Latest Update: 30 May 2023

The Cyprus Government has come to the decision to implement radical changes to the Pink Slip Temporary Residence Permit (Visitor) which confers to non-EU nationals the right to reside in Cyprus for more than 90 days.

The Pink Slip in Cyprus is valid for 1 year and can be renewed on an annual basis and under this permit, a person is allowed to live in Cyprus as a vistor, i.e. without the right to work. Also, persons can not stay out of Cyprus for more than three months continuously as the permit will be cancelled automatically.

The changes affect mainly the financial criteria that should be satisfied by the interested individuals for the submission of the relevant application and added a couple of extra documents that the applicants must provide to the Immigration authorities.

Introduced changes of Financial Criteria:

• Applicants will need to demonstrate evidence that they have a stable income of at least €2,000 per month (or €24,000 per annum) from employment outside the Republic of Cyprus. This amount will need to be transferred from abroad every year in the applicant’s account in Cyprus.
• The income Requirements amount increases by 20% (€4,800) if the Applicant will be joined by a spouse or by 15% (€3,600) for every dependent minor.
• By way of exception, the Applicant’s income may be generated from rent from property owned in Cyprus, or in the form of dividends from a company registered in Cyprus, provdied that the Applicant does not receive any salary from his position in the company.

Introduced changes to first time applicants:

First time Applicant should need to provide additional documents, such as:

1. Original criminal record certificates duly legalised (Apostille Stamp) and translated in English language, from country of residence.
2. Original medical examination certificate of blood tests and chest X-ray when in Cyprus. The medical examination shall take place in Cyprus prior to the submission of the residency application. We can arrange the appointment with the Clinic/Laboratory (only for the first registration).

To be eligible for this type of permit, the applicant mainly needs to show:

a) adequate income from abroad (can derive from salary, pension, rentals, dividends. By way of exception, the Applicant’s income may be generated from rent from property owned in Cyprus, or in the form of dividends from a company registered in Cyprus, provided that the Applicant does not receive any salary from his position in the company to cover living expenses while residing in Cyprus (estimated about €24,000 for the autonomous visitor and another €4,800 for his spouse and €4,000 for each minor child. For example, €33,000 for a three-member family).

b) either rent or purchase a house or apartment in Cyprus

c) open a bank account in Cyprus ith deposits coming in from abroad for same amounts as the annual income above

d) There are some other subsidiary requirements too.

Limitations to the holder of a Cyprus Pink slip

The holder of the Pink Slip permit cannot work in Cyprus and cannot stay outside of Cyprus for 3 months continuously as the permit would be cancelled automatically. In addition, the Cyprus pink slip permit validity period is typically only 1 (one) year, but can be extended annually.

Procedure to submit a Cyprus Pink Slip application

• Booking of appointment date at the Immigration city Unit for the submission of the application before the applicant’s visa expires;
• Choice of qualifying residential property, either rented or purchased;
• Opening of bank account in Cyprus and transferring money from abroad;
• Preparation and collection of the required documents to accompany the Cyprus Pink Slip application (documents must be officially translated into English or Greek and be double certified or Apostilled);
• Attendance at the Cyprus Immigration Unit on the set appointment date for the submission of the application;
• Payment of pink slip application fees;
• Capturing of biometric data (photograph, fingerprints, etc.);
• The appication for Pink Slip is submitted to the Immigration city Unit that the applicant resides, and it is further forwarded and examined by the Civil Registry and Migration Department (CRMD) in Nicosia;
• The timing to approve a Cyprus Pink Slip is around 6 months, however once applied, the applicant is allowed to stay in Cyprus until the application is approved. On approval of the application, a temporary residence permit card is issued.