Cyprus Temporary Residence Permit for Visitors

The Cyprus Temporary Residence Permit, also known as Pink Slip, allows third-country nationals (Non-European Union) who enter the Republic of Cyprus to remain in Cyprus for more than three (3) months (90 days). As a result, tourists and visitors who wish to stay for more than 90 days can extend their stay beyond the duration of their initial visa. Application for the Cyprus Temporary Residence Permit must be made before their current tourist / visitor visa expires.

A Pink Slip could be issued for a period of 1-2 years upon first application and could be easily extended for a further 1-2 years period thereafter.

Overview

The Cyprus Temporary Residence Permit is valid for a period of one (1) year and can be renewed on an annual basis. Under the Pink Slip, a person is allowed to live in Cyprus as a visitor, however without any employment rights in Cyprus. In addition to the applicant, his/her family members, spouse, and children (under 18 years old), can obtain the Cyprus Temporary Residence Permit as dependants. Each family member must file a separate application form and all family members can file application simultaneously.

Pink Slip restrictions

• Holders of temporary residency cards must be in Cyprus minimum six (6) months plus one (1) day per year and they cannot be out of Cyprus for three (3) continuous months.
• No employment rights in Cyprus.
• Is granted only to third country nationals (non-EU Nationals) who wish to stay in Cyprus beyond the period of their current tourist / visitor visa.
• Valid for one (1) year with the option to be renewed on an annual basis.

How to obtain a Cyprus Pink Slip

Cyprus Temporary Residence Permit requirements

In order for a third country national to be eligible for this type of permit, the applicant mainly needs to show:

• Title deed or rental agreement of a house/apartment in Cyprus duly certified by the relevant president of the community (mukhtar), which will be used only as the place of staying when he/her and his/her family members are in Cyprus.
• Deposit/Transfer of the minimum amount of €10.000 in a Bank account in Cyprus which should be transferred from abroad with proof of such transfer (SWIFT transfer confirmation). If brought in cash needs to be declared in the airport on arrival and get the relevant confirmation document. Brought in cash applies only for the first permit.
• Proof of stable or adequate income from abroad to cover living expenses while residing in Cyprus from outside of Cyprus, which in total should not it is less than €2,000 per month or €24,000 per year for one person. This amount increases by 20% for the spouse and by 15% for each child.  The annual income is estimated as follows:
  • €24,000 for a single applicant
  • €28,800 for a couple
  • €32,400 for couple & 1 child
• Certificate of Health Insurance.
• Original medical examination certificate of blood tests, proving that the applicant does not suffer from hepatitis B, and C, HIV, syphilis, as well as a chest X-ray for tuberculosis with a doctor’s opinion, stamped by a specialist doctor from the Republic of Cyprus.
• Original Bank guarantee issued by a bank or cooperative institution in Cyprus with a duration of ten (10) years to cover possible repatriation expenses in the name of the applicant from his/her own bank account. The amount depends on nationality:
  • Eastern Europe countries, Russians = €550
  • Middle East countries = €350
  • Asian / American countries = €850

Processing time for the bank to issue the bank guarantees is 2-3 days.

Applicants from the following countries do not need to provide bank guarantees: the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Singapore, Norway, Andorra, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Monaco, Qatar, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.

• Passport Copy that is still valid, indicating the last arrival in the Republic and the relevant visa (if applicable)
• Marriage Certificate.
• Clean Criminal Record (less than three months), from the country of origin or residence, if the applicant resides in a country other than the country of origin.
• Children’s Birth Certificates.

Application processing time

• The Cyprus Residence Permit Card is issued within about four (4) months.
• The temporary residency permit gives the right to the applicant to stay in Cyprus from the day his/her application is submitted.

Necessary documents before arriving in Cyprus

• Bank statement and proof of wire transfer from abroad

Deposit/Transfer of €10.000 in a bank account with a banking institution in Cyprus. The bank should provide a certificate or a bank account statement proving swifts from abroad as well as swift or confirmation from the banking institution in Cyprus that this amount has been transferred from abroad.

For the first permit, It is also possible instead of bank transfer to bring the amount of €10.000, as long as it is declared in the airport on arrival and get the relevant confirmation document of the declaration.

NOTE: We advise that transfer of money from abroad to your local Cyprus bank account should be done instead of bringing cash, for safety purposes. In addition, the use of bank account here in Cyprus will assist in the renewal of the Cyprus Temporary Residence Permit since the bank statement will be used as proof that you are bringing money from abroad as well as use them for your living expenses.

• Documents to prove income from abroad

Proof of stable or adequate income from outside of Cyprus to cover living expenses while residing in Cyprus, which in total should not it is less than €2,000 per month or €24,000 per year for one person. This amount increases by 20% for the spouse and by 15% for each child. Income includes salary, pension, deposits in a bank account abroad, rents, dividends, interest on deposits or by exception from dividends from a company in Cyprus (with certification by the Company’s Accountant that he does not receive any salary from his position) or rents in Cyprus, or from income in his bank account in Cyprus from a salary from his previous work in a company of foreign interests.

Income from employment is allowed as long as it is not from Cyprus. Remote workers i.e. individuals working remotely in Cyprus employed from companies/organizations outside of Cyprus are allowed to apply for a Cyprus Temporary Residence Permit. Such income needs to be enough to enable the applicant to cover his / her living expenses in Cyprus.

Annual income estimates:

• • €24,000 for a single applicant
  • €28,800 for a couple
  • €32,400 for couple & 1 child

• Copy of Marriage Certificate duly certified and translated *(If applicable).
• Original recent Clean Criminal Record (less than three months), from the country of origin or residence, if the applicant resides in a country other than the country of origin, duly certified and translated *(If applicable).
• Copy of Children Birth Certificates duly certified and translated *(If applicable).

NOTE: The documents with (*) if they are not in Greek or English language, they must be translated to English and bear the “apostille” stamp since they are official government-issued documents. Alternatively, they need to be certified from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country that has/will issue them and subsequently to be certified by the Embassy of Cyprus in that country.

Necessary documents after arriving in Cyprus

• Application form MVIS6 for the acquisition of temporary residence permit in Cyprus as visitor duly completed

Each family member needs to fill out a separate MVIS6 application form.

• Rental agreement or sale agreement or title deed of a house/apartment

The rental agreement for a house or apartment needs to be for a period of at least one (1) year, which will be used only as the place of staying when he/her and his/her family members are in Cyprus.

The rental Agreement and a copy of it must be duly certified by the relevant president of the community (mukthar) or certifying officer and to be stamped at tax office if the total value of the rental agreement is over €5,000.

• Bank guarantee

Original letter of bank guarantee issued by a bank or cooperative institution in Cyprus with validity of 10 years covering possible repatriation expenses. Processing time for the bank to issue the guarantee is 1-2 business days.

The amount of bank guarantee depends on the country of origin:

1. 1. Middle East countries: €350
   2. European and Eastern European countries: €550
   3. African countries: €850
   4. American and Latin American countries: €850
   5. Asian countries: €850

• Health insurance

Certificate of Health Insurance for medical care that covers inpatient and outpatient care and transportation of corpse. It can be made with a local health insurance company in Cyprus or an international health insurance if the applicant already has one that fulfils the criteria of the MVIS6 application form. The cost for the health insurance is approximately €200 for each person, and can be arranged within 1-2 days.

• Medical Examination

Original medical examination certificate of blood tests, proving that the applicant does not suffer from hepatitis B, and C, HIV, syphilis, as well as a chest X-ray for tuberculosis with a doctor’s opinion, stamped by a specialist doctor from the Republic of Cyprus.

• Passport copy

Copy of valid passport or other travel document with validity of at least three (3) months from the date of the submission of the application, duly certified by a certifying officer.

Copy of the page of valid passport or other travel document with validity of at least three (3) months from the date of the submission of the application, that shows inside the last date of arrival in Cyprus, duly certified by a certifying officer.

• School enrolment confirmation for children

Cyprus government fees

Governmental fee for submission of application or renewal: €70 per family member

Alien registration certificate: €70 per family member (payable only the first time of application).

Application submission location

The application for the Cyprus Temporary Residence Permit must be submitted at the District Unit of the city where they will be living in Cyprus.

Each application is then received and examined by the Civil Registry and Migration Department.

Please find below the address of each District Unit of the Aliens & Immigration Service:

1. Nicosia: Arch. Makariou Avenue, 90, 1077, Nicosia, Cyprus
2. Limassol: Franglinou Rousvelt 223, Zakaki, Building “D. Nikolaou”, 2nd floor, 3046, Limassol, Cyprus
3. Larnaka: Piale Piasha 75, 6027, Larnaca, Cyprus
4. Pafos: Eleftheriou Venizelou & Kaningos 22, 2nd floor, 8021, Pafos, Cyprus
5. Famagusta: Giorki Papadopoulou 31, Paralimni, Cyprus

The physical presence of the applicants is required in order for the Migration Department to receive their biometric features (fingerprints and photographs) as well as their signatures prior to the submission of the temporary residence applications.

 Our Legal Services

Paris Mavronichis & Co LLC can assist you in every step of the procedure:

1. Book the meeting at the District Immigration Unit;
2. Advise as to the procedure, documentation needed and how it needs to be certified;
3. Assistance with the opening bank accounts at local Cyprus banks;
4. Fill out the MVIS6 application form;
5. Submit the MVIS6 application form and necessary documentation at the District Immigration Unit and accompany you there;
6. Follow up the application process;
7. Receive and deliver you the Cyprus Residence Permit Cards.

Please feel free to contact us for a free consultation if you have any question and to discuss how we can be of assistance to you.

DISCLAIMER:

PARIS MAVRONICHIS & CO LLC accept no duty of care or liability for any loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material in this publication.

The material contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice nor is it a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an advocate.  Each situation is unique, and you should not act or rely on any information contained herein without seeking the advice of an experienced advocate. PARIS MAVRONICHIS & CO LLC will be glad to assist you in this respect.