Cyprus
Cyprus Permanent Residence by Investment
Also known as: Cyprus Category 6.2, Cyprus Golden Visa, Cyprus PR Permit
- Min investment
- $330K
- Program tier
- Permanent Residency
- Program type
- Golden Visa
- Initial validity
- 99 yr
- Renewable
- Yes
- Path to PR
- Immediate
- Path to citizenship
- 8 yr
- Schengen access
- No
Investment options
Real Estate
$330KPurchase of new (first-sale) residential property worth EUR 300,000+ excluding VAT. Up to two new residential properties allowed if combined value meets threshold. Must be held; sale revokes PR (replacement property allowed).
Real Estate
$330KAlternative: EUR 300,000+ in commercial real estate (new or resale) — broadens options beyond residential.
Business Investment
$330KEUR 300,000 share capital of a Cypriot company employing at least 5 people.
Fund
$330KEUR 300,000 in Cypriot collective investment scheme (AIF or UCITS) registered with CySEC.
Physical presence
Path to citizenship
- Available: Yes
- Minimum years: 8
- Physical-presence years: 7
- Language test: Yes
Cyprus closed its 'citizenship by investment' (Cyprus Investment Programme) in 2020 following EU pressure. Standard naturalization now requires 8 years actual residence (7 within 10 + 12 continuous months pre-application), Greek language A2, and integration. Cypriot citizenship is full EU citizenship. Most PR investors never naturalize due to physical presence.
Tax implications
- Becomes tax resident automatically: No
- Worldwide income taxed: No
- Territorial tax system: No
- Day-count for tax residency: 60 days
- Wealth tax: No
Cyprus has TWO tax-residency tests: 183+ days OR 60+ days under '60-day rule' (no >183 days elsewhere, no tax residence elsewhere, business ties in Cyprus, owned/rented home in Cyprus). Non-dom regime exempts dividend, interest, and rental income from foreign sources for 17 years. PIT progressive to 35% (band starts EUR 19,500). No wealth, inheritance, or property tax.
Family inclusion
- Spouse: Yes
- Children under 18: Yes
- Dependent adult children: Yes
- Parents: No
Spouse and unmarried minor children. Unmarried adult children aged 18-25 if financially dependent and in full-time education with parental investment uplift required. Parents NOT included for new applications (older guidance permitted parents on uplift, now discontinued). Each adult dependent must demonstrate own annual income ~EUR 10,000.
Additional fees
- Application fee: $550
- Government fees: $550
- Legal/agent (est.): $5K
Application fee EUR 500 per applicant. VAT on new property 19% (reduced 5% on primary residence up to 130 m²). Property transfer fee 1.5-8% (waived if VAT paid). Legal fees 1-2% of property value. Stamp duty 0.15-0.20%.
Eligibility requirements
- Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national, age 18+
- Clean criminal record from country of citizenship
- Annual income at least EUR 50,000 from non-Cypriot sources (residential property route) — increasing by EUR 15,000 for spouse + EUR 10,000 per child + EUR 10,000 per dependent parent if added
- Health insurance covering Cyprus
- Proof of qualifying investment and source of funds
Disqualifiers
- Failure to maintain investment
- Absence from Cyprus more than 2 consecutive years
- Criminal record finding
- Source-of-funds failure (Cyprus tightened DD after 2020 program closure)
Recent changes
- 2020-11
Cyprus Investment Programme (citizenship) closed following Al Jazeera investigation and EU pressure.
- 2023-05
Fast-track PR (Category 6.2 / Regulation 6.2) refreshed — investment options broadened beyond residential property to include commercial real estate, funds, and company shares.
- 2024-2025
Enhanced due diligence; annual income evidence now stricter (regular auditor-confirmed); applicants from sanctioned jurisdictions excluded.
- 2026
PR program continues; high demand from Israeli, Lebanese, Russian (pre-2022 documented), Indian, and Chinese investors. Citizenship path remains long (8 years residence).
Notes
Cyprus offers 'instant PR' — fastest EU residency. Note that Cyprus is EU but NOT in Schengen — Cyprus PR/citizenship does NOT grant Schengen mobility (Cyprus expects Schengen accession but it has not yet happened as of May 2026). Non-dom tax regime is genuinely attractive but tied to actually establishing residency. Citizenship is the EU passport but requires real physical relocation.
EasyPassport is a document-organization tool focused on citizenship by descent. This page is reference research, not legal or financial advice. Always verify with the official program authority.