Updated: May 13, 2025
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 labor 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.
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 longer than three months and formalises their right to reside. The certificate grants free employment access and does not expire.
You can download the form here: MEU1B form (PDF, 650 KB).
Processing time – The Yellow Slip is issued in one month.
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, like student permits, or permanent, like immigration permits for investors or Category F permits.
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 over three months, grants free employment access, and is typically valid for five years.
You can download the form here: MEU2B form (PDF, 800 KB).
The MEU2 is issued by the Migration Department of Nicosia and sent to the applicant’s address. This process typically takes six months.
However, once applied, applicants can stay and re-enter Cyprus if they travel with their application receipts.
The applicant will receive a residency card (EU citizens receive a registration certificate).
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.
The Yellow Slip for European Union citizens does not expire. The certificate for non-EU family members is valid for 5 years. On expiry, the applicant can apply for renewal.
Benefits of the Yellow Slip in Cyprus include:
To get a Yellow Slip (Registration Certificate MEU1) in Cyprus, EU/EEA/Swiss citizens staying over 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.
The documents required to get the yellow card include:
The rental agreement needs to be for the one-year minimum (rental agreement and a copy of it certified by Muhtar or a certifying officer & stamped at the tax office)
It can be international health insurance if the applicant already has one, or it can be purchased in Cyprus. The average cost is €200 per person, and it can be completed 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 and also by the Cyprus Embassy of that country.
The complete list of documents for the MEU1 form can be downloaded at http://www.mip.gov.cy
For the MEU2 form, follow the link at http://www.mip.gov.cy
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 the application.
Application for the first-time issue of a Yellow Slip or its renewal: €20 for each family member.
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 |
For non-EU family members, you must provide all the documents and certificates required for the initial registration. A Yellow lip for EU citizens does not expire, so there is no need to renew it.
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 as of 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 https://www.mip.gov.cy/.
Our law firm will undertake the entire procedure for your application to ensure it runs smoothly. We will book the date for the meeting for submission, prepare the application forms, advise on required documents, attend the meeting with you, follow the application process, receive the yellow cards, and deliver them to you.
What does a yellow slip mean in Cyprus, who is eligible for it?
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 - MOI and at entry and residence of third country nationals who are family members of an E.U./E.E.A. citizen - MOI.
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.
What is the difference between MEU1 and MEU3?
The MEU1 and MEU3 application forms serve different purposes. The MEU1 form registers EU/EEA citizens and their family members who are also EU/EEA citizens. In contrast, the MEU3 form registers family members from non-EU/EEA countries, allowing them to apply for PR after residing in the Republic for 5 years.
Family members include spouses, financially dependent children under 21, and financially dependent parents and parents-in-law.
George K. Konstantinou
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