How to get a Temporary Residence Permit in Cyprus

Cyprus attracts visitors from all around the world. If you find yourself captivated by the charm of the island and wish to extend your stay even after your visa expiry OR if you wish to legally stay in the Republic while your permanent residence application is being processed, applying for temporary residence as a visitor is the way forward.

Determine Eligibility of Temporary Residence in Cyprus

Before diving into the procedural steps, it is crucial to ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria for temporary residence in Cyprus and that your purpose aligns with any of the categories under which you can obtain a temporary residence permit.

According to Aliens and Immigration Regulation 14, a visitor’s permit is issued to a third-country national for the purpose of (a) entering the Republic for short or long-term holidays, (b) touring or (c) investigating the possibility of residing in the Republic. According to the same Regulation, the holders of a visitor’s permit cannot carry out an economic activity in the Republic.

Who Can Apply For A Cyprus Visitors Temporary Residence Permit

The categories of third-country nationals that can apply for a visitors’ temporary residence permit are as follows:

• Visitor- Autonomous visitor permit
• Visitor – Dependent Spouse Visitor
• Visitor – Dependent Minor Child of Visitor
• Visitor – Priest, Monk/Nun of the Orthodox Church or of the Churches of Religious Minorities in the Republic of Cyprus
• Visitor – Dependent Adult Family Member of a third-country national with a Cyprus Immigration Permit (direct ascendant/direct descendent)
• Dependent Partner of a Cypriot citizen with a duly proven permanent relationship for the purpose of marriage. The specific temporary residence permit is issued for three months and concerns foreign nationals who maintained a duly proven long-term relationship with a Cypriot citizen (at least one year) and who entered the Republic by legal entry with a visa and did not stay in the Republic for more than three months after the expiry of their visa.

Entry into the Republic is permitted through the legal entry points with a Visa issued by the Republic’s Consular Authorities and with a valid travel document. Before the expiration of the said visa an application under any of the above-mentioned categories shall be submitted.

Gathering the essential documents is an essential step in the application process. While the specific requirements with reference to the documentation that should be provided may differ based on the particulars of your case, standard documents that should be prepared typically involve: (a) proof of accommodation, (b) proof of income from abroad in accordance with specific income criteria, (c) confirmation of funds deposited in a Cypriot banking institution, (d) furnishing a clear criminal record for all adults covered in the application, and (e) presenting medical examination certificates conducted in Cyprus following the specific guidelines.

Financial criteria for Temporary Residence in Cyprus

The main applicant of the application should prove that he has sufficient and stable resources, derived from a stable or satisfactory income outside the Republic. The monthly income of the applicant should not be less than €2,000 or €24,000 per year for one person. This amount is increased by 20% for the dependant spouse or each dependent parent and by 15% for dependant of each child.

The main applicant should also be in a position to submit with the application a detailed statement of bank account transactions in a financial institution in the Republic of Cyprus, for the last 12 months in case of a renewal or from the date of opening the account in the case of a first permit, showing the foreign remittances in his name which in total should not be less than €2,000 per month or €24,000 per year for one person. This amount should be increased by 20% for the dependant spouse and by 15% for each dependent child.

Cyprus Temporary Residence Application Process

The physical presence of the main applicant and his family members is required for the submission of the application.

It takes a minimum of 6 months for a temporary residence application to be processed.  Visitors are granted a first temporary residence permit of one (1) year, except for the residence permits of priests/monks/nuns of the Orthodox Church or the churches of other religious minorities in Cyprus where it is extended to three (3) years if there is a relevant request from the church and the necessary supporting documents are presented.

If the passport expires sooner, the residence permit is issued with a validity of three months before the expiry of the applicant’s passport. For wives and children or direct ascendants, where applicable, who reside with a visitor’s residence permit, a residence permit is issued up to the validity of the dependent’s residence permit, provided that the travel document of the third-country national is valid along with the aforementioned time constraints.

The temporary residence permit is renewable, provided that the relevant criteria are met.

For updates on the temporary residence permit please read our article.

Contact us to obtain a personalized check list including with all the documents you need to prepare for the purposes of submitting an application under any of the abovementioned categories. We are lawyers in Cyprus who focus on results.