Introduced after the termination of the citizenship by investment program in 2020, the Cyprus Golden Visa program provides permanent residency in exchange for a substantial amount of investment. The minimum investment amount is €300,000, offering an affordable path for EU residency for non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss nationals.
The Cyprus Golden Visa processing time is around 6 to 9 months in 2025, as one of the fast-track residency-by-investment programs. Once the applicants grant their residency, they do not have to legally live in Cyprus, but they must visit Cyprus once every two years to maintain their residency status.
Quick Cyprus Golden Visa Facts in 2025
- Minimum Investment is €300,000 for real estate purchase, business, or fund investment.
- Citizenship is available after legally residing in Cyprus for 8 years. However, Cypriot citizenship will also require you to prove a basic understanding of the language, history, and culture of Cyprus.
- Through the Cyprus residency by investment program, applicants can benefit from EU residency, family inclusion, favorable tax incentives, and no minimum stay requirements.
- Once obtained, it will be valid for life on condition that you visit Cyprus once every two years to keep your residency status.
- Unlike other European countries, investors can enjoy a 0% tax on income earned abroad, dividends, and capital gains, thanks to the Cyprus Golden Visa.
What to Discover in This Guide?
- What is the Cyprus Golden Visa Program?
- Benefits of the Cyprus Golden Visa
- Eligibility Requirements for the Cyprus Golden Visa
- Golden Visa in Cyprus: Investment Routes Requirements
- Cyprus Golden Visa Requirements: Documents
- Timeline: How to Apply for a Cypriot Golden Visa
- Cyprus Golden Visa Cost in 2025
- Is It Possible to Obtain Cyprus Citizenship by Investment?
- Tax Considerations for the Cyprus Permanent Residence Program
What is the Cyprus Golden Visa Program?
The Cyprus government used to have a citizenship by investment program, launched in 2007. The main purpose of the program is to draw more foreign capital to the country. Initially, the minimum investment for Cypriot citizenship required €25 million in 2007, which was later reduced to 2.5 million. Additionally, applicants did not have to pass any language tests or comply with residency requirements. The program’s general structure was similar to Caribbean Citizenship by Investment programs.
However, the program was terminated in November 2020 due to the corruption scandals. Confirming that 53% of passports were found to be illegally issued. This resulted in significant financial losses, including €25 million in uncollected fees.
After the citizenship by investment scandal, the Golden Visa Program was introduced in 2020. According to the legal framework, it only provides a permanent residence, not a direct path to citizenship, with a minimum investment amount of €300,000.
Benefits of the Cyprus Golden Visa
Residency by investment programs provide many benefits for their investors. In the case of the Cyprus Golden Visa, it is not different either. Below you can see the key benefits of why many choose to invest in this program:
- Affordability: The minimum investment amount starts from €300,000, which makes it an affordable option among other Golden Visa programs. In fact, it is the cheapest permanent residency by investment program in Europe compared to Malta and Bulgaria Golden Visa.
- EU Residency: Thanks to its strategic location, you will get residency in the EU. You can benefit from living in Cyprus, too, while benefiting from healthcare and education services.
- Minimum Residency Requirement: To keep your Cyprus residency, you do not have to live full-time in Cyprus. However, you are required to enter the country once every two years.
- Path to Citizenship: Although the program does not give you a direct path to citizenship, you can be eligible for naturalization after legally residing in the country for 5 years (full-time).
- Dual Citizenship: Cyprus allows you to have dual citizenship. But you must check out your home country too.
- Family inclusion: You can include your family members in your Golden Visa application, including your spouse and children.
- Lower Taxes: Cyprus does not impose inheritance or gift taxes. Also, if your stay in the country does not exceed 183 days, you are not taxed on worldwide income. You can avoid double taxation if your home country has an agreement with Cyprus, too.
- Exit Flexibility: Investors may sell their property after five years, as long as they retain a minimum investment of €300,000.
Eligibility Requirements for the Cyprus Golden Visa
Now that we have covered the benefits, it is time to figure out whether you are eligible to apply for applying Cyprus Golden Visa.
The Main Applicant
For permanent residency by investment, Cyprus Golden Visa requirements for the main applicant include:
- You must invest at least €300,000 in an approved option, such as real estate, company shares, or investment funds.
- You need proof of annual income of at least €50,000 from abroad. You have to add €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 per dependent child. As proof of income, you can use salaries, pensions, dividends, interest, or rental income, verified via tax documents. Your spouse’s income can also count.
- A clean criminal record
- Proof of accommodation in Cyprus
- You must visit Cyprus at least once every two years to maintain the visa
- You must declare that you will not work in Cyprus, except as a company director.
Family Members
In your application, if you want to include your family members, you can add:
- Your spouse
- Your children under 18 automatically qualify.
- Children aged 18–25 qualify if they are students at a Cypriot university, unmarried, meet the income requirements, and apply for a student visa.
Golden Visa in Cyprus: Investment Routes & Requirements
So, which investment options qualify for the Cyprus Golden Visa? There are four options available for investors to get permanent residency. You can find them in detail below:
1. Buying a Residential Property
To comply with the Cyprus Golden Visa requirements, you have to choose one of the eligible investment options. The first option includes a minimum investment of €300,000 (excluding VAT) in a residential property.
Before your application process, €200,000 plus VAT must be paid. Your source of income should come from abroad. You cannot get a mortgage in Cyprus and use it in your application. The investment amount must be deposited in a Cypriot bank account before being transferred to the seller.
2. Buying a Commercial Property
Another common option is buying commercial real estate for the Cyprus Golden Visa. Minimum investment amount is €300,000 (excluding VAT). Here, you must purchase an office, shop, hotel, or similar development.
3. Investing in the share capital of a Cypriot Company
To obtain permanent residence in Cyprus, you can also consider choosing to invest in the share capital of a Cypriot Company for €300,000. The company must have a physical presence and employ at least five Cypriot or EU citizens.
You can hold company shares and oversee operations, either personally or with your spouse as an unpaid director. Plus, you can control the business and earn income from its profits.
4. Investing in the Cyprus Investment Fund Association
To qualify for Cyprus permanent residency, you can also invest in the Cyprus Investment Fund Association via €300,000 investment. The Cyprus-based fund can be AIF, UCITS, or RAIF, regulated by CySEC, and has a physical presence in Cyprus.
In your application, you also need a certificate from the fund confirming its investment to meet legal requirements.
Cyprus Golden Visa Requirements: Documents
In your application, you will be asked to submit the necessary documents. Below, you will find the document checklist:
- Application form
- Passport copies (Valid passports for the applicant and all dependents.)
- CV of the main applicant
- Proof of investment
- Proof of source of funds
- Proof of annual income
- Criminal record certificate
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Children’s birth certificates (if applicable)
- Health insurance (It must be valid medical coverage for all family members.)
- Passport photos
- Statement of Intent
All documents stated above need to be translated into Greek or English by an official translator and should have an Apostille stamp if applicable. Check the official government website for additional info.
Timeline: How to Apply for a Cypriot Golden Visa
To apply for a Cyprus Golden Visa successfully, you will need to follow the steps below:
Step 1: Choose your investment type
You can start your journey by getting in touch with Get Golden Visa. Our team will analyze your needs and investor profile, then guide you through the process from start to finish.
Step 2: Make your investment
After deciding on your investment journey, you are required to invest at least €200,000 as part of the process. In the meantime, you need to gather the required documents and open a bank account in Cyprus.
Step 3: Submit your application
Once you have gathered all the necessary documents and made your investment, you are ready to submit your application to the Civil Registry and Migration Department. During this process, you must also pay the application fee, which is around €500 per applicant.
Step 4: Receive your permanent residence
After your application, you have to wait for approval, which is a letter confirming your investment route. Then, you need to get your biometrics appointment and get your permanent residency in a few weeks. This Cyprus permanent residence card will be valid for 10 years, and you have to visit Cyprus once every two years to keep it valid.
Cyprus Golden Visa Cost in 2025
When we look at the overall cost of the Cyprus Golden Visa, we see that the minimum investment amount is fixed at €300,000 regardless of the investment type. However, during the process, you will be required to pay additional fees stated below:
| Category | Details | Amount / Range |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fees | Main applicant (includes spouse) | €500 |
| Each dependent aged 18 or older | €500 | |
| Alien Registration Certificate (ARC) | €70 per person | |
| Document Preparation | Translation and notarization (if required) | Varies by country of origin |
| Apostille or legalization | Required depending on the country of origin | |
| Property-Related Costs | Value Added Tax (VAT) | 19% standard rate; 5% for eligible new residential properties |
| Stamp Duty | 0.15% – 0.2% of property value | |
| Property Transfer Fees | 3% – 8%, depending on property price | |
| Legal & Administrative Fees | Additional costs depending on the transaction |
In total, you can expect to pay €870 for single applications and €1,380-€2,380 for a family of four without including the investment amount.
Is It Possible to Obtain Cyprus Citizenship by Investment?
The Cyprus Golden Visa program is a residency by investment program, not a citizenship by investment. The program initially gives permanent residency to its applicants without any residency requirements.
However, if you intend to immigrate to Cyprus permanently via its Golden Visa program, you might be eligible to obtain Cyprus citizenship through naturalization. For this, you are required to stay in Cyprus for eight years, corresponding to a total of 1825 days. Additionally, you must prove a basic understanding of the language, history, and culture of Cyprus. Once you complete the process, you can benefit from the advantages of a Cypriot passport.
Tax Considerations for the Cyprus Permanent Residence Program
For non-EU citizens, one of the most asked questions when choosing a Golden Visa country is: Are there any tax incentives for me? Within the legal framework of the Cyprus Golden Passport, we can clearly answer this question: “yes”.
Cyprus offers a very favorable tax regime, especially for those who are non-domiciled. By meeting the residency or domicile rules, you can benefit from:
- No Special Defense Contribution (SDC) tax on dividends, interest, and rental income.
- Low personal income tax, including tax-free income up to €19,500 and reduced rates on foreign pensions.
- Exemptions for new residents, such as 50% income tax relief on earnings over €100,000 for the first 17 years.
- No wealth or inheritance taxes, ideal for estate planning.
- Capital gains tax exemption on profits from selling shares or bonds.
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Frequently Asked Questions on the Cyprus Investment Program
What are the alternatives to the Cyprus Golden Visa program?
There are many Golden Visa programs in Europe similar to Cyprus’s scheme. One of the outstanding options includes, Greek Golden Visa program, with a minimum property investment amount of €250,000. Compared to Cyprus, it only gives temporary residency, which is valid for five years. However, it gives access to the Schengen Region. On the other hand, the Portuguese residency by investment program stands out being one of the most reliable programs in the EU, as it offers a direct path to Portuguese citizenship after several years. You can also see below the other options.
How much money do you need to get residency in Cyprus?
Be prepared to show annual income of at least €50,000 from abroad, along with the required investment amount of €300,000. You also have to show €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 per dependent child.
How long can a US citizen live in Cyprus?
If you wish to stay in Cyprus for more than 90 days within 180 days, you need to get a residence permit to live as a US citizen. One of the most preferred paths, in this condition, is to get permanent residence by investment through the Cyprus Golden Visa.
Does buying a house in Cyprus give you residency?
On condition that you buy a commercial or residential property worth at least €300,000, you can buy a house and obtain permanent residence in Cyprus.
Can I live permanently in Cyprus?
Within the legal framework of the Cypriot Golden Visa program, you can live permanently in Cyprus if you make your investment and complete the process successfully by receiving your permanent residence card.
Can I retire to Cyprus from the USA?
Yes, you can retire in Cyprus as a USA citizen. All you need to do is get residency. One way to achieve this is through its Golden Visa scheme. Once you make your investment, you can receive your residency status and benefit from laid-back island life.
Is Cyprus immigrant-friendly?
There are many expats living in Cyprus, which accounts for 22% of the total population. Therefore, the country is very immigrant-friendly, with its large expat communities. Mostly, people come from countries like the United Kingdom, Russia, and various European Union countries.
Does Cyprus tax US social security benefits?
There is no totalization agreement between the US and Cyprus. Therefore, Americans living and working in Cyprus may have to pay social security taxes in both countries.
