Cyprus Pink Slip

The Cyprus temporary residence permit, also known as the Pink Slip, allows non-European Union passport holders to extend their stay in Cyprus for more than 90 days without the right to work. It is valid for 1 year and can be renewed annually. Applicants’ family members can obtain the permit as dependents.

Applicants must show sufficient annual foreign income (at least €24,000) to cover living expenses in Cyprus to be eligible to apply for a temporary residence permit. The application is submitted to the Immigration Unit of the city where they reside in Cyprus, and then the Migration Department examines the applications.

One of the key benefits of a Pink Slip is that a third-country national who has resided legally and continuously in the Republic of Cyprus for five years can apply for long-term resident status. After eight years of living in Cyprus, a temporary permit holder can apply for citizenship.

Cyprus temporary residence permit overview

With a temporary residence permit, a person is permitted to reside in Cyprus as a visitor, without the right to work. Additionally, family members, spouse, and children (under 18 years old) can receive the pink slip as dependents.

The whole family applies simultaneously; each member files a separate application form and gets his/her temporary residence card.

Pink Slip restrictions

• Cannot stay out of Cyprus for more than three months continuously, as the permit would be cancelled automatically.
• No right to work in Cyprus.
• It is granted only to non-EU Nationals who wish to extend their stay in Cyprus.

How long is a Pink Slip valid for?

A Pink Slip in Cyprus is valid for one year and can be renewed annually, provided the applicant continues to meet the requirements. In cases where the applicant’s passport expires sooner, the residence permit validity will be set to end three months before that date.

How to obtain a Cyprus Pink Slip

Pink Slip requirements

To be eligible for a Pink Slip, the applicant is required to show:

• adequate income from abroad to cover living expenses while residing in Cyprus (estimated about €25,000 – €30,000 for a three-member family),
• either rented for a one-year minimum or bought a house or apartment,
• health insurance,
• medical exams,
• bank guarantee.

Necessary documents

To obtain a temporary residency permit in Cyprus, the applicant needs to apply with the following required documents:

• Application form (PDF, 0.3 MB) for a temporary residence permit in Cyprus as a visitor MVIS6, duly completed

  One for each family member.

• Rental agreement or sale agreement of a house/apartment

  The rental agreement must be for a minimum of one year (Rental Agreement and a copy of it, certified by Muhtar or a certifying officer, and stamped at the tax office).

• Bank statement & proof of transfer from abroad

  Deposit/Transfer €24,000 in a bank account in Cyprus, which should be transferred from abroad. If cash is brought in, it must be declared at the airport upon arrival, and a confirmation document must be received. (Learn how to open a bank account in Cyprus).

  If a bank transfer, one needs swift confirmation from the bank in Cyprus that this amount was transferred from abroad.

  This amount is increased by 20% for the spouse and 15% for each child.

• Bank guarantee

  Set up a bank guarantee in a Cyprus bank, one for each family member. The amount depends on nationality:

  • Eastern European countries, Russians = €550
  • Middle East countries = €350
  • Asian / American countries = €850

  The processing time for the bank to issue guarantees is 1-2 business days.

  Applicants from the following countries are exempt from providing bank guarantees: the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Singapore, Norway, Andorra, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Monaco, Qatar, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.

• Health insurance

  It can be international health insurance if the applicant already has one, or it can be purchased in Cyprus. The average cost is €175 for each person. It can be made in 1 day.

• Medical exams (needed only for the first permit, not for the renewals)

  They are done in Cyprus, and they are blood tests showing that the applicant does not suffer from the following:

  • Hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis
  • A chest X-ray report for tuberculosis

  They need to be stamped by a specialist doctor.

• Documents to prove income from abroad

  It can be any stable income, such as employment, bank deposits, or a pension. This income should enable the temporary residence holder to cover their living expenses in Cyprus.

  Annual income estimates (after tax):

  • €24,000 for a single applicant (to have an extra 20% for the spouse and 15% for each child)
  • €28,800 for a couple
  • €32,400 for couple & 1 child
• Passport copy
• Marriage Certificate duly certified and translated *(If applicable)
• Children’s Birth Certificates, duly certified and translated *(If applicable)
• School enrolment confirmation for children
• Criminal Record from the country of origin or residence * (not older than 6 months). For UK citizens, it must be from the ACRO Criminal Records Office, not the DBS.

The documents with (*) must be translated into English and bear the «APOSTILLE» stamp. OR they must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country that will issue them and by the Cyprus Embassy of that Country.

Documents from Russia do not require an Apostille; a translation can be completed in Cyprus.

Application processing time

• In 2025, the processing time for a Cyprus Residence Permit Card is approximately 6 months. The issued Pink Slip will be valid for one year from the date the case is approved.
• Once the application is submitted, the applicant is allowed to stay until the case is processed.

Application submission location

The applicant must apply to the Immigration Unit of the city where they live. The Migration Department then forwards and examines the applications.

Below are the addresses of each city’s immigration unit.

Cyprus government fees

Application for the first time or renewal: €70 for each family member.

Registration: €70 for each family member (payable only the first time of application).

Renewal of a temporary residence permit

To renew a temporary residence permit in Cyprus, the applicant must follow the same process as the initial application. The necessary documents and application forms must be provided again. However, the applicant must only provide copies of bank guarantees and marriage or birth certificates. There is no need to undergo medical tests or provide updated criminal records.

Advice from our lawyers

We advise our clients to transfer money from abroad to their bank account in Cyprus and use a visa or credit card for their expenses, rather than cash.

This will assist in a subsequent application for Pink Slip renewal, as their bank statement will clearly show that they bring money to Cyprus from abroad. And that they spent them on their living expenses.

Cyprus Pink Slip benefits

The Pink Slip in Cyprus offers several benefits:

• Extended stay beyond 90 days for non-EU nationals
• Right to reside yearly as a visitor (renewable)
• Inclusion of spouse and minor children as dependents
• Visa-free re-entry during permit validity
• Access to local schools for children
• Pathway to long-term resident status after five years
• Pathway to citizenship application after eight years

Our services

Our law firm will manage the entire application procedure to ensure it runs smoothly. We will book the date for the submission meeting, prepare the application forms, provide advice on required documents, attend the meeting with you, follow the application process, receive the immigration permit cards, and deliver them to you.

Contact us for a complimentary personal consultation and discover our competitive fee services.

Frequently Asked Questions