Immigration
EU free movement alongside a national permit and permanent residence regime
As an EU member state Cyprus applies free movement for EU and EEA nationals. Third-country nationals require permits under the Aliens and Immigration Law, Cap. 105. Cyprus is not yet in the Schengen area, so a national visa rather than a Schengen visa is required.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Areas under the effective control of the Republic. Administered by the Civil Registry and Migration Department.
- Deadline — EU nationals residing more than three months must register and obtain a registration certificate
- Deadline — Renewal applications for temporary residence permits should be filed before expiry of the current permit
Governing law
- Aliens and Immigration Law, Cap. 105
- Law 7(I)/2007 on the right of Union citizens to move and reside freely
- Refugee Law 6(I)/2000 — international protection
In practice
Cyprus is an EU member but outside Schengen, so a Cypriot visa does not permit Schengen travel and vice versa, which regularly catches travellers. Third-country nationals obtain temporary residence and employment permits, with categories for employment, study, family reunification and self-sufficiency. Permanent residence is available under Regulation 6(2) on the basis of a qualifying property investment and income, and remains widely used. The former citizenship-by-investment scheme was terminated in November 2020 following criticism, and naturalisation now proceeds on ordinary residence grounds. International protection is determined by the Asylum Service with appeal to the International Protection Administrative Court.