Cyprus business visa
Updated:
If you are searching for a "Cyprus business visa" to live and work in the Republic long-term, you are in the right place. While a short-term visa is for temporary visits, the pathway for establishing a business presence is through a permanent residence permit.
This guide explains the permanent residency options for business owners and employees under Categories C and E of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations.
Is there a "Business Visa" for permanent residency?
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.
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 or startup 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 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a business visa and a residence permit?
A business visa (like a short-stay Category C visa) is typically for temporary visits to Cyprus for meetings, conferences, or negotiations, usually for up to 90 days.
A permanent residence permit (like Categories C and E described in this article) grants you the right to live, work, and operate your business in Cyprus indefinitely. This guide focuses on the permanent residence permits that allow you to establish your life and business in Cyprus.
How do I get a business visa for Cyprus?
There are two types of residence permits for business persons in Cyprus. Category C is for working as self-employed in your own business, and you need a capital of about €260,000 at your disposal.
Category E is a permanent residence permit for employees. Your employer must apply for the permit and show that the job will not create undue local competition in that field.
If by business visa you mean the "investor visa", you can get it by satisfying certain income (€50,000 annually) and investment (€300,000 in property or shares) criteria and holding a clean criminal record. The income amount increases for family members.
What are the different types of visas for Cyprus?
If you mean the permanent residence types suitable for business, the Category C and Category E permits are described in question 1 above.
If you mean visas (short-term entry permits), the categories that suit business entrepreneurs are the short-stay Category C visa for up to 90 days that can be extended for another 90, the long-stay Category D visa for up to a year, and the multiple entry Category C visa which lasts for five years and covers visits of not more than three months in any half year.
There is also the airport transit visa for people who need a visa to come to Cyprus and have to pass through the international transit area of the airport; also, the visa is issued at the border for emergencies.
As for residence permits, there are temporary and permanent residence permits, covering several types of situations, such as workers, students, researchers and artists.
How much does a Cyprus business visa cost?
The Category C and Category E permanent residence permits cost €500, including the applicant and members of their family (spouse and underage children). Registration at the Migration Department (for the Aliens' Registration Certificate, ARC) costs €70 per person.
What is a business visitor visa for Cyprus?
The business visitor visa for Cyprus includes visa types suitable for entrepreneurs who visit the island on business. You apply to the nearest Cyprus Diplomatic Mission or consulate with an invitation letter from your associate(s) in Cyprus and a valid passport.
The short-term visitor visa should not be confused with the Category C immigration permit described above.
The categories of entry visas suitable for visitor entrepreneurs in Cyprus are the short-stay Category C visa for 90 days in six months, the long-stay Category D visa for up to a year, and a Category C multiple-entry visa for multiple visits not exceeding 90 days in a period of five years.
The first type (Category C for 90 days) can be extended for another 90 days in another six months. For the list of visas and necessary documents, go to Visas - gov.cy.