Cyprus permanent residency by investment requires a €300,000 qualifying investment and secured annual income of at least €50,000 under Regulation 6(2) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations. The Migration Department estimates about two months to examine a complete application. It is a residence permit, not citizenship, and it covers your spouse and children under 18.
This page covers the application. For how Cyprus compares with other programmes, see the Cyprus Golden Visa guide. Every rule below was checked on 25 September 2026 against the Migration Department's published criteria for investor immigration permits (4th revision, in force since 2 May 2023).
Cyprus permanent residency requirements
The €300,000 investment
You must invest at least €300,000 in one of four categories:
| Category | What qualifies | Extra condition |
|---|---|---|
| (A) New home | One or two houses or apartments bought from a development company, worth at least €300,000 plus VAT | Must be a first sale (resales filed before 7 May 2013 excepted) |
| (B) Other real estate | Offices, shops, hotels or related developments worth €300,000 in total | Resales are allowed |
| (C) Company share capital | €300,000 in the share capital of a Cyprus company | The company must have a physical presence in Cyprus and employ at least five people |
| (D) Investment fund units | €300,000 in units of a Cyprus collective investment organisation (AIF, AIFLNP or RAIF) | The fund's investments must be held in Cyprus |
The money must be transferred to Cyprus from abroad, from your own or your spouse's bank account, and must not come from domestic borrowing. For the property routes, you file the title deed or a sale contract lodged with the Department of Lands and Surveys, and the official payment receipts must reach at least €300,000 (excluding VAT) when you apply, whatever the delivery date. If you sell the investment without replacing it with one of equal or greater value, the permit is cancelled.
Income
You must show secured annual income of at least €50,000, plus €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 for each dependent child under 18. Your spouse's income can count toward the total.
- On the new-home route (A), the income must come from abroad and is proved by a tax return from the country where you are tax resident.
- On routes (B), (C) and (D), all or part of it may come from activities in Cyprus.
A Migration Department clarification also accepts certificates from an independent certified accountant as proof of income.
Personal conditions
- A clean criminal record certificate from your country of origin and, if different, your country of residence, for you and your spouse.
- Health insurance covering inpatient and outpatient care for you and each dependant.
- A signed statement that you and your spouse will not take employment in Cyprus, except as directors of the company you invested in. On routes other than (C) you may still hold shares in Cyprus companies and act as an unpaid director.
- On routes (B), (C) and (D), evidence of where you will live in Cyprus, such as a title, sale contract or rental agreement.
Who the permit covers
The permit covers you, your spouse and your children under 18. Your spouse can take a separate permit on payment of the fee without meeting the criteria again.
- Students aged 18 to 25. Unmarried children in tertiary education abroad who are financially dependent on you can file their own application, with an extra €10,000 of annual income from the parents for each such child.
- Other adult children. Each adult child who is not financially dependent adds another €300,000 to the investment (€600,000 in total for one, €900,000 for two), and each must show €50,000 of secured income in their own right. Where that multiplied investment is property, proof of payment of at least 66% of its market value must be filed with the application.
A child's permit stays valid after age 25, and after marriage or the end of studies.
Cyprus permanent residency application: step by step
- Choose and complete the investment. Pay from abroad, keep the transfer records and lodge the sale contract with the Department of Lands and Surveys.
- Collect the documents. Passports, criminal record certificates, marriage and birth certificates, the title deed or sale contract with payment receipts, proof of income and health insurance. Every supporting document must be officially translated and certified.
- Complete the forms. The Migration Department publishes the application form (MIP2), the document checklists and the income and non-employment statements.
- Submit the application. File in person at the Migration Department, after booking an appointment, or through an authorised representative with a certified authorisation letter.
- Pay the fees. €500 on submission, plus €70 per person for an Alien Registration Certificate where you do not already have one.
- Wait for the decision. If the criteria are met and no criminal-record or security issue arises, the Migration Department estimates about two months, counted from the date the completed application was submitted.
- Take up residence. If you live outside Cyprus, you must establish residence in Cyprus within one year of approval or the permit lapses.
Time spent choosing the investment, gathering certified translations and fixing missing documents sits outside the two-month estimate. Our golden visa processing times guide explains why official clocks and real waits differ.
Keeping the permit
The right of residence has unlimited validity. The residence card itself expires ten years after issue and must be replaced; a minor child's card is valid until age 18.
- Each year, send the Migration Department evidence that you still hold the investment, and proof of health insurance if you are not a GeSY beneficiary.
- Every three years, you and adult family members must file clean criminal record certificates. The annual proof-of-income requirement was abolished.
- The permit ends if you and your dependants take permanent residence in another country, or are absent from Cyprus for two years.
Cyprus permanent residency and citizenship
Permanent residence does not make you a citizen. Cyprus ended its citizenship-by-investment programme in 2020 (Government of Cyprus).
Citizenship by naturalisation needs 8 years of legal residence (12 continuous months immediately before applying plus at least 7 years in the preceding 10), B1 Greek and a knowledge test (European Commission summary of the 2024 law). A separate fast track for highly skilled employees of qualifying companies needs 4 years with B1 Greek, or 5 years with A2.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Cyprus permanent residency cost?
The minimum is a €300,000 investment (plus VAT on a new home), a €500 application fee and €70 per person for the Alien Registration Certificate. You also need €50,000 of secured annual income. Legal, translation and property transaction costs are extra and vary by case.
How long does Cyprus permanent residency take?
The Migration Department estimates about two months to examine an application, counted from submission of the completed file. Preparing the investment and documents comes first and is not included in that estimate.
Do I have to live in Cyprus to keep permanent residency?
There is no minimum number of days, but the permit ends if you are absent from Cyprus for two years or take permanent residence in another country. If you live abroad when approved, you must take up residence in Cyprus within one year.
Can I work in Cyprus with an investor permanent residence permit?
You and your spouse must confirm you will not take employment in Cyprus, except as directors of the company you invested in. On the other routes you may hold shares in Cyprus companies and act as an unpaid director, and dividends do not count against you.
Can I include my adult children?
Yes, at a higher investment. Each adult child who is not financially dependent adds another €300,000 and must show €50,000 of their own secured income. Unmarried children aged 18 to 25 in tertiary education abroad can apply separately if the parents show an extra €10,000 of annual income per child.
Does Cyprus permanent residency lead to citizenship?
Not automatically. Citizenship by naturalisation needs 8 years of legal residence, B1 Greek and a knowledge test. Cyprus no longer offers citizenship by investment.
Find a lawyer for your Cyprus application
A lawyer can check that your investment, payment trail and income evidence meet the criteria before you file. Compare Cyprus golden visa lawyers, or use GVL Match to compare lawyers for your case.
Sources and review date
Checked on 25 September 2026. Next scheduled review: 25 December 2026.
- Cyprus Migration Department: criteria for immigration permits for investors (4th revision, May 2023; page posted 29 December 2025)
- European Commission: Cyprus new citizenship legislation (6 March 2024)
- Government of Cyprus: closure of the infringement procedure on the Cyprus Investment Program
This article is general information, not legal advice.