The country became an EU member state in 2004 and is one of the most attractive business places in the EU. The country has an excellent education system, with several UK universities on the island. It has a lowest crime rate in European Union and is the 5th safest country in world.

Cyprus is an attractive place in which to reside, has a warm and stable climate, and is in a convenient geographical position in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Benefits

• The application procedure is highly efficient, within two months.
• There is a high approval rate if all criteria are satisfied.
• It is not necessary to reside in Cyprus, but a visit once every two years is required.
• Dependents can be enrolled in high-quality private schools, offering English language courses.
• Residence applies to the whole family (applicant, spouse, and children under 18 years old).
• Dependent children between 18–25 and parents of the applicant are also eligible.
• The whole process can be arranged without being present in the country. However, a visit is required for biometric capturing.

Qualification Criteria and Requirements

In line with the Cypriot government’s intention to increase foreign investment and to help its economic development, Regulation 6(2) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations has recently been simplified by the Ministry of Interior in order to issue residence permits to applicants from non-European countries who intend to invest in the republic, provided that the following requirements are met:

1. The main requirement is the purchase of new immovable property of a total market value of at least EUR 300,000 plus VAT. The applicant must submit the application form accompanied with a contract of sale and proof of payment of at least EUR 200,000 plus VAT. The contract of sale must have been submitted to the Cyprus Department of Land and Surveys. The property can also be bought by a company provided that the company is registered in the name of the applicant or the applicant and their spouse. They must also be sole shareholders.
2. The applicant must submit a confirmation letter from a Cyprus bank that they have deposited a minimum capital of EUR 30,000 from abroad into an account that will be locked for three years. After the expiration of this period, the money will be released without restrictions.
3. The applicant must provide supporting evidence of a secured annual income of at least EUR 30,000 deriving from abroad. This income must increase by EUR 5,000 for the spouse and every additional child and EUR 8,000 for each dependent parent. The income may include, for example, salaries from employment, rents, pensions, and dividends from shares.

Procedures and Timeline

A fee of EUR 500 is payable with the submission of the application and EUR 50 extra for biometric capturing. The application will then be examined by the Civil Registry and Migration Department and will be submitted to a permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior, who will make a decision within two months. Once approval has been granted, the applicant and all the members of the family must visit Cyprus within one year to obtain the actual permit.

When in Cyprus, a visit is organized to the migration office in Nicosia in order to capture the biometric data for all members of the family applying. The biometric data can be submitted either with the submission of the application for residence, during the application process, or immediately after approval.