Yellow Slip in Cyprus
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The Cyprus Yellow Slip is a registration certificate for EU/EEA citizens and their family members who are also EU/EEA citizens. It grants residency rights, including access to the labour market and healthcare. To get the Yellow Slip, applicants must submit the MEU1 application form within 4 months of arrival in Cyprus.
A Yellow Slip does not allow its holder to travel to Europe or other countries without a visa. It is only valid for Cyprus.
The application type and forms used to obtain a Yellow Slip differ for European Union citizens and their family members who are not European Union citizens.
MEU1 – Residence permit for EU citizens in Cyprus
The MEU1 is a Registration Certificate for EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens and their family members who are also Union citizens. It is required for stays in Cyprus of more than 3 months and formalises their right to reside in Cyprus. The certificate grants free access to employment and does not expire.
You can download the form here: MEU1B form (PDF, 650 KB).
Processing time: The Yellow Slip, as a paper registration certificate, is issued within 1 month.
MEU1 in Cyprus after Brexit
UK nationals can still move to and live in Cyprus after Brexit if they obtained a residence permit (MEU1, MEU2, MEU3) before December 31, 2020, or acquire a new residence permit. These residence permits can be temporary, such as student permits, or permanent, such as investor immigration permits or Category F permits.
MEU2 – Application form for non-EU citizens in Cyprus
The MEU2 is the application form for a residence card for third-country national family members (e.g., spouse, dependent children) of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens. This card is needed for stays in Cyprus of more than 3 months, grants free employment access, and is typically valid for 5 years.
You can download the form here: MEU2B form (PDF, 800 KB).
Processing time for MEU2
The MEU2 is issued by the Migration Department in Nicosia and sent to the applicant’s address. This process typically takes six months.
However, once the application is submitted, applicants can remain in Cyprus and re-enter if they travel with their application receipts.
The applicant will be issued a plastic biometric residency card, not a paper certificate, though both serve the same residency purpose. EU citizens will receive a registration certificate.
MEU3 – Application form for EU/EEA citizens and members of their families who are also EU/EEA citizens
The MEU3 is the application form for a Permanent Residence Certificate in Cyprus. It is for EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens, plus their EU family members, after five years of uninterrupted legal residence in Cyprus. This certificate confirms their right to permanent stay and does not expire.
You can download the form here: MEU3B form (PDF, 800 KB).
MEU3 applies to spouses, financially dependent children under the age of 21, and financially dependent parents and parents-in-law.
The processing time for MEU3-based applications is typically around 4-6 months.
How to get a Yellow Slip in Cyprus?
To obtain a Yellow Slip (Registration Certificate MEU1) in Cyprus, EU/EEA/Swiss citizens staying for more than 3 months must apply within 4 months of entry. The application process involves submitting the MEU1 form with required documents, paying a €20 fee, and taking a photograph. Proof of work or sufficient resources is needed.
Required documents
The documents required for the registration include:
- Application forms MEU1 or MEU2, duly completed
- Copy of a valid passport
- Marriage Certificate duly certified and translated * (If applicable)
- Children’s Birth Certificates, duly certified and translated * (If applicable)
- Rental agreement or sale agreement of a house/apartment
The rental agreement needs to be for a one-year minimum (rental agreement and a copy of it certified by Muhtar or a certifying officer & stamped at the tax office)
- Bank statements of a bank account in Cyprus or bank statements from abroad (if applicable). The bank statement should cover the last six months and show both the income received and expenditures in Cyprus.
- If working abroad, bring a confirmation letter from the employer and a payslip
- If they are working in Cyprus:
a. Confirmation letter from employer
b. Social Insurance Registration and an annual income certificate
c. Employer to sign the application form - Health insurance (not needed if working in Cyprus)
It can be international health insurance if the applicant already has one, or it can be purchased in Cyprus. Basic immigration plans start at approximately €200 and can be obtained in one day.
Passport photos are unnecessary as they will be taken at the relevant office when you apply.
The documents marked (*) must be translated into English and be «APOSTILLE» OR certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country that will issue them, as well as by the Cyprus Embassy of that country.
Under EU Regulation 2016/1191, public documents (birth and marriage certificates) issued by one EU Member State and presented in another do not require an Apostille or translation if a multilingual standard form is attached.
The complete list of documents for the MEU1 form can be downloaded at Registration of EU citizens - mip.gov.cy
For the MEU2 form, follow the link at EU/EEA Citizens And Family Members - mip.gov.cy
Application procedure
The applicants or their lawyers will book the date to submit the applications. It is recommended to book in advance, ideally 3-4 weeks before the required submission date.
The applicants must be physically present to apply for the Yellow Slip. The application cannot be submitted through a power of attorney or a lawyer; however, their lawyer can attend the meeting to submit it.
Cyprus government fees
Application for the first-time issuance of a Yellow Slip or its renewal: €20 per family member.
Application submission location
The applicant must apply to the Immigration Unit of the city where they reside. The applications are further forwarded and examined by the Civil Registry and Migration Department.
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 |
What are the Yellow Slip benefits?
Benefits of the Yellow Slip in Cyprus include:
- Full rights of stay and re-entry.
- Full access to the labour market with full employment rights, work, and engagement in business activities. Generally, the Yellow Slip entitles its holder to the same rights as a Cypriot citizen.
- Registering with GeSY is the second benefit of having a Yellow Slip in Cyprus. GeSY is a national health system that ensures all residents have access to good healthcare. It covers about 90% of the population as of 2026. Once registered, Yellow Slip holders can receive various medical services, including regular check-ups and specialised treatments. This comprehensive healthcare coverage brings peace of mind, making having a Yellow Slip in Cyprus a great advantage.
Cyprus Yellow Slip validity
The Yellow Slip for European Union citizens does not expire. The residency card for non-EU family members is valid for 5 years. On expiry, the applicant can apply for renewal.
How to renew a Yellow Slip in Cyprus?
Holders of the Non-EU family member residence card must apply for renewal upon expiry and provide all the documents and certificates required for the initial registration. The Yellow Slip (MEU1) for EU citizens does not expire, so there is no need to renew it.
Cyprus Yellow Slip and Brexit
UK citizens arriving in Cyprus post-2021 cannot apply for a Yellow Slip/MEU1. They are Third Country Nationals and must apply for a Pink Slip or Category F, unless they are family members of an EU national.
UK citizens and their family members who had a Yellow Slip before Brexit remain unaffected. If they have resided in Cyprus for five or more years, they have the right to permanent residence.
They can optionally complete form UKW1 to replace their existing documents with the new residence document issued on or after January 1, 2021. The form UKW1 is filled out by UK nationals and their family members who are also UK nationals.
Dependents of UK nationals who are third-country nationals can fill in form UKW2.
The residence document issued under UKW 1 & 2 is valid for 5 years. Then, UK nationals and their family members can apply for permanent residence using UKW3.
For more information, please visit the official website at UK citizens and family members - mip.gov.cy.
Our services
George K. Konstantinou Law Firm will manage the entire application procedure to ensure it runs smoothly. We will book the submission meeting date, prepare the application forms, advise on the required documents, attend the meeting with you, follow the application process, receive the registration certificates (Yellow Slips) or residence cards, and deliver them to you.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Yellow Slip mean in Cyprus?
The Cyprus Yellow Slip is the registration certificate for EU/EEA citizens and members of their families who are also EU/EEA citizens. Within four months of arriving in Cyprus, applicants must submit an application using the MEU1 form, demonstrating sufficient funds for self-support while residing in the Republic. Family members who are not EU/EEA citizens can apply using form MEU2.
What is the Cyprus government fee for a Yellow Slip?
The Cyprus government fee for the MEU1 form is EUR 20,00, and the same fee applies to the MEU2 form.
What is the difference between the Pink Slip and the Yellow Slip?
The Yellow Slip is a registration certificate for EU/EEA citizens and their family members who are also EU/EEA citizens. It is indefinite and grants the right to work in Cyprus. Non-EU/EEA family members get a five-year registration and must reapply. On the other hand, the Pink Slip is for third-country nationals as visitors with independent means, requiring an income of at least EUR 24,000 per annum. It does not grant the right to work and is renewable annually.
How to apply for a Yellow Slip in Cyprus?
To apply for a Yellow Slip in Cyprus, you and your family must use forms MEU1 and MEU2 (if applicable) within four months of arrival. Applications are made at the Immigration Unit of the city where you reside. Details for supporting documentation and fees can be found at Registration of EU citizens and members of their families - mip.gov.cy and at entry and residence of third country nationals who are family members of an E.U./E.E.A. citizen - mip.gov.cy.
How long can an EU citizen stay in Cyprus?
An EU citizen can stay in Cyprus for three months without any formalities. After this period, they can stay indefinitely, provided they are employed or have independent means to support themselves without relying on the Republic’s social benefits system.
