus permanent residency through company formation typically takes approximately 12 to 18 months. The lawyer collects the Cyprus residency cards once approved.

Government fees for residence permits categories C and E

The fees of the migration department are as follows:

Applicant / applicants' spouse / children under 18

€500 for all €70 for each person for registration