Permanent residence in Cyprus

Permanent residence in Cyprus in 2026 is available through three routes. The first is the investor permit under Regulation 6(2): an investment of at least €300,000 and income of at least €50,000 a year, with processing of about 2 months. The second is the Category F Immigration Permit for people with secured income from abroad who will not work in Cyprus: the official minimum on the Migration Department website is €9,568 a year plus €4,613 for each dependant. The third is EU long-term resident status after 5 years of lawful continuous residence with a valid permit, processed in 6–12 months, with a 5-year card. Temporary protection and studies do not count towards the 5 years. Checked against the Cyprus Migration Department website on 10.10.2026.

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Three routes to permanent residence

Category F: living on your own income

Category F is for people with a stable, secured income from abroad (pension, deposits, rent, dividends) who do not plan to work in Cyprus. The minimum shown by the Migration Department is still a conversion from the old Cyprus pound: €9,568 a year for the applicant and €4,613 for each dependant. We assess the sufficiency of income, housing and documents for your situation before filing. The application is filed in Nicosia; the government fee is €500 plus €70 for the Alien Registration Certificate.

EU long-term resident: permanent residence by length of stay

The status is available to third-country nationals who have lived in Cyprus lawfully and continuously for the 5 years before applying and hold a valid permit.

• Absences. Absences do not break the period if each is shorter than 6 consecutive months and they total no more than 10 months over 5 years.
• Periods that do not count. Studies and vocational training, temporary statuses (seasonal workers, domestic workers), asylum seekers and persons with subsidiary protection.
• Procedure. Form MLT3, filed only at the Migration Department in Nicosia with originals, translations and certification; fee €30; processing 6–12 months.
• Loss of status. 12 consecutive months outside the EU, 6 years outside Cyprus, the same status acquired in another EU state, fraud or a threat to public order.

What permanent residence gives

A permanent permit lets you live in Cyprus without annual renewals. The right to work depends on the category: holders of the investor permit and Category F may not take up employment in Cyprus. Permanent residence brings neither voting rights nor a Cyprus passport; the next step is naturalisation after 7 years of residence with Greek at B1.

Related services

The tax side of moving (residence, non-dom, dividends) is covered by Crystal Tax.

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Sources (as of 10.10.2026): Migration Department: investor permit; Migration Department: Immigration Permits, categories A–F; Migration Department: long-term resident; Civil Registry Law 141(I)/2002, s. 111B.