Cyprus Pink Slip: Temporary Residence Permit Guide

The Cyprus temporary residence permit, also known as the Pink Slip, Pink Card, or TRC card (Temporary Residence Card), allows non-EU passport holders to extend their stay in Cyprus beyond a 90-day visa period without the right to work. The residence permit is valid for 1 year and can be renewed annually.

The applicants’ family members (spouse and children under 18) can obtain the same Cyprus residence 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 in the city where they reside in Cyprus, and then the Migration Department examines the applications.

Pink Slip, Pink Card and TRC card are three names for the same document: the plastic Cyprus Temporary Residence Card issued to non-EU nationals. The original paper slip was pink, hence "Pink Slip" and "Pink Card".

Cyprus temporary residence permit overview

With a temporary residence permit, a person may 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

1. Enter Cyprus on a valid entry visa (or visa-free for eligible passports) and keep the arrival stamp.
2. Book an appointment with the Immigration Unit of the district where you will live (Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos or Famagusta). Appointments are typically set 2–3 weeks ahead.
3. Rent or buy accommodation for at least one year, and have the rental agreement certified by the Muhtar and stamped at the tax office.
4. Transfer at least €10,000 from abroad to a Cyprus bank account.
5. Set up the required bank guarantee (amount depends on nationality; some countries are exempt).
6. Obtain health insurance certificate and complete the medical exams in Cyprus.
7. Prepare all required documents (see details below) with apostille and translation where required.
8. Attend the Immigration Unit appointment in person to submit the application, pay €70 application fee and €70 registration, and give biometrics.
9. Wait approximately 6 months; you may legally stay in Cyprus throughout.

Pink Slip requirements

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

• adequate annual income from abroad, transferred to a Cyprus bank account, starting at €24,000 for a single applicant and increased by 20% for a spouse and 15% per child (see detailed amounts below),
• 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, 0.8 MB) for a temporary residence permit in Cyprus as a visitor MVIS8, 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

  While applicants must prove a stable annual foreign income of at least €24,000, the official requirement for a first-time permit application dictates an initial cash transfer or deposit of at least €10,000 into a bank account in Cyprus, transferred from abroad. For renewals, the bank balance must be at least €6,000.

  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 required annual 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, and syphilis
  • A chest X-ray report for tuberculosis

  They need to be stamped by a specialist doctor. The medical exam results are valid for three months.

• 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.

Cyprus Pink Slip processing time in 2026

In 2026, 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 in Cyprus 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.

Nicosia	Agamemnonos 6, Engomi, 2411 Nicosia
Limassol	Franglinou Rousvelt 223, Zakaki, Building ¨D. Nikolaou¨, 2nd floor, 3046 Limassol
Larnaka	Tasou Mitsopoulou 34, 6027 Larnaka
Pafos	Eleftheriou Venizelou & Kaningos 22, 2nd floor, 8021 Pafos
Famagusta	Eleftherias 83, Tapolos Bld, Derynia Plaza, 1st floor, 5380 Derynia

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).

How to check your Pink Slip (TRC card) status

To check your Pink Slip status, send an SMS to 1199 with the text: STATUS ApplicationNumber. You can find the application number on your receipt for paying the application submission fee (form Γ.Λ. 301B).

Note a charge of 3.4 cents per SMS (as of January 2026). An example of the SMS text message you need to send is STATUS 1243/2016

Check Pink Slip status online

The Migration Department does not currently offer an online portal for application status lookups. Applicants whose lawyer filed the application can request an update through the lawyer, who can contact the department directly.

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.

For renewals, the applicant's bank balance must not fall below €6,000, regardless of the size of the family.

You must apply to renew your temporary residence permit at least one month before it expires.

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 spend it on their living expenses.

Cyprus Pink Slip benefits

Key benefits of a Pink Slip include 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.

The Pink Slip offers several additional 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.

Does the Pink Slip allow visa-free travel?

No. The Cyprus Pink Slip (TRC card) is a national residence permit, not a Schengen visa or EU residence card. It does not grant visa-free access to any country other than Cyprus itself.

Pink Slip holders may re-enter Cyprus without a separate visa while the permit is valid. For travel to any other country, the rules of the holder's passport apply.