Cyprus immigration lawyers
Updated:
We are Cyprus immigration lawyers based in Limassol, and we take on applications in every district, including Nicosia, Larnaca, Paphos and Famagusta.
We advise on and handle all matters under Cyprus immigration law: the residency by investment program, immigration permits, permanent residence permits, employment rules, citizenship applications and visas.
Our lawyers plan the application, prepare it and run it to the permit. For the wider country guide rather than the legal procedure, read our guide to moving to Cyprus.
Our immigration services
George K. Konstantinou Law Firm supports individuals and their families moving to Cyprus in the following ways. The tables below compare the main routes before the sections explain each one.
| Permit | Who it suits | Income or investment test | Right to work | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pink Slip | Non-EU nationals living in Cyprus on income from abroad | €24,000 a year, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child | No employment in Cyprus | One year, renewable |
| Digital nomad visa | Remote workers employed abroad or serving clients outside Cyprus | €3,500 net a month, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child | Only for the foreign employer or foreign clients | One year, renewable for up to two more |
| Category F | People living on a secured income from outside Cyprus | €9,568 a year, plus €4,613 for each dependent | No employment in Cyprus | Unlimited residence right, card replaced after ten years |
| Residency by investment | Buyers of property or other qualifying Cyprus assets | €300,000 investment and €50,000 secured annual income | No employment, except as a director of the company invested in | Unlimited residence right, card replaced after ten years |
Routes with the right to work
These routes give the holder the right to work for an employer or clients in Cyprus.
| Permit | Who it suits | Income or investment test | Right to work | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow slip | EU, EEA and Swiss citizens staying longer than three months | Work or self-employment here, or sufficient resources plus sickness insurance | Yes | The certificate has no expiry date |
| Business visa, Categories C and E | Self-employed people, and people holding a permanent job offer | Category C: capital of about €260,000 at the applicant's own disposal. Category E: none | Yes, in the trade, profession or post the permit covers | Unlimited residence right, card replaced after ten years |
| EU Blue Card | Highly qualified non-EU staff in ICT, research pharmacy and maritime employment | Gross salary of €43,632 a year | Yes, in the qualifying post | Tied to the employment contract, renewable |
| BFU work permit | Non-EU staff of a company on the Register of Foreign Interest Companies | The company invests €200,000. Highly paid staff earn at least €2,500 gross a month | Yes, for that employer | Tied to the employment contract, renewable |
| Long-term resident status | Third-country nationals after five years of lawful continuous residence | Stable resources and sickness insurance, with A2 Greek and the civics certificate | Yes | Permanent, with the card renewed |
Temporary residence permits
A Pink Slip (Temporary Residence Permit) is the easiest way to move to Cyprus. It requires secured income from abroad of €24,000 a year, or €2,000 a month, for a single applicant. The figure rises by 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child, so a couple needs €28,800 and a family of three €32,400.
Temporary residence applicants must have health insurance and a clean criminal record. The permit does not grant the right to work in Cyprus and is valid for one year, with the option to extend.
Digital nomad visa
The Cyprus Digital Nomad visa allows non-EU and non-EEA nationals to live in Cyprus and work remotely, through telecommunications technology, for an employer registered abroad or as self-employed people serving clients outside Cyprus.
It requires a stable net monthly income of at least €3,500 after taxes, increased by 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child. The permit is valid for one year and can be renewed for up to two more years.
Permanent residency permits
Cyprus residency by investment is the fast-track option for becoming a resident of Cyprus by investing €300,000. It requires a secured annual income of at least €50,000, rising by €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 for each dependent minor child. On the residential property route that income has to come from abroad, and on the other investment routes some or all of it can arise in Cyprus.
Once the permit is granted, the holder files evidence that the investment is still held every year, and a clean criminal record certificate every three years.
Routes to a permanent residence permit
A Cyprus permanent residence permit has no expiry date, and the routes to it are separate instruments rather than one.
Categories A to D of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations cover self-employed applicants. Category E covers a permanent job offer, and Category F a secured annual income from abroad with no work in Cyprus. The €300,000 investment route is a separate fast-track procedure under Regulation 6(2).
Five years of lawful continuous residence leads instead to long-term resident status, an EU status with its own conditions. Marriage to a Cypriot runs on its own forms and its own timetable.
The Category F residence permit does not require investment and is popular among pensioners and retirees. It asks for a minimum yearly income of €9,568 for one applicant plus €4,613 for each additional dependent. Holders of this permit do not have the right to work in Cyprus.
Waiting for a Category F decision
The Migration Department publishes no target examination time for a Category F application. Filing it gives no right to enter or stay in Cyprus, so an applicant who waits in Cyprus needs a valid residence permit or visa.
Yellow slip for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
The Yellow Slip (Registration Certificate) is available to citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland who want to stay, work or reside in Cyprus for longer than three months.
The right to work comes from EU free movement rather than from the certificate, which records a right the holder already has. Employment and self-employment are both open.
The right to stay beyond three months is conditional. You are either working or self-employed here, or you hold enough resources not to become a burden on the social assistance system, plus full sickness insurance cover in Cyprus.
Business immigration and work permits
A Cyprus business visa is the permanent residence route for people who run a business here or hold a permanent job offer. It is granted under Categories C and E of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations.
Category C covers self-employed work in a trade or profession. The applicant holds the licence the work needs and has capital of about €260,000 fully and freely at their disposal, or a lower sum if the Immigration Control Committee decides so. The work must not harm the general economy of Cyprus. Category E covers a permanent job offer the applicant intends to accept, in work that does not create undue local competition, and carries no capital test.
Employing non-EU staff through a foreign interest company
Employing non-EU staff is a different scheme from the business visa. A company joins the Register of Foreign Interest Companies through the Business Support Center if it meets one of the eligibility criteria, for example majority ownership by third-country nationals, and invests €200,000.
It can then hire any number of highly paid third-country staff without a labour market check, each on a temporary residence and employment permit.
Highly paid staff earn at least €2,500 gross a month on a contract of at least two years, and hold relevant academic qualifications or two years of relevant experience. Staff at the supporting level need the labour market test and a contract sealed by the Department of Labour. Each company commits to at least 30% Cypriot or EU staff over five years, and the ratio for new hires is checked after 2 January 2027.
Citizenship for highly skilled employees
Highly skilled employees of companies on the Register of Foreign Interest Companies can apply for Cyprus citizenship after four years of legal residence with B1 Greek, or five with A2.
The last 12 months must be continuous, with absences of no more than 90 days in total. The applicant needs at least two years with a qualifying company and must be employed by one on the day of application and on the day it is examined. The other naturalisation conditions apply.
Duration of a Category C or E permit
The residence right under Categories C and E has no time limit, for the holder and for adult dependents. The card itself expires ten years after issue and has to be replaced.
The permit lapses if the holder takes permanent residence abroad or is absent from Cyprus for two years. An applicant living abroad at approval must take up residence in Cyprus within one year of approval, or the permit lapses.
EU Blue Card and work permits
The EU Blue Card in Cyprus is a residence and work permit for highly qualified non-EU nationals. The minimum gross annual salary is €43,632, set by decree of the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance.
The applicant needs a university degree, or professional knowledge and skills certifiably equivalent to one. For ICT posts, at least three years of professional experience at a comparable level, gained in the seven years before the application, can stand in for the degree.
Cyprus restricts the card by sector. The decree covers information and communication technology, pharmacy for research purposes, and maritime employment other than captains and ship's crew. Nothing outside those sectors qualifies, whatever the salary or the qualification.
We handle work permits for third-country staff at companies of foreign interest, from the employment contract to the residence card.
Additional legal support
We help our clients with the following:
- Relocating their business to Cyprus
- Company formation
- Obtaining Cyprus tax residency
- Buying property in Cyprus for residency
- Retiring to Cyprus
- Moving to Cyprus after Brexit
- Obtaining Cyprus citizenship, a Cyprus passport or a spouse visa
Where do you apply in Cyprus?
People living outside the Nicosia district do not go to the Migration Department in Nicosia. They book an appointment with the District Unit of the Aliens and Immigration Service of the Cyprus Police in the district where they live, by email or through the call centre.
| District unit | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|
| Limassol | [email protected] | 25805650, 25805210 |
| Larnaca | [email protected] | 24804236, 24804238 |
| Pafos | [email protected] | 26806222, 26806215 |
| Famagusta | [email protected] | 23803286, 23803288 |
Book a month before expiry
Book the appointment at least one month before your current residence permit or entry visa expires. Send one request per family rather than one per person, and expect a reply within five working days. First registration for an ARC number and renewals of the visitor permit are handled at the same unit.
Some categories are dealt with only at the department's headquarters, 90 Archbishop Makarios III Avenue in Nicosia. They include Immigration Permits, long-term resident status, companies of foreign interest, the EU Blue Card, the digital nomad visa, the start-up visa, intra-corporate transfers, shipping companies, and entry permit applications filed by educational institutions and research centres.
A person living outside the Nicosia district is served by the Aliens and Immigration unit of their own district, and at headquarters only through an authorised representative whose professional office is in Nicosia. The categories above are exempt from that rule: they are examined at headquarters whichever district the applicant lives in.
How long does it take?
The Migration Department publishes an examination time for some permits and none at all for others.
- EU Blue Card: 90 days, or 30 days for long-term mobility from another member state.
- Visitor permit, the Pink Slip: usually decided before the four-month mark.
- Digital nomad visa: 5 to 7 weeks.
- Registration on the Register of Foreign Interest Companies: within ten business days of a duly submitted e-form.
- Long-term resident status: 6 to 12 months.
- Residence and employment permits for staff of companies of foreign interest: one month.
- Immigration Permits under Categories A to F: no published target at all.
The Migration Department gives the examination time for an investor permit as about two months from a complete application. Our own files put the real figure closer to six months, and we plan around six.
Why choose our immigration lawyers?
- We have decades of experience in Cyprus immigration law.
- We work in English, Greek and Russian, and can arrange online meetings with other translators on request.
- We are dedicated to personalised legal guidance for each client and have a strong record in permanent residency and citizenship applications.
- Our attorneys spend days each week in government offices to safeguard our clients' interests.
Marios Konstantinou leads the team, and we run the case from the first document to the permit in your hand.
We assist in opening private and corporate bank accounts and transferring funds to Cyprus in compliance with strict AML regulations. We advise on where to buy a house and how to choose a Cypriot school or university for your children.
We prepare the required documents, complete the application forms, book the meetings with the Migration Department or the district unit, submit the application, attend the meetings with you where your presence is needed, follow the file through, and collect your permits and documents.
The first consultation is free. Ask us what the work costs before you commit to anything, and we will quote a fixed fee. Contact us to arrange it.
Key Cyprus government resources and service links for immigration
- Residence and work permits are handled by the Migration Department, which has been part of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection since May 2024. It was called the Civil Registry and Migration Department and sat under the Ministry of Interior until then. Its website is Migration Department - gov.cy.
- Citizenship went the other way. Naturalisation applications on form M127 are filed at a District Administration Office and handled by the Ministry of Interior.
- For the registration of companies and other business forms, you will need the services of the Registrar of Companies: companies.gov.cy.
- To put a company on the Register of Foreign Interest Companies, so it can employ third-country staff, go to the Business Support Center: gov.cy/bsc.
- You can find a list of all Cyprus ministries and public organisations, along with their websites, here: Organisations - gov.cy.
Frequently asked questions
Which immigration office do I go to in Cyprus?
If you live outside the Nicosia district, you book an appointment with the District Unit of the Aliens and Immigration Service of the Cyprus Police in your own district: Limassol on [email protected], Larnaca on [email protected], Pafos on [email protected] and Famagusta on [email protected]. Book at least one month before your current permit or visa expires, send one request per family, and expect a reply within five working days.
A set of categories is handled only at the Migration Department headquarters, 90 Archbishop Makarios III Avenue in Nicosia, among them Immigration Permits, long-term resident status, companies of foreign interest, the EU Blue Card, the digital nomad visa and the start-up visa.
These are examined at headquarters whichever district you live in. For other services, someone living outside the Nicosia district goes to the Aliens and Immigration unit of their own district, and is served at headquarters only through an authorised representative with a professional office in Nicosia.
What is the 183 rule in Cyprus?
The 183 rule in Cyprus stipulates that if an individual spends over 183 days in a tax year in Cyprus, they are considered a tax resident for that year and are liable to pay tax on their global income in Cyprus.
A second route exists for people with at least 60 days in Cyprus in the tax year and no more than 183 days in any other single country. They need a permanent home here that they own or rent, and a business or employment in Cyprus that does not end during the year. Holding an office, such as a directorship, counts as employment. Our Cyprus tax residency page sets out those conditions.
Can I apply to the Migration Department through a representative?
Yes. Applications can be submitted in person or through an authorised representative, and lawyers, colleges and employers all act in that role.
One rule is worth knowing. Someone living outside the Nicosia district is served by their district unit, and at the department's headquarters only through an authorised representative whose professional office is in Nicosia. Categories examined only at headquarters, such as Immigration Permits, long-term resident status, the EU Blue Card and companies of foreign interest, are exempt from that rule. Biometrics are still taken from the applicant in person, at headquarters or at the district unit where they live.
Do I need a lawyer to apply for a Cyprus residence permit?
For most categories, no. A visitor permit, a yellow slip or a renewal is filed at the district unit in your own district, and you can do that yourself.
Categories handled only at headquarters in Nicosia, such as Immigration Permits, long-term resident status, the EU Blue Card and applications by companies of foreign interest, are filed there whichever district you live in. The rule requiring a representative with a Nicosia office does not apply to them.
How long does a Cyprus residence permit take?
The published examination times are 90 days for the EU Blue Card, or 30 days for long-term mobility, 5 to 7 weeks for the digital nomad visa, and usually under four months for the visitor permit. Registration on the Register of Foreign Interest Companies runs within ten business days of a duly submitted e-form.
Immigration Permits under Categories A to F carry no published target at all. For the investor permit the department gives about two months from a complete application, and our own files put the real figure closer to six months.
How can I invite a third-country national to Cyprus?
If your guest needs a visa, they apply at a Cyprus embassy or consulate. You support the application with the hosting form. You sign it, and a certifying officer or a mukhtar certifies your signature. Some mukhtars do this free of charge, others charge a fee.
In some cases you are asked for a bank guarantee as well. It runs for at least ten years. The amount depends on the guest's country of origin: €850 for most countries and €550 for Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and several other European countries outside the EU. Guests from the Middle East, Egypt and Turkey included, need €350.
By signing the hosting form you cover your guest's accommodation and subsistence during the stay. Any medical treatment costs are yours too. You guarantee that the stay will not go past the visa, and you undertake to tell the authorities without delay if it does.
How can I immigrate to Cyprus?
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens enter on an identity card or passport and register within four months of arrival. Staying past three months means being a worker or self-employed here, or holding enough resources plus full sickness insurance.
Third-country nationals need a permit before they stay. The categories run from visitors and students through employees and investors to permanent residents.
Can I get a permanent residence permit?
A permanent residence permit in Cyprus is granted under the Aliens and Immigration Regulations to applicants who fit one of four routes: the €300,000 investment route under Regulation 6(2), self-employment under Categories A to D, a permanent job offer under Category E, or a secured income from abroad under Category F. Each route has its own conditions, and the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection decides each application.
Long-term resident status is a separate EU status, open after five years of legal and continuous residence; students and people on temporary-only permits do not qualify.
Is the Civil Registry and Migration Department the same as the Migration Department?
Yes, under a former name. The Civil Registry and Migration Department was renamed the Migration Department in 2024, when it moved from the Ministry of Interior to the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection.
The functions split at the same time. Residence and work permits stayed with the Migration Department, and the Civil Registry stayed at the Ministry of Interior, which is where citizenship and naturalisation applications go on form M127.