EU permanent residency through a single investment.
Cyprus grants permanent residence to non-EU investors under its fast-track Regulation 6(2) programme. One qualifying investment of €300,000, one application, and the permit is yours indefinitely — for you, your spouse, and your children.
Four routes. One threshold: €300,000.
Most of my clients choose new residential property — it doubles as a home or rental asset in one of Europe's strongest property markets. But the programme accepts four categories.
New residential property
A house or apartment purchased new from a developer (first sale), valued at €300,000 plus VAT. Funds must originate from abroad. The most popular route by far.
Commercial real estate
Offices, shops, or hotels — new or resale — with a total value of at least €300,000 plus VAT. Funds may come from within or outside Cyprus.
Cypriot company shares
€300,000 in share capital of a Cyprus-registered company with real activity and at least five employees in the Republic.
Investment fund units
€300,000 in units of Cyprus-regulated collective investment funds (AIF, AIFLNP, or RAIF).
The requirements, in plain terms
What the permit gives you
- A lifetime EU baseIssued once, held for life — no renewals of the status itself
- Your whole familySpouse and dependent children on one application and one investment
- Almost no obligationsOne visit every two years; no minimum stay, no tax-residency trigger
- A foundation to build onCompany ownership, dividends, healthcare and schooling as a resident
What it does not give you
- Not Schengen — yetAccession is pending the EU Council's final decision
- Not a work permitSalaried employment in Cyprus is excluded; dividends are the usual structure
- Not a passportCitizenship needs seven years' actual residence in ten, twelve continuous months, Greek at B1 and a civics exam
- Not the 5% VAT rate, if you let the propertyThe reduced rate requires it to be your home for ten years — roughly €42,000 on a €300,000 purchase
A permit for life, not a shortcut to a passport. Anyone telling you otherwise is selling.
See what €300,000 actually buys.
The residential route is the one most of my clients take — and a threshold on a page means little until you see real properties against it. Cyprino is my property practice: new developments and homes across Cyprus that meet the Regulation 6(2) criteria, each checked for title-deed status and developer standing before it is listed.
From decision to permit in five steps
Strategy call
We define your goals, family situation, and the right investment route.
Select the investment
I source qualifying properties — including off-market — and negotiate on your behalf.
Prepare the file
Income evidence, insurance, certificates — assembled with your lawyer to submission standard.
Submit & track
Application filed with the Civil Registry and Migration Department. I monitor it to approval.
Biometrics & card
One visit to Cyprus for biometrics — then your permanent residence card is issued.
The programme is administered by the Civil Registry and Migration Department. The authoritative criteria are published by the Ministry of Interior — Migration.
This page is general information, current as of July 2026, and is not legal or tax advice. Eligibility is always confirmed with a licensed lawyer before any commitment.
What clients ask before they begin
How long does Cyprus permanent residency take?
Most well-prepared applications are approved within two to six months of submission. The quality of the file matters more than anything — incomplete income evidence is the most common cause of delay.
Do I have to live in Cyprus to keep the permit?
No. There is no minimum stay requirement. You simply need to visit Cyprus at least once every two years. This makes the programme ideal for internationally mobile families.
Can my family be included in one application?
Yes — your spouse, children under 18, and unmarried, financially dependent children aged 18 to 25 can be included. Since the 2023 revision, parents and adult non-dependent children require their own qualifying investment.
Does a resale property qualify?
Not under the residential route — the property must be a first sale from a developer. Resale is only accepted in the commercial category (offices, shops, hotels).
What about VAT on the property?
Standard VAT on new property is 19%, but a reduced 5% rate may apply to your primary residence, subject to size and value conditions. This is a significant saving and worth structuring correctly from the start — your lawyer confirms eligibility before purchase.
Can permanent residency lead to EU citizenship?
Only through genuine residence — and I will be more precise here than most websites. Citizenship by naturalisation requires seven years of legal residence in Cyprus within the last ten, plus twelve continuous months in Cyprus immediately before applying, plus Greek language ability (level B1) and an examination on Cypriot civic life. A permit holder who visits once every two years will never meet these tests. If citizenship is your long-term goal, plan for actual relocation — the permit is the foundation, not a shortcut.
Am I allowed to work in Cyprus with this permit?
The permit does not allow salaried employment in Cyprus, but you may own a Cyprus company and receive dividends from its profits — which is how most investor-residents structure their affairs.
What ongoing obligations are there after approval?
You must maintain the qualifying investment and health insurance, and adult family members undergo periodic criminal record checks. I keep my clients compliant year after year — that continuity is part of the engagement.
The complete Cyprus brief, in one document.
Residency routes, the 2026 tax position, timelines, and the questions to ask before committing capital — written the way I explain it to clients.
Double opt-in — you confirm by email before anything is sent. No lists sold, no noise. Privacy policy.
Find out if you qualify in one conversation.
A confidential consultation, no obligation. We review your situation and map your realistic route to Cyprus residency.