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Permanent residence in Cyprus by investment

The programme for gaining Cyprus permanent residency by buying property and other investments includes the following conditions
Minimum investment
300 000 $
Expected visa processing time
from 3 months
Mandatory visit to the island
every 2 years to confirm residency

Permanent residence in Cyprus

You can participate in the Cyprus residency programme by investing in properties, shares, bonds or securities worth USD 300,000 or more. Investors are exempt from taxes on income earned outside the country, including dividends and capital gains. The island nation imposes no inheritance tax and offers low tax rates in other areas, making it attractive to international businesses. For example, the tax for corporations is only 12.5%.

The Cyprus permanent residence permit procedure involves submitting an application and the relevant documents confirming the investment to the country's migration services. After checking and approving the application, the investor will receive a residence permit for the country.

Obtaining Cyprus residency by buying property allows individuals not only to stay legally on the island but also to conduct business.

After eight years of living in the country (four years for highly qualified foreign professionals employed in Cyprus), investors can apply for citizenship. This opens up new opportunities for business and personal life, providing all the advantages of a European passport from Cyprus.

Cyprus permanent residence visa in 2024

Cyprus is an attractive destination due to its strategic location, high quality of life and actively developing infrastructure. Investing in property on the island provides stability and potential for capital growth, making the Permanent Residence Programme particularly popular with foreigners in 2024. A Permanent residence permit for Cyprus for non-EU citizens is available for those who invest a minimum of USD 300,000 in property, local companies or funds. The programme, often referred to as the Cyprus Golden Visa, allows one to obtain a residence permit in just 3 months. The initial residence permit is granted for ten years, with the possibility of subsequent renewal. After eight years, the investor will be able to apply for citizenship by naturalisation (for highly qualified foreign specialists employed on the island, this term is reduced to four years).

Previously, there was a fast-track citizenship programme for investments, which allowed you to get a passport within six months. However, this programme was ended in 2020.

Cyprus permanent residence permit privileges
High return on investment: prices rise every year
Possibility to move to Cyprus
Prospect of citizenship after 8 years
Doing business in a country with a developed economy
Decent quality of life
Developed education and health care systems
Possibility of obtaining a driving licence
Opening an account at a local bank
Fast-track resident status
Possibility to apply for permanent residence for the whole family

Visa-free travel with countries

United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Canada
Canada
Norway
Norway
Switzerland
Switzerland
Germany
Germany
France
France
Spain
Spain
Sweden
Sweden
Finland
Finland
Netherlands
Netherlands

Permanent residence in Cyprus: criteria

A Cyprus investment visa can be obtained by foreigners who are willing to invest more than USD 300,000 in property and meet several requirements:

  • Legal age
  • Proof of legal sources of funds and full payment for the property from foreign sources
  • Proof of stable financial income sufficient for living in the country

Together with the investor, visas can be granted to the applicant's official partner, common-law spouse and children under 18 years of age. For those studying at higher education institutions, this age increases to 25 years. There is no age limit when applying for a visa for any disabled children of the investor.

The process of obtaining residence permit and citizenship in Cyprus by visa
1 month

Pre-verification

The first step in the process of making permanent residence applications in Cyprus for investment begins with a preliminary verification, which includes analysing the applicant's financial situation and confirming the legitimacy of their sources of income. Applicants must prove their ability to support themselves and their families and satisfy other Cyprus permanent residence qualifications.
several days

Fulfilment of investment conditions

Foreigners must invest over USD 300,000 in local property. Cyprus residency real estate can be for both residential and commercial properties. It is possible to invest a similar amount in government securities, bonds or shares in local companies. It is important that the funds are transferred from abroad and the investment is fully paid for before applying.
1 month

Document preparation

At this stage, investors gather all the required documents to apply for residence in Cyprus. These include receipts confirming the investment as well as the property purchase agreement, bank statements, proof of funds transfer and any other financial documents that prove adherence to the terms and conditions of the programme.
1 day

Applying for a golden visa

The Golden Visa is a generic term for programmes that allow foreigners to buy a house in Cyprus and get permanent residence. However, meeting other relevant investment conditions is also important. Once these have been fulfilled, applicants can submit a full application to the relevant migration authorities.
several months

Investor application review

The application for a residence permit in Cyprus for the purchase of a property is reviewed by the Migration Service, which verifies that all the data and documents provided comply with the current legislation. The decision-making process may take several months. In the case of a favourable response, the applicant is issued an immigration certificate, which may later serve as the basis for obtaining residency status if biometric data is provided. In such a way, an applicant receives Cyprus permanent residence by real estate residency.

Objects in Cyprus

See all
See all

Investor's costs in Cyprus are over USD 300,000

The Cyprus permanent residency cost is made up of the cost of buying a property and the associated prices. For example, legal support is about 1% of the transaction amount.

Foreigners can choose between several options to invest for a Cyprus permanent residence permit starting from USD 300,000. It can be the purchase of a residential or commercial fund, investment in shares in Cypriot companies or participation in local investment funds.

For those purchasing non-residential property, there is an additional requirement to buy or rent a residential property on the island. There are no specific requirements as to the size or value of the property.

The funds spent can be returned to the investor only after the expiry of the certificate or upon obtaining citizenship.

Investment amountVATProof of IncomeAdministrative feesRegistration feesFee for the residence permit card
Residential property investments USD 300,000 Over USD 15000 USD 50,000 per annum USD 500 Over USD 70 for each person USD 70 for each person
Investments in commercial properties USD 300,000 Over USD 57000 € USD 50,000 per annum USD 500 Over USD 70 for each person USD 70 for each person
Investments in securities and shares USD 300,000 - USD 50,000 per annum USD 500 Over USD 70 for each person USD 70 for each person

Countries whose citizens can obtain permanent residence in Cyprus

Cyprus immigration investment opens the door to second citizenship and provides convenience when travelling in Europe. Citizens of any of the world's countries can obtain a permanent residence permit, including:

  • Russia
  • Belarus
  • Ukraine
  • Kazakhstan
  • Uzbekistan
FAQ
Can you sell the investment you made for permanent residence in Cyprus?

To maintain your residency status, it is necessary to retain ownership of the property for the duration of your residency in the country or to buy a more expensive property after the sale.

What documents do I need to apply for permanent residence in Cyprus through investment?

To apply for a residence permit, a candidate is required to provide the following documents:

  • the prescribed application form;
  • bank transfer form confirming the transfer of funds from abroad;
  • agreement to buy a property or other assets for the specified amount;
  • certificate confirming annual income;
  • police clearance certificate;
  • copies of the passports of the investor, their family members and the birth certificates of their children.
What is the minimum investment amount?

Before you can get a residency permit in Cyprus, you must invest more than USD 300,000.

What are the timelines and procedures for the approval of an application for permanent residence through the purchase of real estate in Cyprus?

The duration of the application process varies from two months or more, depending on the workload of the authorities involved in the verification.

Is it possible to work in Cyprus with permanent residency status obtained through real estate investments?

Investors interested in how to get a permanent residence permit in Cyprus should know that they will have the right to run a business. Additional documents will be required to apply for employment authorisation to work for a local company.

How do I obtain citizenship?

To do so, you need to have lived on the island for at least eight years (for employed skilled foreign professionals, the period is reduced to four years). This is one of the basic factors that gives you a permanent residence permit in Cyprus.

What risks or obstacles may arise when obtaining a residence permit through the purchase of real estate?

There are almost no risks when dealing with qualified agents.

There are almost no risks when dealing with qualified agents.

The resident must not violate the laws of the country and pay their taxes on time.

What taxes do the owners of a residence permit in Cyprus pay?

The tax rate is progressive and is calculated according to income. At the same time, investors do not pay taxes on income in other countries.

How can I get a permanent residence permit in Cyprus via investment?

Regardless of the type of property, the amount of investment should not be less than USD 300,000.

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