Non-EU citizens who enter the Republic of Cyprus and wish to remain in Cyprus for more than 3 months (90 days) can apply for a Visitor Permit (also known as the ‘Pink Slip’). It will also enable tourist visitors to extend their stay regardless of what the duration of their initial visa was.
The Visitor Permit is a one-year permit and can be renewed annually, provided the relevant criteria are met.
Under this permit, a person can live in Cyprus as a visitor but does not have the right to work in Cyprus. The Applicant’s spouse and minor children (under the age of 18 years old) can also obtain Visitor Permits as dependents. The application is made at the same time for the whole family, however a separate application is filed for each person. Once the Applicant receives the receipt of approval of his/her application he/she may travel abroad and return to Cyprus with the presentation of the said receipt until he/she receives his/her Permit.
Permit conditions:
- Holders of a Visitor Permit cannot stay outside Cyprus for any one period longer than three months, otherwise the permit would be automatically cancelled.
- No right to work (be employed).
- Granted only to non-EU nationals who wish to extend their stay in Cyprus.
- Valid for one year, can be renewed annually.
Permit Criteria & Main Documents Required:
- Copy of valid passport or other travel document with validity of at least three (3) months from the date of the submission of the application.
- Copy of the passport or other travel document, indicating the last arrival in the Republic of Cyprus and the relevant visa (if applicable).
- Original Clear Criminal Record Certificate from the country of origin or residence, if the applicant resides in a country other than the country of origin, the certificate should be issued from the country of residence with a duly certified official translation in Greek or English (only required for the first-time application).
- Original medical examination certificate of blood tests, proving that the third-country national does not suffer from hepatitis B, and C, HIV, syphilis, as well as a chest X-ray for tuberculosis with a doctor’s opinion, stamped by a specialist doctor from the Republic of Cyprus (only required for the first-time application).
- Original letter of guarantee issued by a bank or cooperative institution in Cyprus with validity of 10 years covering possible repatriation expenses.
- Certificate of Health Insurance for medical care that covers inpatient and outpatient care and transportation of corpse (Plan A). The average cost is EUR200 per person.
- Original marriage certificate duly authenticated/certified and translated into Greek or English (where applicable). The original document is presented only with the first-time application, along with a copy of it.
- Title deed or stamped contract of sale (with relevant Land Registry deposit receipt) or stamped rental agreement of place of residence. The original document is presented only with the first-time application, along with a copy of it. OR
- A Host Declaration for provision of suitable accommodation (where applicable).
- Evidence that the Applicant has sufficient and stable resources, as analysed below, derived from a stable or satisfactory income of the Applicant outside the Republic of Cyprus:
- Income includes salary, pension, deposits in a bank account abroad, rents, dividends, interest on deposits or, by exception, from dividends from a company in the Republic (with certification by the Company’s Accountant that he/she does not receive any salary from his/her position or rents in the Republic, or from income in his/her bank account in the Republic from a salary from his/her previous work in a company of foreign interests).
- Detailed statement of bank account transactions in a financial institution in the Republic of Cyprus, for the last 12 months (in case of a renewal) or from the date of opening of the account (in the case of a first-time permit application), showing the foreign remittances in the name of the Applicant which in total should not be less than EUR2,000 per month or EUR24,000 per year for one person. This amount increases by 20% for the spouse and by 15% for each child.
- During the first-time permit application, a cash transfer or deposit of at least EUR10,000 is also accepted. In the case of a cash deposit, the cash declaration at customs must be submitted.
- For the renewal of the Visitor Permit, the balance in the account must not be less than EUR6,000, which corresponds to three months’ income, regardless of the size of the family.
Documents Required for Dependent Minors:
- Original and copy of parents’ marriage certificate.
- Original and copy of birth certificate.
- Original certificate of registration from an academic institution in Cyprus (applicable only for pupils).
Cyprus Government Fees:
- First-time or renewal applications: EUR70.00 per person.
- Registration: EUR70.00 per person (payable as an additional fee only for the first-time registration).
Note: the application needs to be made at the Immigration Unit of the City in which the Applicant resides.
The content of this article is valid as of the date of its first publication. It is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter and does not constitute legal, financial, or any other type of advice. We recommend that you seek professional advice on your specific matter before acting on any information provided.
