The Republic of Cyprus, a beautiful island nation in the Mediterranean, is at the top of many travellers’ lists. But depending on your nationality, you may need a visa to travel there.
This article will walk you through the types of visas needed to visit Cyprus, based on what country you’re coming from, your nationality, how long you’re planning to stay, and the reason for your trip. It will also outline how to apply for a work permit or residency status.
Visas
Cyprus is a member of the European Union, so if you’re an EU citizen, you can go there without worrying about a visa. Visitors from the European Free Trade Association (ETFA) – Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway – can also enter visa-free.
If you have a Schengen visa, then this will allow you to enter Cyprus without an additional visa. Although Cyprus isn’t yet part of the Schengen Area, they have submitted their application and, for now, are following Schengen requirements.
Citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and several other countries also don’t need a visa, so long as they are planning to visit for business or pleasure and to stay for less than 90 days.
You can find a complete list of people who don’t need a visa to enter Cyprus on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website. For more info on who needs visas and who doesn’t, check out these lists.
For those who do need visas, there are several types available, which can be applied for at the Diplomatic Mission (or Consulate) of Cyprus. However, before you apply, make sure that you have the following:
• Your passport, which should be valid for at least three months from your intended departure date from Cyprus
• Valid proof of residency – this can be your visa, permanent residence card or passport
• Visa application form
• A passport-size photo
• An invitation letter from a Cyprus host – this can be a company or associate, who must fill out an assumption of responsibility for hosting form and get it notarised
• Round-trip flight bookings
• Proof of accommodation, such as hotel reservations
According to the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs, applicants may be asked for additional information, including a bank guarantee, proof of employment, proof of financial means, or additional personal evidence.
There are several different types of visa available, so it’s important to know which one is best for you. Please see below for further details.
Airport transit visa (ATV)
This type of visa allows you to pass through the international transit areas of Cypriot airports on a stop-over or transfer flight, but does not permit you to enter the national territory of Cyprus. The application fee is €15.
Short-stay visa
This visa, most often used by tourists, allows you to enter Cyprus for reasons other than immigration (i.e. business or pleasure) for one to 90 days within one six-month period. The application fee is €20.
Multiple-entry visa
This type of visa, meant for people who frequently travel to Cyprus, whether that be for business or pleasure, lasts for up to five years. The duration of each stay cannot exceed three months in any half-year. The application fee is €60.
Student visa
This visa allows students to stay in Cyprus for more than 90 days to study. For this type of visa, your passport must be valid for a year after the date of entry and have at least one blank page. You will also need:
• Four passport-size photos
• A letter of acceptance from an educational institution of Cyprus
• Original or certified copies of academic documents proving qualifications, along with English translations
• Proof of financial means
• A certificate of police clearance from your home country, which has been issued within the last six months
• Travel health insurance
Upon arrival in Cyprus, you will also need to apply for a temporary Cyprus residence permit, buy health insurance, and undergo a medication examination.
With this visa, you can work up to 20 hours in approved industries. The visa application fee is €30.
Work visa
Before getting a Cyprus work visa, applicants must have a Cyprus work permit – for more information on this, please see the section entitled, ‘Work Permits’. Once you have this, you’ll need to make an appointment at your region’s embassy or consulate, bringing with you the documents listed above, which are needed for all visas, as well as the following:
• A certificate of medical clearance
• A certificate of police clearance
• Proof of financial means
• Proof of travel health insurance
• Work contract with Department of Labour seal
The visa application fee is €20.
Long-stay visa
This visa lets non-EU nationals stay in Cyprus for up to one year. To stay in Cyprus for more than 90 days, all foreign nationals must get a residence permit issued by the Cyprus Ministry of Interior. The visa application fee is €60.
Visas issued at the border
In emergency cases, short-stay and ATV visas can be granted by the approval of the Director of the Civil Registry and Migration Department upon arrival at a legal port of entry in Cyprus. The application fee is €20.
Visa extension
People with short-stay, multiple-entry, or issued-at-the-border visas can apply for an extended visa of up to 90 days from a date of entry within six months. The application fee is €30.
Spouses
No dependent visa exists for spouses of Cyprus visa holders. People with Cyprus work permits, however, can apply for family reunification, which can include a spouse who has been married to the permit holder for over a year and is over 21 years of age.
Work permits
The first step to relocating to Cyprus for work is getting a work permit. The second step is getting a work visa, as described above, and the third step is getting a residence permit, as described below.
All non-EU and non-EFTA citizens will need to apply for a work permit before they apply for a work visa and enter the country. Applicants will need a Cypriot company to sponsor them for this process, who should take care of getting approval from the Cyprus Department of Labour and applying for the permit at the Civil Registry and Migration Department. Applicants will need to provide photocopies of their passport, an employment contract, a certificate of police clearance, a medical certificate, and proof of health insurance. Companies will provide their tax clearance certificate, a list of their existing staff, and a bank guarantee letter for the applicant.
The permits are only granted if the employer can prove the position couldn’t be filled by a Cypriot or EU/EFTA citizen.
Some situations – like foreign nationals who will be self-employed in specific trades like agriculture, mining, or science – fall into immigration permit categories that may allow foreigners to work in Cyprus without a work visa. For more information, visit this site.
Residency
Cyprus offers two types of residency permits for non-EU nationals: temporary and permanent. The former is used most often for studying, employment, or family reunification. It is issued for one year and can be renewed every year after for five years, at which point permit holders qualify to apply for permanent residency. But during that five-year period, permit holders cannot leave Cyprus for longer than three months.
To apply for a temporary residency permit, applicants must submit a number of documents to the Civil Registry and Migration Department within seven days of arriving in Cyprus:
• An application form
• Proof of accommodation
• Proof of financial means
• A medical certificate
• A certificate of police clearance
• A copy of their passport
• A bank guarantee
• Proof of health insurance
They may also be asked for their work permit, marriage or birth certificate, or proof of enrolment.
To skip the five-year waiting period for permanent residency, foreigners can purchase property in Cyprus worth at least €300,000, deposit €30,000 in a Cypriot bank, keep it there for three years, and prove an annual income of €30,000 or more received from sources outside of Cyprus. This level of residency allows for access to freedom of movement within the EU, as well as social assistance and tax benefits.
Forms and the most up-to-date information can be found here.