Updated

CY-PR

Permanent residence by investment

Permanent residence in Cyprusfor an investor

Open-ended European Union resident status with no renewals: the €300,000 threshold does not depend on the family composition, and keeping the status only takes a visit every two years.

  • The conditions are checked against Regulation 6(2) of the Interior Ministry
  • Working since 2004
  • We check the developer and the title before the deposit
A Cypriot permanent resident card
€300,000The investment threshold
open-endedThe term of the status
2-3 monthsTo the status

01 / About the program

How Cypriot permanent residence works

Cyprus issues permanent residence to investors under the accelerated Regulation 6(2) procedure. The threshold is €300,000 in property; the status is open-ended and needs no renewals. There is no compulsory residence, but you have to appear on the island once every two years.

01

The status is open-ended

Permanent residence is issued once and is not reissued every few years. That is a fundamental difference from programmes where the residence card lasts two to five years.

02

The threshold does not depend on the family composition

€300,000 for the applicant and the whole family. Only the administrative fees and the medical insurance change with the composition — around €740 per person.

03

A visit every two years is enough

There are no requirements as to residence, language or employment. To keep the status you have to appear on the island at least once every two years.

04

Cyprus is not in Schengen

The main limit: the status gives no visa-free entry to the Schengen area. Travel around Europe needs a separate visa.

02 / What you get

What Cypriot permanent residence gives you

An open-ended status with no renewals

Arranged once and the status is yours. There is no need to return to the paperwork every few years and confirm your income again.

One threshold for the whole family

A spouse, dependent children up to 25 and the parents of both spouses receive the status on the same investment — the amount does not depend on the composition.

Minimal obligations

No language, no examinations and no requirement to live in the country. A visit every two years is all it takes to keep the status.

The property stays yours

The property is in your ownership and can be let. The status rests on ownership, so a sale is planned in advance.

English and the legal system

Cypriot law is built on the English system, and the paperwork and the banks work in English — for a family and a business that removes the language barrier.

Tax regimes for residents

On a move the regimes for new tax residents are available, the non-domiciled status among them. Permanent residence in itself does not make you a tax resident.

A preliminary assessment

Calculate the budget for your family

Set out who is applying with you. With the calculation you get the full Cypriot budget: the property, the stamp duty, the VAT, the fees and the insurance for each person, the timeline by stage and a plan of action.

Who is applying for the status?

Get the calculation

about a minuteno calls and no obligationsconfidential

  • The full budget with the taxes and fees
  • The timeline for each stage of the process
  • A plan of action: where to start
Cypriot permanent resident cards and a set of documents

03 / Why people apply

Why people arrange Cypriot permanent residence

Cyprus is chosen for an open-ended status with minimal obligations. It is not a route to European visa-free travel — it is a calm base in the European Union that does not have to be kept up with paperwork.

A status that does not expire

For a family that does not want to gather certificates every two years, open-ended permanent residence settles the question once and for all.

Three generations on one threshold

Children up to 25 and the parents of both spouses come within the same threshold. Per person that is one of the best-value offers in the EU.

Fast

2-3 months from filing to the status — one of the shortest timelines in Europe.

A familiar environment

English, English law, a large international community and direct flights — the move goes smoothly.

A base for tax planning

On a genuine move Cyprus offers one of the mildest tax regimes in the EU. The decision is taken with a tax adviser.

An asset by the sea

The property bought can be used by the family or let. The yield depends on the location and the season.

04 / Travel

What the status gives you for travel

Cyprus is in the European Union but not in the Schengen area. That is the key point in the choice: the status gives no visa-free travel around Europe.

Mode 01

Cyprus without limits

Entry, exit and residence on the island at any time. There is no compulsory minimum of days; a visit every two years is needed.

Mode 02

Schengen on a visa

The status gives no visa-free entry to the Schengen area: Cyprus does not belong to it. The visa is obtained separately, though EU resident status makes it simpler.

Mode 03

Maintaining the status

Absence from the island for more than two years in a row is a ground for reconsidering the status. Trips are planned in advance.

Mode 04

The rest of the world on your own passport

You travel to third countries on your current passport of citizenship: that is what sets the visa regime, not the residence card.

Sources: Regulation 6(2) of the Interior Ministry of the Republic of Cyprus and the migration law. Cyprus is a member of the European Union but does not take part in the Schengen agreement. Entry rules are set by the receiving states and may change.

05 / The composition of the application

Who gets the status with you

Permanent residence goes to everyone entered in the application. Open a row to see the conditions.

  • Over 18
  • No convictions
  • An annual income from sources outside Cyprus of at least €50,000
  • With valid medical insurance
  • In a registered marriage
  • A spouse adds €15,000 to the annual family income required
  • Unmarried and financially dependent on the applicant
  • Children from 18 to 25 — in full-time study
  • Each child adds €10,000 to the annual income required
  • The parents of the applicant and the parents of the spouse
  • Proof of further income to support them is required

06 / Cost

What Cypriot permanent residence costs

The threshold is fixed and does not depend on the family composition. The number of people in the application affects only the administrative fees and the insurance.

Residential property · the main option

€300,000

≈ $348,000

Holding period The whole time the status is in force

  • A primary-market property: bought from a developer, not a resale
  • The €300,000 threshold excluding VAT is measured by the sale contract
  • It can be met with two properties if they are bought from the same developer
  • Payment goes by transfer from abroad from the applicant’s account
  • The property stays in your ownership for the whole time the status is in force

Commercial property · offices, shops, hotels

€300,000

≈ $348,000

Holding period The whole time the status is in force

  • Offices, shops, hotels and similar properties
  • The secondary market is allowed — unlike residential property
  • The threshold is the same: €300,000 excluding VAT
  • The family’s annual income from sources outside Cyprus is confirmed

The investment option

The main applicant
1
Spouse
0
Children up to 25
0
The parents of both spouses
0

The conditions are given under Regulation 6(2) of the Interior Ministry of the Republic of Cyprus. On top of the investment come stamp duty of around €18,000, VAT at the rate for the property, the administrative fees and medical insurance of around €740 per person. This is a preliminary calculation, not a decision of a state authority.

07 / Comparison

Cyprus against other residency programmes

Cyprus is taken for an open-ended status, not for visa-free travel. Here are the main parameters next to the European programmes.

CyprusGreecePortugalMaltaHungary
Investment threshold from€300,000€250,000€200,000€375,000€250,000
The term of the statusOpen-ended5 years2 years5 years10 years
Schengen visa-freeNoYesYesYesYes
Presence requirementA visit every 2 yearsNone7 days a yearNoneNone
Processing time2-3 months4-6 months6-18 months6-8 months4-6 months

The amounts are the minimum thresholds, excluding taxes and fees. The data are given as at the date this page was updated and are checked again before the agreement is signed.

Full program comparison →

08 / Property

Properties that qualify

From the BRIDGES catalogue — properties whose price and type fit the program requirements. Documents, the developer and threshold compliance are verified before a viewing.

Availability and price are confirmed on the date of enquiry. A lawyer confirms that the property meets the program conditions before any deposit.

09 / Full cycle

One team for the property and the status

Normally the client assembles this chain alone: an agent shows the property, a lawyer checks the papers, an immigration consultant files the application — and after the purchase the owner is left with the apartment on their own. With us all six steps run in one pair of hands under one contract.

  1. 01

    Selecting a qualifying property

    We calculate the program threshold and shortlist properties that meet it. We also show the ones that do not qualify — and explain why.

  2. 02

    Due diligence and the deal

    Developer, permits, title, encumbrances. Contract, secure settlement and registration in your name — you know every risk before any deposit.

  3. 03

    The status application

    We compile the file, evidence income and source of funds, run the application with the authority and answer their queries until a decision.

  4. 04

    Running the property

    Handover and keys, utilities, insurance, maintenance and control of recurring payments — while you live in another country.

  5. 05

    Letting, if the property sits empty

    Preparation, finding a tenant, the lease and payment control. The asset works instead of waiting for your visit.

  6. 06

    Renewals and exit from the asset

    We handle renewals and the owner’s duties, and when you decide to sell — we prepare the property and run the transaction. The status is retained under the program rules.

One client. One property. One accountable team.

The scope of services, limits of responsibility and fees are set by a separate contract and depend on the country and the property.

10 / How it works

How the Cypriot permanent residence process works

STEP 1

The preliminary check

We go through the situation: citizenship, the family composition, the source and structure of the annual income. We calculate the all-in budget before any costs.

STEP 2

Finding the property

Primary-market residential property or a commercial property. We check the developer, the permits, the title and any encumbrances before the deposit.

STEP 3

The transaction

The sale contract, registration at the land registry, stamp duty of around €18,000 and VAT at the rate for the property. The transaction can be done by power of attorney.

STEP 4

Proof of income

We prepare proof of the family’s annual income from sources outside Cyprus: from €50,000 for the applicant plus the additions for each family member.

STEP 5

Filing the application

The documents are filed with the Interior Ministry and the administrative fees and the insurance are paid for each participant.

STEP 6

Consideration

It takes 2-3 months. Most of the process runs remotely; personal presence is required for biometrics.

STEP 7

The status is issued

Permanent residence is issued open-ended and needs no renewals. After that the status is kept by visits to the island at least once every two years.

A step-by-step plan of the process

The same seven steps as a document: what is prepared at each stage, which documents are needed, how long each step takes and when a visit is required.

Download the step-by-step plan
Cyprus, the Mediterranean coast

Permanent residence is issued under the accelerated Regulation 6(2) procedure.

CyprusThe European Union, outside SchengenAn open-ended status
Find a property

11 / Our role

Why people arrange Cypriot permanent residence with us

In Cyprus a refusal most often comes not because of the property but because of the income: the ministry checks its structure and source more closely than the transaction itself.

01

We build the income properly

The family’s annual income from sources outside Cyprus is the main requirement. We look in advance at which receipts will qualify and which will raise questions.

02

We check the developer

The building permits, the title, encumbrances and the developer’s reputation. The primary market is a compulsory condition for residential property.

03

We work out the taxes on the transaction

The stamp duty, the VAT at the rate for the particular property and the annual costs. We show the all-in total before the deposit.

04

We run the status after it is issued

Watching the visits every two years, adding family members, questions of letting and of tax residency on a move.

15 / Materials

Useful materials on Cyprus

Materials on Cypriot permanent residence: the requirements for the property and the income, the composition of the application and the order of the transaction.

The main materialPresentation

Permanent residence in Cyprus

The presentation gathers the essentials of the programme: the investment options, the income requirements, the family composition, the documents and how the work is done.

Inside:

  • which properties qualify for the programme
  • how the family’s annual income is evidenced
  • what it costs all in, with the taxes and fees
  • which relatives are included in the application
  • which documents will be needed
  • how the transaction is done by power of attorney
  • how work with BRIDGES is organised

PDF · free · current as of August 2026

Which receipts the ministry accepts and which raise questions: salary, dividends, rent, interest.

The list of documents for the applicant and each family member, marking what has to be translated and apostilled.

We calculate the full budget: the property, the stamp duty, the VAT, the administrative fees and the insurance for each person.

All the materials are updated regularly by our team and are used when supporting BRIDGES clients.

16 / News

What has changed in the Cypriot programme

2023-05-02

The income requirements were clarified: from €50,000 for the applicant, with additions for a spouse and children, and the income must come from sources outside Cyprus.

2024-01-01

Checks on proof of payment for the property were tightened: the funds must arrive by transfer from abroad from the applicant’s account.

Worth having

Download the Cypriot permanent residence checklist

The short document we give clients before the start: the requirements for the property and the income, the cost structure and the stages — in one list, with nothing padded.

Inside the document

  • The requirements for the property and for proving income
  • The full cost structure with the stamp duty and the VAT
  • The current conditions for 2026

We will send it after a short form - no call or obligation.

17 / Questions

Answers to common questions

€300,000 excluding VAT in property. For residential property only the primary market qualifies — a purchase from a developer; the threshold can be met with two properties if they are bought from the same developer. For commercial property the secondary market is also allowed. The alternative is shares in a Cypriot company or fund units for the same amount.

From €50,000 a year for the applicant from sources outside Cyprus, plus €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 for each child. Proof of income is exactly where applications are most often refused, so we go through the structure of the receipts before filing.

No. The programme sets no requirements as to residence, language or employment. To keep the status it is enough to appear on the island at least once every two years.

No. Cyprus is in the European Union but not in the Schengen area, so travel around Europe needs a visa. That is the main difference from Greece, Portugal and Italy.

A spouse by registered marriage, dependent children up to 25 (from 18 to 25, in full-time study) and the parents of both spouses. The investment threshold does not depend on the composition, but each person adds income requirements, fees and insurance.

On top of the price of the property come stamp duty of around €18,000, VAT at the rate for the particular property, the administrative fees and medical insurance of around €740 per person, plus the legal support. The exact budget is fixed before the deposit.

The status is reconsidered: permanent residence rests on owning property. We plan a sale in advance, usually together with buying another suitable property.

2-3 months from filing to the status — one of the shortest timelines in Europe. Before that come finding the property and the transaction.

Not automatically. Naturalisation requires actual residence — as a rule seven years out of the last ten, with knowledge of Greek. The Cypriot citizenship by investment programme has been closed since 2020.

The status in itself does not make you a tax resident. Residency arises on living in the country for 183 days a year, or under the 60-day rule where its conditions are met. On a move the favourable regimes are available, the non-domiciled status among them — we work them out with a tax adviser.

INITIAL ASSESSMENT

Tell us what outcome your family needs

We will design a solution for your case, choose the country and the right status, and take the whole process through to the result.

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Anna Kovalevskaya, lead lawyer at BRIDGES GLOBAL
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer, citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice