Cyprus Cyprus Startup Visa — Residency Program

Financial threshold — no minimum listed

Stay 36 months, renewable

Application fee $146

Tax Worldwide

Path to staying

Residence permit36 months
Renew24 months at a time
Permanent residencypossible
Citizenshipafter 8 years

Permanent residency
Citizenship 8 years
Dual citizenship allowed
Language required for citizenship B1

Overview

Country: Cyprus
Program: Cyprus Startup Visa
Type: Startup
Status: Active
Initial duration: 36 months
Renewable: Yes (24 mo)

Residence and work permit for non-EU and non-EEA founders, and for teams of up to five founders and senior executives, who establish or relocate an innovative startup in Cyprus. The Deputy Ministry scheme, valid through December 2026 and capped at 150 visas, gives three years of economic activity, with a renewal of at least two further years if the startup is judged successful.

Eligibility

Criminal record check not required
Health check not required
Health insurance not required
Endorsement Deputy Ministry for Innovation

Work rights

Employment allowed
Self-employment allowed
Own a business allowed
Work permit included

Family and dependents

Dependents allowed: Yes
Spouse included: Yes
Parents allowed: No

Benefits and mobility

Bank account can open
Property purchase allowed
Public healthcare no access

Tax

Tax regime: Worldwide
Foreign income taxed: Yes
Capital gains taxed: Yes

How to apply

Method: online, consulate, in person
Processing time: 35–56 days
Apply from abroad: Yes

Notes

Applications go by email to [email protected]. Initial approval from the Deputy Ministry is not itself a visa or a residence permit. The holder then applies to a consulate or to the Migration Department. The scheme requires at least 25 percent of the company to be owned by one or more of the applicants. The December 2024 practical guide does not set a euro capital minimum. Founders may be employed or self-employed in the company. Senior executives may be employed by it. Spouses receive residence and access to the labour market on the same terms as the sponsor. A successful re-evaluation, applied for two months before the permit expires, requires either revenue growth of at least 15 percent or investment of at least €150,000, plus jobs, an incubator or a new product, and digital-skills certificates. The Migration Department fee to issue or renew a temporary residence permit is €130, about $146 at €1 = $1.12 on 9 October 2026. An entry permit together with a temporary residence permit is €120, and first registration in the Aliens' Register is €70. The scheme is not a tax regime. A founder who becomes tax resident is taxed on worldwide income, with the ordinary non-domicile Special Defence Contribution exemption if it applies. Naturalisation is the ordinary residence route, not a grant of this scheme. Endorsement: Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy.

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Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 10, 2026 Source

Change history

Oct 10, 2026

Added

created from the December 2024 Deputy Ministry practical guide and the Migration Department fee list. Three-year initial term, 25 percent shareholding, fee €130 (https://www.gov.cy/media/2024/06/Practical-Guide-Cyprus-Startup-Visa-2026.docx) (https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/startup-visa-2/).