Cyprus

Cyprus

Category F Immigration Permit

💰 Minimum Income
€798
per month
Minimum EUR 9,568 per year (approx. EUR 798/month) from sources outside Cyprus such as pensions, dividends, or rental income. Additional EUR 4,613 per year for each dependant
⏱️ Duration
Unlimited validity; residence card renewed every 10 years
👪 Dependants
Yes
Spouse and children under 18; each dependant requires an additional EUR 4,613 per year in income from abroad

The Category F Immigration Permit is a permanent residence permit for financially independent third-country nationals who have a secured annual income from abroad. It is designed for retirees, pensioners, and other individuals who wish to live in Cyprus without engaging in any employment, business, or profession. Income must derive entirely from sources outside Cyprus, such as pensions, dividends, interest on deposits, or rental income from property abroad. The permit grants permanent residence of unlimited validity and is one of the lowest passive income residence requirements in Europe.

Requirements
  • Non-EU/EEA national with secured annual income from sources outside Cyprus
  • Minimum income of EUR 9,568 per year (approximately EUR 798 per month)
  • Additional EUR 4,613 per year for each dependent family member
  • Bank deposit of approximately EUR 15,000-20,000 in a Cypriot bank account (not pledged)
  • Valid health insurance covering all risks typically covered for Cypriot citizens
  • Clean criminal record
  • Must not engage in any business, trade, or profession in Cyprus
Required Documents
  • Completed application form MIP1
  • Valid passport copies for applicant and dependants
  • Copy of valid temporary residence permit (if already residing in Cyprus)
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Marriage certificate (certified and translated)
  • Children's birth certificates (certified and translated)
  • Criminal record certificate from country of origin (certified and translated)
  • Health insurance certificate
  • Evidence of secured annual income from abroad (tax declarations, bank statements from the last 3-6 months certified by the bank, or auditor confirmation)
  • Proof of accommodation in Cyprus (title deed, contract of sale, or rental agreement)
  • Bank deposit confirmation of EUR 15,000-20,000 in a Cyprus bank account
Duration & Renewal

The permit grants permanent residence of unlimited validity. There is no need to renew the residence status itself. The physical residence card expires after 10 years and must be replaced through an administrative renewal process.

Family Members

Spouses and children under 18 years of age may be included as dependants. Each dependant requires an additional EUR 4,613 in annual income from abroad. Dependants must provide their own passport copies, birth or marriage certificates, and criminal record certificates. Health insurance must cover all family members.

Tax Implications

Cyprus has no tax on income up to EUR 19,500 per year, with progressive rates of 20%-35% above that threshold. Non-domiciled tax residents (applicable to all new arrivals for the first 17 years) are exempt from Special Defence Contribution on dividends, interest, and rental income. Tax residency is established by spending 183 or more days per year in Cyprus, or through the 60-day rule for those who maintain a permanent home and economic ties in Cyprus.

Application Process

Applications are submitted in person or via an authorised legal representative at the Civil Registry and Migration Department offices in Nicosia. The completed MIP1 form must be accompanied by all supporting documents and the EUR 500 application fee (plus EUR 70 if an Aliens Registration Certificate is required). All documents must be officially translated into Greek or English and duly certified or apostilled. Biometric data is captured during submission. No personal interview is required unless specifically requested by the authorities. Processing takes approximately 12-18 months for standard applications.

Accelerated Procedure

An accelerated track is available for applicants who meet higher thresholds: a secured annual income of at least EUR 30,000 (plus EUR 5,000 per dependant), purchase of property worth at least EUR 300,000 (with proof of at least EUR 200,000 paid), and a bank deposit of EUR 30,000 pledged for three years. This fast-track targets a processing time of approximately 3 months.

Employment Restrictions

Holders must not engage in any business, trade, or profession in Cyprus. However, they may hold shares in a Cypriot company and receive dividend income from it.

Absence Rules

The permit is automatically cancelled if the holder is absent from Cyprus for two consecutive years, obtains permanent residence in another country, or fails to establish a place of residence within one year. The permit is valid only for the Republic of Cyprus and does not confer visa-free travel to other EU or Schengen area countries.

Links

Other Digital Nomad Visas in Europe

Country
Program
Income
Investment
Funds Required
Capital Required
Duration
Dependants

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🇦🇩 Andorra

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🇦🇩 Andorra

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2 years — 10 years

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🇦🇹 Austria

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🇦🇹 Austria

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🇦🇹 Austria

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1 year — Permanent

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🇦🇹 Austria

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$36,946 / year

1 year — Permanent

Yes

🇧🇾 Belarus

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🇧🇾 Belarus

Investor Permanent Residence Permit

$202,000

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Yes

🇧🇪 Belgium

Professional Card for Entrepreneur

$26,868

1 year — 5 years

Yes

🇧🇪 Belgium

Rentier Residence Permit

$18,551 / year

1 year

Yes

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

Continuous Residence Permit for Pensioners

$8,753 / year

1 year

Yes

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

Digital Nomad Residence Permit

$36,482 / year

1 year — 2 years

Yes

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

Investor Residence Permit

$602,353

1 year — Permanent

Yes

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

Startup Visa

$2,188

1 year — 3 years

Yes

🇭🇷 Croatia

Temporary Stay for Other Purposes (Property Ownership)

$11,167 / year

1 year

Yes

🇭🇷 Croatia

Temporary Stay of Digital Nomads

$46,518 / year

1 month — 18 months

Yes

🇨🇾 Cyprus

Category D Immigration Permit

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🇨🇾 Cyprus

Category F Immigration Permit

$11,266 / year

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Yes

🇨🇾 Cyprus

Digital Nomad Visa

$49,412 / year

1 year — 3 years

Yes

🇨🇾 Cyprus

Permanent Residence Permit for Investors

$352,941

Permanent

Yes

🇨🇾 Cyprus

Startup Visa

$23,529

3 years — 5 years

Yes

🇨🇿 Czech Republic

Digital Nomad Program

CZK 69,248 / month

1 year — 3 years

Yes

🇨🇿 Czech Republic

Long-Term Residence Permit for the Purpose of Investment

CZK 75,000,000 one-time

2 years

Yes

🇪🇪 Estonia

Digital Nomad Visa

$63,529 / year

90 days — 1 year

Yes

🇪🇪 Estonia

Residence Permit for Major Investor

$1,176,471

5 years — 10 years

Yes

🇪🇪 Estonia

Startup Visa

1 year — 5 years

Yes

🇫🇮 Finland

Residence Permit for Work in Culture or Arts

$20,654 / year

1 year — 4 years

Yes

🇫🇮 Finland

Startup Residence Permit

2 years — 4 years

Yes

🇫🇷 France

Carte de Sejour Temporaire Visiteur

$20,373 / year

1 year

Yes

🇫🇷 France

Talent Porteur de Projet — Business Creation

$35,294

4 years

Yes

🇫🇷 France

Talent Porteur de Projet — Direct Economic Investment

$352,941

4 years

Yes

🇫🇷 France

Talent Porteur de Projet — Innovative Economic Project (French Tech Visa)

No minimum investment req...

4 years

Yes

🇫🇷 France

Talent — Artistic and Cultural Profession

$18,015 / year

4 years

Yes

🇫🇷 France

Talent — International Reputation

4 years

Yes

🇩🇪 Germany

Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)

Must prove sufficient fun...

1 year

No

🇩🇪 Germany

Freelance Residence Permit

No fixed statutory minimu...

1 year — 3 years

Yes

🇩🇪 Germany

Residence Permit for Financially Independent Persons

No fixed statutory minimu...

1 year — 3 years

Yes

🇩🇪 Germany

Self-Employment Residence Permit for Business Founders

No fixed statutory minimu...

1 year — 3 years

Yes

🇩🇪 Germany

Settlement Permit for Highly Qualified Professionals

Permanent

Yes

🇬🇷 Greece

Digital Nomad Visa

$49,412 / year

1 year — 2 years

Yes

🇬🇷 Greece

Golden Visa (Permanent Residence Permit for Investor)

$470,588

5 years — Permanent

Yes

🇬🇷 Greece

Residence Permit for Financially Independent Persons

$49,412 / year

3 years — Permanent

Yes

🇬🇷 Greece

Talent Visa

1 year

Yes

🇬🇬 Guernsey

Guernsey Entrepreneur Visa

$273,973

2 years — 5 years

Yes

🇬🇬 Guernsey

Guernsey Investor Visa

$1,369,863

2 years — 5 years

Yes

🇭🇺 Hungary

Guest Investor Residence Permit

$294,118

10 years

Yes

🇭🇺 Hungary

Guest Self-Employment Residence Permit

No fixed capital requirem...

1 year — 3 years

Yes

🇭🇺 Hungary

White Card

$42,353 / year

1 year — 2 years

No

🇮🇸 Iceland

Long-Term Visa for Remote Work

ISK 1,000,000 / month

90 days — 180 days

Yes

🇮🇪 Ireland

Stamp 0 (Person of Independent Means)

$58,824 / year

1 year

No

🇮🇪 Ireland

Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)

$58,824

2 years — 5 years

Yes

🇮🇲 Isle of Man

Innovator Visa

$68,493

3 years — Permanent

Yes

🇮🇲 Isle of Man

Start-Up Visa

$1,295

2 years

Yes

🇮🇹 Italy

Digital Nomad Visa

$29,164 / year

1 year

Yes

🇮🇹 Italy

Elective Residence Visa

$36,471 / year

1 year — 2 years

Yes

🇮🇹 Italy

Investor Visa for Italy

$294,118

2 years — 3 years

Yes

🇮🇹 Italy

Italia Startup Visa

$58,824

1 year — 3 years

Yes

🇯🇪 Jersey

High Value Residency Programme

$4,794,521

Permanent

Yes

🇽🇰 Kosovo

Self-Employment Work Permit

No fixed minimum capital....

1 year — 5 years

Yes

🇱🇻 Latvia

Investor Residence Permit

$58,824

5 years

Yes

🇱🇻 Latvia

Long-Stay Visa for Remote Work

$59,478 / year

1 year — 2 years

No

🇱🇻 Latvia

Startup Visa

$3,294

3 years

Yes

🇱🇻 Latvia

Temporary Residence Permit for Pensioners

$15,544 / year

5 years

Yes

🇱🇮 Liechtenstein

Residence Permit Without Gainful Employment

CHF 100,000 / year

1 year

Yes

🇱🇹 Lithuania

Startup Visa

$1,176

1 year — 2 years

Yes

🇱🇺 Luxembourg

Investor Residence Permit

$588,235

3 years

Yes

🇱🇺 Luxembourg

Job Seeker Authorisation

Must prove sufficient res...

9 months

No

🇱🇺 Luxembourg

Residence Permit for Private Reasons

$38,174 / year

3 years

Yes

🇱🇺 Luxembourg

Self-Employed Worker Residence Permit

No fixed minimum — adequa...

3 years — 5 years

Yes

🇲🇹 Malta

Global Residence Programme

$17,647 / year

1 year — Permanent

Yes

🇲🇹 Malta

Malta Permanent Residence Programme

$80,000

Permanent

Yes

🇲🇹 Malta

Malta Retirement Programme

$8,824 / year

1 year — Permanent

Yes

🇲🇹 Malta

Nomad Residence Permit

$49,412 / year

1 year — 4 years

Yes

🇲🇹 Malta

Startup Residence Programme

$29,412

3 years — 8 years

Yes

🇲🇹 Malta

The Residence Programme

$17,647 / year

1 year — Permanent

Yes

🇲🇹 Malta

United Nations Pensions Programme

$11,765 / year

1 year — Permanent

Yes

🇲🇩 Moldova

Digital Nomad Visa

$35,788 / year

2 years

Yes

🇲🇩 Moldova

Investment Residence Permit

$31,765

2 years — 8 years

Yes

🇲🇨 Monaco

Residence Permit for Persons Without Professional Activity

No fixed minimum. Applica...

1 year — Permanent

Yes

🇲🇪 Montenegro

Digital Nomad Residence Permit

$28,376 / year

2 years — 4 years

Yes

🇲🇪 Montenegro

Temporary Residence and Work Permit for Entrepreneurs

No minimum capital requir...

1 year

Yes

🇲🇪 Montenegro

Temporary Residence Permit for Property Owners

$176,471

1 year

Yes

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Orientation Year Residence Permit

1 year

Yes

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Startup Residence Permit

$24,494 / month

1 year

Yes

🇲🇰 North Macedonia

Personal Work Permit for Self-Employment

No fixed minimum; must de...

1 year — 3 years

Yes

🇳🇴 Norway

Self-Employment Residence Permit

No fixed capital requirem...

1 year

Yes

🇵🇹 Portugal

D7 Passive Income Visa

$12,988 / year

2 years — Permanent

Yes

🇵🇹 Portugal

D8 Digital Nomad Visa

$51,953 / year

1 year

Yes

🇵🇹 Portugal

Golden Visa

$588,235

2 years — Permanent

Yes

🇵🇹 Portugal

Job Seeker Visa

$10,729 / month

120 days — 180 days

No

🇵🇹 Portugal

Residence Permit for Highly Qualified Activity

$22,744 / year

2 years — Permanent

Yes

🇵🇹 Portugal

StartUP Visa

$7,584

2 years — Permanent

Yes

🇷🇴 Romania

Digital Nomad Visa

$79,765 / year

6 months — 1 year

No

🇷🇴 Romania

Long-Stay Visa for Commercial Activities

$117,647

1 year — 3 years

Yes

🇷🇺 Russia

Impatriation Residence Permit

3 years — Permanent

Yes

🇷🇺 Russia

Investor Residence Permit

RUB 15,000,000 one-time

Permanent

Yes

🇸🇲 San Marino

Atypical Residence for Pensioners

$141,176 / year

10 years — Permanent

Yes

🇸🇲 San Marino

Elective Residence

$588,235

10 years — Permanent

Yes

🇸🇲 San Marino

High-Tech Startup Residence

$1

1 year — Permanent

Yes

🇷🇸 Serbia

Investor Temporary Residence Permit

$58,824

6 months — 3 years

Yes

🇷🇸 Serbia

Property Ownership Temporary Residence Permit

Ownership of residential ...

3 years

Yes

🇷🇸 Serbia

Startup Temporary Residence Permit

1 year — 3 years

Yes

🇷🇸 Serbia

Talent Temporary Residence Permit

1 year — 3 years

Yes

🇸🇰 Slovakia

Temporary Residence for Business Purpose

$33,427

3 years

Yes

🇸🇮 Slovenia

Temporary Residence Permit for Digital Nomads

$45,487 / year

1 year

Yes

🇸🇮 Slovenia

Temporary Residence Permit for Other Justified Reasons

$6,974 / year

1 year

Yes

🇪🇸 Spain

Entrepreneur Visa

No fixed capital requirem...

1 year — 3 years

Yes

🇪🇸 Spain

International Telework Visa

$33,431 / year

1 year — 3 years

Yes

🇪🇸 Spain

Non-Lucrative Residence Visa

$33,882 / year

1 year — 2 years

Yes

🇸🇪 Sweden

Residence Permit for Job Seeking

Must prove sufficient fun...

9 months — 1 year

Yes

🇸🇪 Sweden

Residence Permit for Highly Qualified Persons

9 months

No

🇸🇪 Sweden

Self-Employment Residence Permit

SEK 200,000 one-time

1 year — 2 years

Yes

🇨🇭 Switzerland

Residence Permit Without Gainful Employment

CHF 25,200 / year

1 year — 5 years

Yes

🇺🇦 Ukraine

Immigration Permit for Highly Qualified IT Specialists

Permanent

Yes

🇺🇦 Ukraine

Immigration Permit for Investors

$100,000

Permanent

Yes

🇺🇦 Ukraine

Temporary Residence Permit for Investors

$117,647

2 years

No

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Global Talent Visa

1 year — 5 years

Yes

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

High Potential Individual Visa

2 years — 3 years

Yes

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Innovator Founder Visa

No minimum investment req...

3 years — Permanent

Yes