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Residency pathway · Cyprus

Move to Cyprus.
Non-dom for 17 years.
An EU residence card.

Cyprus lets you become tax resident with as little as 60 days a year, and a non-domiciled resident pays no Special Defence Contribution on dividends or interest for 17 years. MoveToCyprus walks you through the actual permit categories, the official thresholds and the filing sequence — including what the 2026 tax reform changed — so you arrive with a plan, not a rumour.

Start my residency file — $497 →See the pathways ↓
Official thresholds / Vetted local lawyers / Exit Global review
Your residency file, organisedExample
My residency file🔒
🌍 Home country🇨🇾 Cyprus

One destination. One organised file.

Every document the authority will ask for, in order.
Example checklist3 of 4 added
🛂
Passport + photosValidity checked against the rule
✓
📜
Police clearance, apostilledFrom every country of recent residence
✓
🏦
Proof of funds / incomeMatched to the category threshold
✓
🩺
Health coverAdd it when available
PENDING
Know what you have. See what's next.Less guesswork. Fewer rejected files.
At a glance

Cyprus in four numbers

Figures are quoted from the official pages linked on each card. Checked 8 September 2026.

Tax system
Worldwide, non-dom carve-out

Residents are taxed on worldwide income, but non-domiciled residents pay no SDC on dividends or interest.

Official source ↗
Presence to keep residency
1 visit / 2 years

An Immigration Permit lapses if the holder is absent from Cyprus for a period of two years.

Official source ↗
Time to first card
5 weeks – 4 months

Investor PR is examined in about 2 months; Digital Nomad 5–7 weeks; visitor permit usually under 4 months.

Official source ↗
Citizenship
7 years + Greek B1

Naturalisation after 7 years' legal residence in the last 10 (plus 12 continuous months); 4 or 3 years for high-skilled employees.

Official source ↗
Why people choose Cyprus

The honest case.
And who it isn't for.

No destination is right for everyone. These are the reasons people actually choose Cyprus — and the situations where we would tell you to look elsewhere.

The non-dom regime is real and written into law

A Cyprus tax resident who is not Cyprus-domiciled pays no Special Defence Contribution on dividends or interest. Domicile is only deemed after 17 of the last 20 years as a tax resident, and from 2026 the exemption can be extended for two further five-year periods by paying a flat €250,000 per period. Gains on securities are exempt and there is no inheritance tax.

Tax residency on 60 days

If you spend at least 60 days in Cyprus, are not resident anywhere else for more than 183 days, keep a home here and carry on a business or hold an office in a Cyprus company, you are tax resident under the 60-day rule. That makes Cyprus a workable base for people who travel.

EU member, English-speaking, rules-based

Cyprus is in the EU and uses the euro; English is widely spoken and official pages are published in English. The investor Immigration Permit has published criteria, a €500 fee and an estimated two-month examination — it is a process, not a negotiation.

Probably not the right fit if…
  • People whose wealth is mainly Cyprus real estate — gains on Cypriot property stay inside the capital gains tax net, and property purchases carry VAT and transfer costs.
  • Anyone who wants residency without ever being present: the investor permit lapses after two years' absence, and the 60-day rule needs a real home and a real economic tie here.
  • Third-country nationals who want to work locally on a visitor or investor permit — both prohibit employment in Cyprus (investors may only act as directors of the company they invested in).
An independent preparation tool. Not a government body. Residency is granted only by the Civil Registry and Migration Department (CRMD). Private beta.
01 / The routes that exist

The residency pathways

These are the categories the Migration Department (now under the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection) publishes today. Figures are the official thresholds as at 8 September 2026.

Immigration Permit for Investors (Regulation 6(2))

Third-country nationals who want permanent residence quickly and can invest €300,000 from abroad.

  • Invest at least €300,000 in one of: a new house or apartment bought from a developer (first sale, plus VAT); other real estate such as offices, shops or hotels (resales allowed); the share capital of a Cyprus company employing at least 5 people; or units of a Cyprus collective investment fund (AIF, AIFLNP, RAIF)
  • Funds must be shown to have come from abroad and be paid from your (or your spouse's) account to the seller's account at a Cyprus financial institution
  • Secure annual income from abroad of at least €50,000, plus €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 per dependent minor child — proven by a foreign tax return or a certified accountant's certificate
  • Clean criminal record (applicant and spouse), health insurance covering inpatient and outpatient care, and a declaration not to take employment in Cyprus
  • Fee €500 per application plus €70 per person for the Alien Registration Certificate; investment must be maintained and evidenced, criminal-record certificates renewed every three years
Timeline / validity: Estimated examination about 2 months; residence right of unlimited validity, card renewed every 10 years
Official source ↗

Category F Immigration Permit

Retirees and people with passive income who do not need to work in Cyprus.

  • Secured annual income from abroad of at least €9,568 for the applicant and €4,613 for every dependant (the published legal minima — the Immigration Control Committee assesses whether income is enough for a decent living)
  • Income may include pensions, dividends, fixed-deposit interest and rents
  • No business, trade or profession in Cyprus
  • Fee €500 per application (plus €70 ARC where needed); documents officially translated and certified
Timeline / validity: Examined by the Immigration Control Committee (no published target time); permit of unlimited validity, card renewed every 10 years
Official source ↗

Visitor temporary residence permit (the 'pink slip')

Third-country nationals who want to live in Cyprus on foreign income without working, or to test the island before committing.

  • Foreign remittances into a Cyprus bank account of at least €2,000 per month or €24,000 per year for one person, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% per child (first permit: a €10,000 transfer or deposit is also accepted)
  • Bank letter of guarantee (10 years) for possible repatriation costs, health insurance covering inpatient and outpatient care, title deed or rental contract
  • Clean criminal record and Cyprus medical tests for the first permit; no economic activity in Cyprus
  • Fees: €70 for issue or renewal, €70 for first registration in the Aliens' Register
Timeline / validity: Usually decided within 4 months; first permit 1 year, renewable
Official source ↗

Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa

Non-EU/EEA remote workers employed by, or serving clients of, businesses outside Cyprus.

  • Stable net monthly income of at least €3,500 after tax and contributions
  • Work performed remotely for an employer registered abroad or for clients located abroad
  • Apply within 3 months of arrival in Nicosia; family members (spouse/partner and minor children) may join but may not work in Cyprus
  • Fees €70 (permit) plus €70 (first registration); scheme capped at 500 permits
Timeline / validity: Examination 5–7 weeks; 1 year, renewable for a further 2 years
Official source ↗

EU/EEA citizens — Registration Certificate (MEU1)

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals and their EU-national family members.

  • Apply within 4 months of entry (penalty up to €2,500 for not registering)
  • Be a worker or self-employed, or have sufficient resources plus comprehensive sickness insurance in Cyprus
  • Fee €20; certificate has no expiry date
Timeline / validity: Decision within 1 month; free access to employment and self-employment
Official source ↗
The $497 residency-file review

Build the file once.
Pay a lawyer to file — not to chase paper.

You gather the documents; we check the file against the current Migration Department criteria and hand you to a vetted Cypriot lawyer or licensed agent for filing in Nicosia.

$497one-time, per applicant file
Start the process →
What the $497 covers.

A category check against the current official requirements, a document-by-document review of your file, and a warm handover to a vetted local lawyer or licensed agent who files it. Their fees and government fees are separate and quoted up front.

Your information is sensitive. We treat it that way.

Documents are stored privately when you explicitly save them. We use restricted access and do not sell or share your information.

Your tax position once resident

Worldwide taxation, the 60-day rule, and what non-dom status actually exempts.

Under the Income Tax Law (N.118(I)/2002) you are tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in Cyprus in a tax year, or under the 60-day rule: at least 60 days in Cyprus, not more than 183 days in any other country, not tax resident elsewhere, a home in Cyprus you own or rent, and a business, employment or office in a Cyprus-resident company. Residents are taxed on worldwide income; the non-dom regime removes the Special Defence Contribution on passive income. The 2026 tax reform (in force 1 January 2026) rewrote the bands and several regimes below.

Official source ↗
  • Income tax bands from 2026: 0% to €22,000; 20% from €22,001 to €32,000; 25% to €42,000; 30% to €72,000; 35% above €72,000 (Tax Department FAQ on the 2026 reform).
  • Non-dom status: a resident who is not Cyprus-domiciled pays no Special Defence Contribution on dividends or interest. Domicile is deemed only after being tax resident for 17 of the last 20 years; from 2026 that can be extended for two further five-year periods at €250,000 each. Domiciled residents pay SDC at 5% on dividends (17% on pre-2026 profits) and 17% on most interest; SDC on rental income was abolished from 2026.
  • Capital gains: gains on securities are exempt; capital gains tax applies only to immovable property in Cyprus (and shares deriving value from it). From 2026, gains on the disposal of crypto-assets are taxed at a flat 8% (mining income excluded), with losses offset only against same-year crypto gains.
  • Foreign pensions: pension income for services rendered abroad may be taxed at a flat 5% on the amount above €5,000 a year (threshold raised from €3,420 in 2026) instead of the normal bands, at the taxpayer's election.
  • 50% employment income exemption: new residents taking up employment in Cyprus with remuneration of at least €55,000 a year can exempt 50% of it for 17 years (Invest Cyprus, official investment agency).
  • No inheritance, succession or wealth tax; interest income of individuals is exempt from income tax. GHS (GeSY) contributions apply to residents' income and are deductible within the 1/5 limit. A Tax Residency Certificate (form T.D.126, €80 stamp) is issued only where Cyprus has a double tax treaty with the other country.

Residency here is only half the move. Your old country has to agree you left.

Find your Exit site →

Exit Global's review is an advisory opinion, not a determination by any tax authority.

02 / Step by step

From decision to residency card

The order matters: apostilles and police certificates expire, and most authorities want everything dated within a few months of filing.

01

Choose the category

Match nationality, capital, income and intention to work against the investor permit, Category F, the visitor permit, the Digital Nomad visa or MEU1 registration — and decide early whether you will meet the 60-day or 183-day test.

02

Collect, apostille and translate

Police certificate from country of origin and residence, birth and marriage certificates, proof of income or funds, health-insurance certificate. Every document must be officially translated (Greek or English) and duly certified.

03

Make the investment or the deposit

Investors pay at least €300,000 from a foreign account into the seller's account at a Cyprus bank and file the contract at the Department of Lands and Surveys. Visitors and Category F applicants open a Cyprus bank account and route their foreign income through it.

04

Lodge in Nicosia

Applications are submitted in person or via an authorised representative at the Migration Department in Nicosia (appointments where required). Pay the fee — €500 for an Immigration Permit, €70 for a temporary permit — and give biometrics (photo, fingerprints, signature).

05

Approval and card

You receive a letter on how to collect the card. Investor permits are examined in about two months; visitor permits usually under four months. Immigration Permit holders must take up residence in Cyprus within one year of approval.

06

Register with the Tax Department and close the loop at home

Register for a Tax Identification Code, file the non-dom declaration (form T.D.38), and when the 60-day or 183-day test is met apply for a Tax Residency Certificate. Then finish your old-country exit file (see the Exit sites).

03 / Living there

Living there: the practical facts

The things people ask us after the paperwork: money, health, language and a roof.

Banking

A Cyprus bank account is part of the file for most routes: the visitor permit requires 12 months of statements showing foreign remittances, and investor funds must land in a Cyprus financial institution. Expect full source-of-funds KYC.

Healthcare

Applicants for investor, Category F and visitor permits must hold private health insurance covering inpatient and outpatient care. Residents are brought into the General Healthcare System (GeSY); investors must keep private cover only if they stop being GeSY beneficiaries.

Language

Greek is the official language, but the Migration Department and Tax Department publish in English and accept documents translated into Greek or English. Naturalisation requires Greek at level B1 (A2 for the high-skilled fast track).

Property

Foreigners can buy freehold. For the investor permit, a new-build home must be a first sale from a developer (the €300,000 is plus VAT); offices, shops and hotels may be resales. Gains on Cyprus property are the one class of capital gain Cyprus taxes.

Where are you leaving from?

Each departure has
its own rules.

Getting a card in Cyprus does not end tax residency where you came from. Pick your departure country to see its residency test, exit tax and departure filings.

🇨🇦 Exit Canada🇺🇸 Exit USA🐻 Exit California🗽 Exit New York🇬🇧 Exit the UK🇮🇪 Exit Ireland🇫🇷 Exit France🇧🇪 Exit Belgium🇳🇱 Exit Netherlands🇪🇸 Exit Spain🇮🇹 Exit Italy🇩🇰 Exit Denmark🇳🇴 Exit Norway🇸🇪 Exit Sweden🇦🇺 Exit Australia🇿🇦 Exit South Africa🇩🇪 Exit Germany🇦🇹 Exit Austria🇫🇮 Exit Finland🇧🇷 Exit Brazil🇯🇵 Exit Japan🇮🇱 Exit Israel🇳🇿 Exit New Zealand🇵🇹 Exit Portugal🇰🇷 Exit South Korea🇦🇷 Exit Argentina🇮🇳 Exit India🇨🇭 Exit Switzerland
Good questions. Clear answers.

Before you
get started.

Answers reflect the official rules as checked on 8 September 2026.

Do I have to live in Cyprus full-time?

No. An Immigration Permit (investor or Category F) lapses only if you acquire permanent residence abroad or are absent from Cyprus for a period of two years, and you must take up residence within a year of approval. Temporary permits (visitor, Digital Nomad) are renewed on their own criteria. Tax residency is a separate question: 60 days with the other conditions, or more than 183 days.

How is Cypriot tax residency triggered?

Either by spending more than 183 days in Cyprus in the tax year (day of arrival counts, day of departure does not), or under the 60-day rule: at least 60 days in Cyprus, no more than 183 days in any other single country, not tax resident elsewhere, a home you own or rent in Cyprus, and a business, employment or directorship in a Cyprus-resident company that continues to year-end.

Can my family come?

Yes. Investor and Category F permits cover the spouse and children under 18 (income requirement rises by €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 per child under the investor route; adult children who are students abroad can apply separately). Digital nomads' spouses/partners and minor children get permits for the same period but cannot work. Visitor permit holders' dependants get permits tied to the sponsor's.

Is there a path to citizenship?

Yes, by naturalisation under the Civil Registry (Amendment) Law of 2023: 12 months' continuous legal residence immediately before applying plus 7 years' legal residence in the preceding 10, Greek at B1, a civics test, good character and adequate means. High-skilled employees of foreign-interest and similar companies qualify after 4 years (Greek A2) or 3 years (Greek B1), with an optional accelerated examination for €5,000. Cyprus does not sell citizenship — the investment scheme was abolished.

What are the government fees?

Immigration Permit (investor or Category F): €500 per application plus €70 per person for the Alien Registration Certificate. Visitor and Digital Nomad permits: €70 for issue or renewal plus €70 for first registration. EU registration (MEU1): €20. Tax Residency Certificate: €80 stamp. Adding a family member to an existing Immigration Permit: €50 per person.

Do I need a lawyer?

Not by law — applications can be lodged in person or through an authorised representative. In practice most non-residents use a Cypriot lawyer or licensed agent to handle translations, certification, the Nicosia appointment and the bank. Exit Global is an independent adviser, not a government body; residency is granted only by the Migration Department under the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection.

Can I keep working remotely for a foreign employer?

On the Digital Nomad visa, yes — that is its purpose, with a €3,500 net monthly income floor. Visitor and Immigration Permit holders may not carry out economic activity in Cyprus (investors may be directors of the company they invested in, and may hold unpaid directorships). EU citizens registered under MEU1 have free access to any work. Remember that once you are Cyprus tax resident, employment income is taxed here at the 2026 bands, with the 50% exemption available above €55,000 for new residents employed in Cyprus.

What about my old country's tax residency?

Getting residency here does not end tax residency where you came from. Use the relevant Exit site — see exitglobal.app.

The next chapter starts with a plan

Arrive in Cyprus with a file
the authority will accept.

Start my residency file — $497 →

MoveToCyprus · part of the Exit Global network

The Exit network

One process. Every country.

Each site covers one departure, in that country's own rules. The destination sites cover where you're going. All reviewed by the same team at Exit Global.

Leaving
🌐Exit GlobalPortfolio home🇨🇦Exit CanadaNR73 + departure file🇺🇸Exit USAExpatriation + Form 8854🐻Exit CaliforniaFTB residency🗽Exit New YorkDomicile + statutory residency🇬🇧Exit the UKStatutory Residence Test🇮🇪Exit IrelandOrdinary residence tail🇫🇷Exit FranceArt. 167 bis exit tax🇧🇪Exit BelgiumSpecial departure return🇳🇱Exit NetherlandsM-form + conserverende aanslag🇪🇸Exit SpainArt. 95 bis + quarantine rule🇮🇹Exit ItalyAIRE + black-list presumption🇩🇰Exit DenmarkFraflytterskat🇳🇴Exit NorwayUtflyttingsskatt🇸🇪Exit SwedenTen-year share rule🇦🇺Exit AustraliaCGT event I1🇿🇦Exit South AfricaSection 9H exit charge🇩🇪Exit Germany§ 6 AStG Wegzugsbesteuerung🇦🇹Exit Austria§ 27 (6) Wegzugsbesteuerung🇫🇮Exit FinlandThree-year rule🇧🇷Exit BrazilSaída definitiva🇯🇵Exit JapanExit tax on ¥100m+ assets🇮🇱Exit IsraelCentre of life + s.100A🇳🇿Exit New Zealand325-day rule + IR886🇵🇹Exit PortugalArt. 16 CIRS residency🇰🇷Exit South KoreaExit tax on large shareholders🇦🇷Exit ArgentinaPérdida de residencia + baja🇮🇳Exit IndiaSection 6 residency + RNOR🇨🇭Exit SwitzerlandWegzug + pension withholding
Arriving
🇵🇦Move to PanamaTerritorial tax, Friendly Nations🇦🇪Move to DubaiNo personal income tax🇲🇹Move to MaltaRemittance basis, EU🇨🇾Move to Cyprus60-day rule, non-dom🇵🇾Move to ParaguayTerritorial tax, fast residency🇺🇾Move to UruguayTax holiday for new residents🇨🇷Move to Costa RicaTerritorial tax🇧🇸Move to BahamasNo income tax🇵🇹Move to PortugalD7, D8, Golden Visa, IFICI🇹🇭Move to ThailandLTR visa, remittance basis🇲🇾Move to MalaysiaMM2H, territorial tax🇮🇩Move to IndonesiaSecond Home visa, Bali🇬🇪Move to GeorgiaForeign income exempt, 1% SBS🇵🇷Move to Puerto RicoAct 60 for US citizens🇮🇹Move to ItalyFlat tax, 7% pensioner regime🇬🇷Move to GreeceGolden Visa, non-dom flat tax🇭🇰Move to Hong KongTerritorial, no CGT🇸🇬Move to SingaporeForeign income exempt, no CGT