MaltaResidency
- Min. investment
- €375,000+routes from €99,000
- Time to approval
- 6–8 months
- You receive
- Residence permit
Residency by Investment
Cyprus Golden Visa
Cyprus's golden visa: lifetime permanent residence in an EU island nation through a €300,000 investment, with minimal presence obligations.
Time to residency
6–8 months
Minimum investment
€300,000+
Figures as of August 2026, per the official program source — confirmed on application.
Program Overview
About the Cyprus program
In brief
The Cyprus program is a residency-by-investment program that grants the right to live in Cyprus. The minimum qualifying investment is €300,000+, and approvals typically take 6–8 months. Presence requirement: One visit every 2 years. Figures are indicative minimums for the main applicant.
Cyprus grants permanent residence for life in a single decision to investors placing €300,000 in qualifying real estate, funds, or company shares.
With an English-speaking business environment, an attractive tax regime, and a single required visit every two years, it suits families seeking a durable EU foothold without relocation.
Presence requirement
One visit every 2 years
Document validity
Permanent residence granted for life
Dual nationality
Residence status — your current citizenship is unaffected
Program Finder
Plan Cyprus for your family
Estimate the total cost with every government fee, check who in your family can be included, get the document checklist for everyone applying, and see how Cyprus ranks against the other 17 programs.
What Cyprus permanent residence unlocks
An expedited permanent Immigration Permit under Regulation 6(2) — permanent from day one, with honest limits worth knowing:
- Permanent immediatelyThe permit is granted with unlimited validity in about two months' examination — no renewals of status, only a card refresh every ten years.
- Family coveredSpouse and children under 18 on the permit; student children 18–25 receive their own permits that remain valid for life.
- One visit every two yearsThe only presence requirement: take up residence within a year of approval and never stay away longer than two years.
- Dividends yes, salary noEmployment in Cyprus is excluded — but you may hold shares in Cyprus companies, take dividends, and act as director of the company you invested in.
- No Schengen — yetCyprus is not yet in the Schengen Area, so the permit gives no 90/180 Schengen mobility; border checks still apply and no Council decision date has been set.
- Citizenship is a long roadNaturalization generally requires eight of the last eleven years legally resident plus a final continuous year physically in Cyprus.
Capabilities follow from the status itself — citizenship or residence as the program grants it; specifics are confirmed during your assessment.
Investment Pathways
Residential Real Estate
From €300,000
Purchase of new residential property in Cyprus (plus VAT), maintained for the duration of the status.
Held for the duration of the permit
Funds or Company Shares
From €300,000
Investment in units of registered Cypriot investment funds (AIF, AIFLNP or RAIF) or shares of Cypriot companies with local operations. VAT applies where relevant.
Held for the duration of the permit
Explore your route
From (indicative)
$349,000
Capital treatment
Held for the duration of the permit
Purchase of new residential property in Cyprus (plus VAT), maintained for the duration of the status.
Who comes with you
- Spouse of the main applicant
- Children under 18
- Children aged 18 to under 25 in full-time education and financially dependent on the main applicant
Family additions are quoted individually — request your exact figure
Application Timeline
Government processing time
The Cyprus authorities publish a processing time for complete files — the numbered stages below show where those months go. Here is the figure to plan around.
6–8 months
Official processing time, complete files
Plan around the top of the range — 8 months end to end leaves room for queries without changing your plans.
Your dates
Complete files are typically processed in 6–8 months.
Based on the officially published range — last re-verified August 2026. Government timelines are not guaranteed.
- 1
Months 1–2
Investment selection
Selection and legal verification of the qualifying investment.
- 2
Months 2–3
Application submission
Submission to the Civil Registry and Migration Department under the fast-track provision.
- 3
Months 3–6
Government processing
Review of the application and supporting evidence.
- 4
Months 6–8
Permanent residence
Grant of permanent residence; biometrics captured in Cyprus.
Requirements
- Qualifying investment of at least €300,000 from funds transferred from abroad
- Secure annual income of at least €50,000 (higher with dependants)
- Clean criminal record
- Visit Cyprus at least once every two years
Family Eligibility
- Spouse of the main applicant
- Children under 18
- Children aged 18 to under 25 in full-time education and financially dependent on the main applicant
Required documents
The standard checklist for a single applicant. Get the checklist for your whole family in the Program Finder.
- Investment & payment evidence Main applicant
- Foreign-funds proof Main applicant
- Income evidence Main applicant
- Passport Every applicant
- Criminal record certificates Adult applicants
- Health insurance Every applicant
- Non-employment declaration Main applicant
- Family papers Dependants
Exact formats — apostille or legalization, sworn translation, issue dates — vary by your country of origin and are confirmed document-by-document during your engagement.
What to Weigh
Honest advice includes the trade-offs. Before committing to the Cyprus program, consider:
- Permanent residence does not allow employment in Cyprus (operating your own company is permitted).
- The €50,000 secure-income requirement is checked annually in practice — it must come from abroad.
- Cyprus is not yet in Schengen; the permit doesn't currently confer Schengen mobility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cyprus PR give me Schengen access?
Not yet — Cyprus is an EU member but not yet part of Schengen. Its accession is under way; no date has been set (checked October 2026).
Can the investment be resold?
The qualifying investment must be maintained for as long as you hold the status; replacing one qualifying asset with another is possible with approval.
Is there a path to Cypriot citizenship?
Only through genuine long-term residence and naturalization under general law — the PR program itself does not lead to a passport.
Regulatory framework
Regulation 6(2)
Aliens and Immigration Regulations, 1972 — Immigration Permit
Regulation of 1972 · current criteria in force 2 May 2023
Ministerial policy: “Criteria for granting an Immigration Permit within the scope of the expedited procedure”, 4th Revision
Regulation 6(2) lets the Minister of Interior grant a permanent Immigration Permit to third-country nationals meeting the published criteria: a €300,000+ investment from foreign funds in property, a Cyprus company employing five people, or Cyprus funds — plus secure foreign income and clean-record conditions. A ministerial policy rather than a standalone statute, it can be revised by decision.
View the law (opens in a new tab)Official criteria — Migration Department, gov.cy
Sources & verification
Program terms are set by the issuing government and may change without notice — figures last re-verified against the official source in August 2026. Investment figures are indicative minimums for the main applicant; fees, due diligence, and family additions are quoted individually. Government timelines are not guaranteed.
Alternatives
Related Programs
Families often weigh this program against these alternatives.
PortugalResidency
- Min. investment
- €500,000+routes from €250,000
- Time to approval
- 10–14 months
- You receive
- Residence permit
GreeceResidency
- Min. investment
- €400,000+routes from €250,000
- Time to approval
- 3–6 months
- You receive
- Residence permit
Is Cyprus right for your family?
A private assessment covers eligibility, total cost, and timeline for your situation — and says so if another route fits better.