Passport And Visa Requirements For Cyprus

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Passport And Visa Requirements For Cyprus

Citizens of EU countries and 35 other countries do not require a visa for stays for up to 90 days. Entry via the Turkish occupied northern areas is illegal and a stamp in your passport from past visits to the north can cause problems.

Short-stay/multiple entry visas are generally valid for one year, and allow visits for leisure or business purposes provided the total duration of the stay does not exceed three months in a six-month period.

For visits longer then three months a long-stay visa is required for employment, study or business purposes.

If you are planning to work in Cyprus you must apply for a work permit before arriving in Cyprus. The employer normally applies, having provided proof that there is not a qualified Cypriot available. The maximum stay subject to some exceptions is four years.

Temporary Residence Permits must be obtained if you plan to stay longer then 90 days. There are self-employed, permanent employment and non-working (retired) categories available. If you do not have a job you will need to provide evidence that you can support yourself financially.

Cyprus launched its ‘F visa’ scheme in 2012 which allows you to gain residence rights based on your property investment. The requirement is for a property of €2m or more or invest at least €2.5m (where part of a larger group of shareholders) or invest €5m in the Cypriot economy.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.