faqs
Your questions, answered.
Got further questions? We're here to help! We've gathered the top 100 most Googled Citizenship by Investment questions & answered them.
Click below to access our full FAQ page and get the answers you need.
Country: Cyprus
Capital: Nicosia
Population: 1.2M
Language: Greek, Turkish
Timezone: GMT+12
Currency: Euro (EUR)
VISA Free Access: EU VISA Free
Program Started: 2013
The Cyprus Permanent Residency Programme offers a fast-track route to European residency through real estate investment.
With its strategic location, EU status, and high quality of life, Cyprus appeals to investors seeking a safe, family-friendly environment in Europe.
The programme grants lifelong permanent residency to qualifying applicants and their families, with a processing time of just 2–3 months.
Residents enjoy freedom of movement within the EU Schengen area once Cyprus joins the zone (expected 2026), along with excellent healthcare, education, and lifestyle benefits.
To qualify, applicants must invest a minimum of €300,000 (excluding VAT) in new real estate in Cyprus.
Acceptable options include:
A residential property (house or apartment) purchased from a developer.
Commercial real estate (offices, hotels, shops) or a combination of units totaling €300,000.
Shares in a Cyprus-registered company with physical presence and five staff.
Additionally:
The main applicant must show an annual income of at least €50,000 (plus €15,000 per spouse and €10,000 per dependent child).Funds must be transferred from abroad and come from legal sources.
The programme is open to non-EU nationals who can demonstrate clean background checks and legitimate source of funds.
Eligible dependants include:
Spouse or partner
Children under 18
Unmarried children between 18–25 if they are students and financially dependent
Parents and in-laws of the main applicant (if additional requirements are met)
All family members receive permanent residence status with the same rights as the main applicant.
The process is fast, transparent, and fully legalised under Cyprus law. Key steps:
Select qualifying real estate investment.
Transfer full investment funds and complete purchase.
Submit PR application with biometric data and full documentation.
Undergo security checks and income verification.
Receive Permanent Residency approval in 2–3 months.
There’s no physical stay requirement, but applicants must visit once every 2 years to maintain residency.
Speed: Fastest EU residency approvals in 60–90 days.
Stability: Permanent status with no renewal hassle.
Family-friendly: Spouse, children, and parents can all be included.
Pathway to citizenship: After 5–7 years of legal residence.
EU benefits: Access to Cyprus healthcare, education, and business infrastructure.
Low tax environment and strong legal protections for investors.
Got further questions? We're here to help! We've gathered the top 100 most Googled Citizenship by Investment questions & answered them.
Click below to access our full FAQ page and get the answers you need.
The Cyprus Permanent Residency Programme takes just 2–3 months to process. Once Free From Borders completes due diligence and you make your qualifying investment, we prepare and submit your application to Cyprus authorities. You’ll then visit Cyprus for biometrics, and your residency card is issued shortly after. Citizenship is possible after 7 years of physical residency.
Yes, Cyprus residency is fully compatible with your existing citizenship. The programme has no requirement to renounce your original passport, and dual citizenship is permitted if you pursue naturalisation.
The legal foundation is based on Regulation 6(2) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations, under the Civil Registry and Migration Department of Cyprus, governing permanent residency for third-country nationals through investment.
Once Cyprus joins the Schengen Area (targeted for 2026), residency permit holders will enjoy visa-free travel to:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
We advise consulting with your Free From Borders advisor for the most up-to-date information at the time of your application. We are not responsible for any changes to the above that occur during or after your application is completed, as these changes are beyond our control and at the discretion of foreign governments' border policies.