Published: 15.10.2026

• 2026-10-15Cyprus short-stay entry rules: visa exemptions and the 90/180-day limit

  EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may enter Cyprus without a visa, while nationals of several other countries can generally visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. A Cypriot visa is not a Schengen visa, and visa-free entry does not permit employment or settlement; Cyprus may recognise certain valid double- or multiple-entry Schengen visas for short visits.

• 2026-09-24Cyprus prepares to tighten its golden visa programme

  Cyprus is preparing changes to its investment residence programme ahead of possible Schengen accession. Authorities are reviewing around 12,000 permits issued since 2013 and developing a system to track the entry and departure of third-country nationals; migration services are also being digitised.

• 2026-09-16Cyprus Naturalisation May Become Available After Eight Years of Residence in the Previous Eleven

  According to the source, Cyprus citizenship by naturalisation may be available to an applicant who has legally resided in the country for eight of the previous eleven years and meets the residence requirements. This is a long-term citizenship route rather than an initial relocation permit.

• 2026-09-14Cyprus Investment Residence Requires an Investment of at Least €300,000

  The Cyprus investment residence programme requires an investment of at least €300,000. The stated conditions also include having no criminal record and no entry ban to the EU or the United Kingdom.

• 2026-09-09Cyprus Updates Its National Sanctions Framework

  Cyprus’s National Sanctions Implementation Unit listed laws adopted in 2025 establishing the national sanctions unit and implementing restrictive measures, as well as criminal penalties for violating EU sanctions. The listed legislation is available in Greek.

• 2026-09-07Temporary Protection for Ukrainians in Cyprus Is Valid Until 4 March 2028

  Ukrainians can apply for temporary protection in Cyprus, which provides residence rights as well as access to medical and social assistance. The status does not lead to permanent residence or Cypriot citizenship.

• 2026-09-04Cyprus Intensifies Returns of Migrants Without a Right to Stay

  On 26 August, Cyprus organised its first operation to forcibly return third-country nationals with the participation of Frontex, Greece and Bulgaria. The authorities have also accelerated application processing and increased voluntary and forced returns; 6,027 migrants left Cyprus between 1 January and 26 August 2026.

• 2026-08-31Cyprus clarifies tax domicile rules and extension of non-dom relief

  Cyprus’s tax portal states that a person without a Cyprus domicile of origin may be deemed to have acquired domicile after 17 years of tax residence in the preceding 20 years. Such individuals may apply for an alternative Special Defence Contribution regime and extend the relief period by two additional five-year periods by paying €250,000 for each period.

• 2026-08-13Cyprus’s 2026 tax reform changes rates and reliefs for residents and new workers

  Cyprus’s tax reform took effect on 1 January 2026. It raised the tax-free threshold to €22,000, changed personal income-tax bands, retained reliefs for foreign individuals taking up first employment in Cyprus and introduced updated rules for dividends, non-domiciled residents and companies.

• 2026-08-11Medical examinations will be required for certain Cyprus immigration permits from 1 September 2026

  From 1 September 2026, third-country nationals applying for Cyprus Immigration Permits in categories A–F will have to submit test results for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis. The requirement also applies to applicants’ dependants.

• 2026-08-04Cyprus Maintains 183-Day and 60-Day Tax Residency Rules

  According to the source, an individual is considered a Cyprus tax resident under either the 183-day rule or the alternative 60-day rule. The 60-day route is subject to additional conditions, including carrying out business, working in Cyprus, or holding a directorship in a Cyprus tax-resident company.

• 2026-08-01Cyprus Pink Slip Requires Proof of Overseas Income and Accommodation

  To apply for a Cyprus Pink Slip, applicants must enter Cyprus, have accommodation and transfer at least €10,000 from abroad to a Cypriot bank account. They must also prove stable annual income from abroad of at least €24,000, increased by 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child; the status does not allow employment in Cyprus.

• 2026-07-31EU and Cyprus Strengthen Return Procedures for Third-Country Nationals Without a Right to Stay

  A new regulation introduces faster return procedures for third-country nationals who have no legal right to remain in the EU and establishes an obligation to cooperate with the authorities. It also provides stricter measures for people considered a threat to public order or national security, while visa restrictions have been imposed on Somalia for entry into the EU.

• 2026-07-28Non-EU students in Cyprus must obtain a visa and temporary residence permit

  Students from outside the EU/EEA must obtain a student visa or entry permit before travelling to Cyprus and a temporary residence permit after arrival. Applications generally require an admission letter, academic records, a passport, a criminal-record certificate, medical documents and proof of sufficient funds.

• 2026-07-27The EU Entry/Exit System is operational for travel to Cyprus, with exemptions for some family members

  The EES has been fully operational since 10 April 2026. Holders of Cypriot residence permits and long-stay visas are registered, while non-EU family members of EU citizens who hold a valid residence card or permit are exempt.

• 2026-07-24Cyprus Ordinary Employment Permits May Be Issued for Up to Three Years

  Under the GEN single procedure for ordinary employment, a permit may be issued for up to three consecutive years, while the total period of work for a foreign national is generally limited to four years. If an employment contract ends by mutual agreement, the release document provides 30 days to find a new employer and apply for renewal.

• 2026-07-23Cyprus Visas and Residence Permits Do Not Grant Schengen Mobility

  Visas and residence permits issued by the Republic of Cyprus are valid only in Cyprus and do not grant free movement within the Schengen Area. Cyprus has aligned some visa procedures with Schengen standards but has not joined the Schengen Area.

• 2026-07-21Cyprus prepares immigration changes linked to possible Schengen accession

  The Cypriot government has expressed an intention to join the Schengen Area in 2026 or early 2027. According to the source, accession would allow residence and work permit holders to travel visa-free within Schengen, while non-EU workers could be required to obtain a type D long-stay visa through a Cypriot embassy or consulate before travelling.

• 2026-07-21Cyprus Advances Toward Possible Schengen Accession

  Cyprus says it has completed the technical requirements for Schengen accession and is awaiting further assessment by the European Commission and a decision by the EU Council. According to the sources, accession would allow holders of Cypriot residence permits to travel visa-free within Schengen, while employment applicants may have to obtain a type D long-stay visa instead of the current entry-permit procedure.

• 2026-07-09Cyprus launches online renewal for selected residence permits

  From 7 July 2026, third-country nationals can submit online renewal applications for selected categories of temporary residence permits. The service allows applicants to upload documents, pay fees, track applications and choose where to provide biometrics and collect the new permit.

• 2026-07-07Cyprus Tax Residence Can Be Obtained Under a 60-Day Rule Subject to Additional Conditions

  Cyprus generally treats individuals as tax residents after at least 183 days in the country during a calendar year. An alternative 60-day route is available subject to additional conditions, including housing in Cyprus and not being tax resident in another country.

• 2026-06-29Updated Overview of Relocation Options for Ukrainians to Cyprus in 2026

  The source describes long-stay, employment, study, investment and self-employed routes for Ukrainians relocating to Cyprus. The listed documents include a passport, proof of financial means, a criminal-record certificate, medical documents and proof of accommodation.

• 2026-06-26Cyprus Applies Different Residence and Work Rules to EU and Third-Country Nationals

  EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may enter, reside and work in Cyprus without a separate work permit, but must register within four months if they stay longer than three months. Third-country nationals face different regimes, including the Digital Nomad Visa and several permanent-residence categories.

• 2026-06-07EU Citizens Must Register Residence in Cyprus Through MEU1

  EU and EEA citizens planning to stay in Cyprus for more than three months must obtain a MEU1 registration certificate within four months of arrival. Non-EU family members of EU citizens generally apply for a separate residence card under the MEU2 procedure.

• 2026-06-05Cyprus strengthens bank checks on the tax residency of investment-programme participants

  Cyprus’s Tax Department warned banks that citizenship- and residence-by-investment programmes could be used to conceal a person’s actual tax residence and overseas assets. Banks must ask additional questions when customers declare tax residence in jurisdictions with potentially high-risk CBI/RBI programmes; the measures apply immediately to new customers, while reviews of existing customers must be completed within six months.

• 2026-05-22Cyprus Pink Slip allows third-country nationals to stay for up to one year but does not automatically allow employment

  The Pink Slip is described as a temporary residence permit for non-EU and non-EEA nationals, valid for up to one year and renewable annually. Applicants generally need lawful entry, proof of financial means, accommodation, health coverage and other personal documents; employment usually requires a separate permit.

• 2026-05-17Cyprus 2026 tax reform changes rates and reliefs for new residents

  From 1 January 2026, Cyprus applies revised personal income-tax bands, with a tax-free threshold of €22,000 and a top rate of 35%. The reform retained the 183-day and 60-day tax-residence tests, extended the non-dom regime and provides employment-income reliefs for people taking up their first job in Cyprus, including a 50% exemption subject to conditions.

• 2026-05-14Cyprus permanent and long-term residence routes require continued residence ties and compliance with eligibility rules

  Specialist guides state that Cyprus permanent or long-term residence applications may take several months, with some categories taking 12–18 months. After approval, holders may still need to maintain links with Cyprus and comply with residence conditions; for some categories, including students and people with purely temporary status, five years of stay does not automatically lead to long-term residence.

• 2026-05-05Family Relocation and Work Rules for Selected Cyprus Residence Permits

  Family members of Cypriot citizens may qualify for residence permits as spouses, partners, children and, in some cases, parents. Family members sponsored by a Cyprus resident face narrower conditions: the sponsor must generally have lived in Cyprus for at least two years, and the initial permit is usually issued for one year. The rules also restrict work by students, digital nomads and financially independent residents.

• 2026-04-27Cyprus Investment-Residence Route Requires at Least €50,000 in Overseas Income

  According to the source, applicants using this permanent-residence route must demonstrate secured annual income of at least €50,000 from abroad. The requirement increases by €15,000 for a dependent spouse and €10,000 for each dependent child; the income must originate outside Cyprus.

• 2026-04-01Updated Description of Cyprus Temporary Residence Permit Procedure

  For certain applicants, the process includes obtaining an entry permit, applying for residence after arrival, registering in the Aliens’ Register and providing biometrics. The source describes filing within seven days of arrival and an average processing time of about three months; temporary residence also requires renewal and does not provide visa-free access to the Schengen Area.

• 2026-03-17Cyprus Introduces Comprehensive Tax Reform from 2026

  The reform amends six core tax laws and applies to tax years beginning on 1 January 2026. It affects tax residency, personal and corporate income tax, capital gains tax, and tax compliance.

• 2026-03-16Cyprus tightens investor permanent-residence conditions, raising the annual income threshold to €50,000

  According to the source, the possibility of applying under the former investment-program conditions was closed in March 2026. The stated minimum annual income for family investor residence rose from €30,000 to €50,000, alongside enhanced source-of-funds checks, a narrower list of qualifying properties and longer security reviews.

• 2026-03-09Cyprus Approves New Asylum Law Aligned with the EU Migration Pact

  On 5 March 2026, Cyprus approved a new refugee bill replacing the existing 2000 framework. The legislation provides for faster asylum procedures, stronger border controls, a screening and identification centre, and the possibility of processing asylum applications directly at airports.

• 2026-03-02Cyprus Work Residence Permit Is Tied to the Employment Contract and Limited to Four Years

  According to the source, a work residence permit is issued for the duration of the employment contract, while total residence in Cyprus under this route is generally limited to four years. This status normally does not lead to permanent residence or citizenship, with exceptions for certain categories of workers.

• 2025-11-08EU Tightens Visa Rules for Russian Citizens While Cypriot Citizens Retain EU Passport Access

  According to the source, the EU is tightening visa rules for Russian citizens. Cypriot citizens who obtained passports under the former investment programme retain the advantages of an EU passport despite sanctions restrictions.