A free PDF guide — the status is for life
A guide to permanent residence in Cyprus:the terms, the cost and the timings
A permanent status in the European Union with no renewals and no requirement to live there: a visit to the island once every 2 years is enough. We set out the €300,000 threshold, the full budget with the fees, who can be in the application and the limits of the status.
- PDF in English
- Free of charge
- Verified on 11.08.2026
- Sent by email, WhatsApp or Telegram
Preliminary information is not a guarantee of approval. Whether the programme is open to you and the final cost are settled after the check on the applicant.
01 / The essentials first
What to know about the programme before the calculation
Four things that set Cyprus apart from the other European programmes.
- The status is for life
Permanent residence is granted open-ended and needs no renewals. That sets Cyprus apart from programmes where the residence card is reissued every few years.
- A visit once every 2 years is enough
There are no requirements as to residence, language or work. To keep the status you have to appear on the island at that interval.
- The threshold does not depend on the family
€300,000 in residential or commercial property. Only the administrative fees and the insurance change — €740 a person.
- One of the shortest timelines in Europe
2-3 months from filing to the status. The basis is Regulation 6(2) of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic.
02 / The budget
The budget for your family
The investment threshold is one per application. The stamp duty and the insurance come on top, and the insurance is counted per person.
03 / A comparison
Cyprus and Greece: which to choose
Two countries at a similar price with different mechanics: an open-ended status against access to the Schengen area.
The values were checked against the official material on 11.08.2026. Only the rows for which there is no official wording are marked separately.
| Criterion | CyprusPermanent residence — €300,000 | GreeceResidence — from €250,000 by zone |
|---|---|---|
| What the status gives | permanent residence, for life | a residence permit, renewable |
| The size of the investment | €300,000 | from €250,000 to €800,000 by zone |
| Presence | a visit once every 2 years | not required |
| Renewing the status | not required | required under the rules of the programme |
| How long it takesA BRIDGES estimate | 2-3 months | 4-6 months |
| The Schengen area | Cyprus is not in the Schengen area | Greece is in the Schengen area |
| Who it usually suitsA BRIDGES estimate | You want an open-ended status with no fuss | You want access to Schengen as a resident |
- What the status gives
- permanent residence, for life
- a residence permit, renewable
- The size of the investment
- €300,000
- from €250,000 to €800,000 by zone
- Presence
- a visit once every 2 years
- not required
- Renewing the status
- not required
- required under the rules of the programme
- How long it takesA BRIDGES estimate
- 2-3 months
- 4-6 months
- The Schengen area
- Cyprus is not in the Schengen area
- Greece is in the Schengen area
- Who it usually suitsA BRIDGES estimate
- You want an open-ended status with no fuss
- You want access to Schengen as a resident
Cyprus is not in the Schengen area — the deciding factor if travel in Europe matters to you more than the status being open-ended.
04 / The country
What the country looks like
Briefly about the country and about what sets the terms of the programme.
- LimassolThe cover of the guide: the country and the key terms of the programme.
- The essentials firstWhat to know before the calculation: the key facts of the programme.
- The terms of the optionsThe parameters of the programme in one table, on the official terms.
- The road mapThe process step by step — from the check to the documents.
- The check on the applicantWhat is examined before the status is granted, and where people stumble.
- The limitsThe limits that bear on the timings and the sum.
- Your teamWho runs the case and what each specialist answers for.
05 / The order of work
How the process runs
One of the quickest paths to a status in the European Union — with the documents ready and the property found.
- The preliminary check
The nationality, the family and the source of funds. We settle whether it is open to you and count the budget before the first outlay.
- Finding the property
New-build residential property or commercial. The threshold may be met with one property or two.
- The transaction and the stamp duty
The contract, the registration and the stamp duty — about €18,000, depending on the sum.
- Filing the application
The documents go to the Ministry of the Interior. The administrative fees and the insurance are paid for everyone in the application.
- Consideration
It takes 2-3 months. The main part of the process goes through remotely.
- The status is granted
Permanent residence is granted open-ended. From there the status is kept up by visits to the island.
07 / The check
What is examined before the transaction and before the filing
Besides the source of funds, a steady income from outside Cyprus has to be evidenced.
- The source of funds
A clear chain from the earnings to the account the property is paid from. It is examined before filing.
- The property and the developer
For residential property the new-build market matters. The title, the developer and the fit with the programme are examined.
- Proof of income
A steady income from sources outside Cyprus has to be evidenced, to support the family.
- The family
A spouse, children and dependent parents aged 55 and over. Financial dependence is evidenced with documents.
For residential property the new-build market matters: a resale property does not meet the terms of the programme.
08 / The limits
What to take into account in advance
Five limits that bear on what the status is worth and on keeping it.
Cyprus is not in the Schengen areaThe status gives no free entry to the Schengen area
This is the main difference from Greece, Portugal and Italy. Travel in the Schengen area needs a visa of its own.
A visit every two years is requiredOtherwise the status may be reconsidered
There is no requirement to live there, but you have to appear on the island at least once every 2 years.
The property is heldA sale affects the status
Permanent residence rests on owning the property. The exit from the asset is planned in advance and discussed before the transaction.
Citizenship is a separate pathPermanent residence does not lead to a passport by itself
Citizenship requires naturalisation with actual residence and the periods met.
The fees on top of the thresholdThe stamp duty and the insurance are counted separately
On top of the price of the property come about €18,000 of stamp duty and €740 for each person in the application.
09 / Your team
Who runs your case
The work is led by specialists in the European programmes and in property transactions.
The editorial record
The material was prepared and checked by
- First published
- 11 August 2026
- Last updated
- 11 August 2026
The official sources
- The Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of CyprusMinistry of Interior, the Republic of Cyprus · checked 11.08.2026The basis of the programme in Regulation 6(2), how to file and the requirements on the applicant.
- The government services portal of CyprusGov.cy · checked 11.08.2026The official forms, the administrative fees and how applications are considered.
- The Department of Lands and Surveys of CyprusDepartment of Lands and Surveys · checked 11.08.2026The registration of property transactions and the calculation of the stamp duty.
10 / Common questions
Questions about permanent residence in Cyprus
How much has to be invested?
€300,000 in new-build residential property or in commercial property. The threshold may be met with one property or two.
Do I have to live in Cyprus?
No. There are no requirements as to residence, language or work. To keep the status a visit to the island once every 2 years is enough.
Does the status have to be renewed?
No, permanent residence is granted for life. That sets Cyprus apart from programmes with a residence card for a few years.
Does the status give the Schengen area?
No. Cyprus is not in the Schengen area, so travel there needs a visa of its own.
Who is included in the application?
A spouse, children and dependent parents aged 55 and over — the applicant’s and the spouse’s alike, where financial dependence is evidenced.
What costs come on top of the price of the property?
Stamp duty of about €18,000, administrative fees and insurance of €740 a person, and the legal work.
How long does it take?
2-3 months — one of the shortest timelines among the European programmes.
Can citizenship follow later?
Permanent residence does not lead to a passport by itself. Citizenship is obtained through naturalisation, with requirements as to actual residence.
Free of charge
Take the guide and a quotation for your family
We will send the PDF with the terms of the programme and a budget calculation for your family.
- The investment threshold and the requirements on the property
- The full budget with the stamp duty and the insurance
- The rules for keeping a status that runs for life
- Who can be in the application and how the process runs