Cyprus offers the lowest entry point of any EU permanent residency program built around real estate: EUR 300,000, against EUR 500,000 in Greece's stricter zones or Italy's company route. Unlike a temporary golden visa, Cyprus grants permanent status immediately, with no waiting period and no renewal of the underlying residency itself, only the physical card.
The program has changed meaningfully since it launched in 2013, most significantly in May 2023, when a fixed-deposit investment route was removed and income requirements were raised. This guide reflects the program as it stands today, including a Schengen decision that is no longer a distant prospect.
Legal Status
What changed, and what's live right now
Confirmed removed
The bank deposit route no longer exists.
Cyprus permanent residency previously offered a EUR 30,000 fixed-deposit route as an alternative to the main investment threshold. That option was abolished by the May 2023 amendments to Regulation 6(2) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations. Today there is a single EUR 300,000 investment threshold, satisfied through one of three qualifying asset types, not a separate lower-cost path.
Confirmed current
EUR 300,000, three ways to hold it.
The qualifying investment can take the form of new residential or commercial property purchased directly from a developer, shares in a Cyprus company with a genuine physical presence and staff on the island, or units in a Cyprus-registered investment fund. Resale property does not qualify under the fast-track route.
Confirmed current
The income threshold is EUR 50,000, not EUR 30,000.
Applicants must show secured annual income of at least EUR 50,000 from outside Cyprus, rising by EUR 15,000 for a spouse and EUR 10,000 per dependent minor child. This figure has held since the same May 2023 amendment that removed the deposit route.
Live and moving
Cyprus's Schengen accession is now a Council-level decision, not an aspiration.
Cyprus is not currently a Schengen member, one of only two EU states outside the zone. That has been true for two decades. What's different now: the European Commission formally adopted a positive assessment of Cyprus's technical readiness on 14 August 2026, and Schengen member states took up the request in a Council working party on 15 September 2026, without a vote. No vote has been scheduled since, and Cyprus's government now expects full accession during 2027 (IMI Daily). Approval requires unanimity and is not guaranteed, so we do not tell clients Cyprus is joining Schengen. We do tell them the decision is getting closer and worth watching closely if mobility within the Schengen area is a deciding factor in their timing.
Sources: European Commission 2025-2026 Schengen Country Report, via Cyprus Mail (14 Aug 2026 adoption); Cyprus Mail and Politis (15 Jul 2026, on the Council's September timetable).
What this means for a client today: the real estate route remains the most common and best-understood path. We confirm the current income figures and qualifying-asset rules directly before any application, since this program has changed materially before and the numbers in circulation online are not always current.
Investment & Requirements
One threshold, three qualifying assets
Every route runs through the same door: a EUR 300,000 minimum investment under Regulation 6(2), commonly called Category 6.2. What differs is the asset itself.
New Residential Property
Plus VAT. Must be a first sale, purchased directly from a licensed development company. Resale property does not qualify.
- Income must come entirely from abroad under this specific category
- Most common route among current applicants
Commercial Property
Offices, retail, hotels or other commercial developments meeting the same minimum value.
- Part of the required income may be earned inside Cyprus under this category
Company Shares or Fund Units
Share capital in a Cyprus company with genuine physical presence and staff, or units in a Cyprus-registered investment fund.
- A registered address in Cyprus is required if choosing this category, since no property is purchased
Bank deposit: no longer available as a qualifying route. Abolished May 2023.
Income and family requirements
Alongside the investment, the main applicant must show secured annual income of at least EUR 50,000 from abroad, rising by EUR 15,000 for a spouse and EUR 10,000 per dependent minor child. A clean criminal record certificate and health insurance are required for every family member on the application. Biometrics must be registered within the first year of holding the permit, and the investor must visit Cyprus at least once every two years to maintain status.
In Context
Cyprus against comparable EU programs
| Program | Minimum investment | Obtaining period | Schengen access | Time to citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | EUR 300,000 | 2-6 months | Not yet, expected 2027 | 7-8 years |
| Latvia | EUR 50,000 | ~3 months | Yes | 10 years |
| Greece | EUR 250,000 | 4+ months | Yes | 7 years |
| Hungary | EUR 250,000 | 4-6 months | Yes | ~11 years |
Cyprus's citizenship timeline is cited as 7 years in some current sources and 8 in others; we confirm the applicable figure with the Civil Registry for each case rather than assert a single number here.
Long-Term Status
Permanent from day one, citizenship much later
- Permanent residence, granted immediately
- No renewal of status itself
- Citizenship after 7-8 years of residence
Cyprus's permanent residence is unusual among EU programs in that it is granted for life from the outset, not built up in stages. There is no five-year or ten-year renewal of the residency status itself. What does need periodic attention is the physical residence card and, per most current sources, an annual confirmation that the qualifying investment is still held; we confirm the current administrative requirements with each client rather than assume they're unchanged from a prior year's filing, since this program has removed at least one recurring obligation before.
Naturalisation is a genuinely separate track requiring real, continuous physical residence, generally read as more than six months a year, for a period current sources describe as either 7 or 8 years depending on the source. It also requires a language and civic knowledge assessment. This is the same gap present in every golden visa in this guide series: a residence permit with a two-year visit requirement is a mobility instrument, not a citizenship instrument, unless the holder actually relocates.
Family eligibility extends to a spouse and dependent children; current sources place the qualifying age cutoff for children anywhere from 18 to 25 depending on continued study and financial dependence. We confirm the applicable threshold with the Civil Registry for each application.
On the Ground
Limassol and Nicosia, in practical terms
Cyprus combines an EU legal and banking framework with a genuinely low cost of living relative to Western Europe, English spoken widely as a practical second language, and one of the more favorable non-domiciled tax regimes in the bloc for new residents.
No route requires the investor to live in Cyprus to hold the permit itself, only to visit once every two years. As with every program in this series, that changes the moment citizenship becomes the actual goal rather than the permit.
Frequently Asked
Quick answers
Can I still qualify with a EUR 30,000 bank deposit?
No. That route was abolished in May 2023. The only qualifying path today is a EUR 300,000 investment in property, company shares, or fund units.
How much income do I need to show?
EUR 50,000 secured annual income from abroad for the main applicant, rising by EUR 15,000 for a spouse and EUR 10,000 per dependent minor child.
Is Cyprus part of Schengen?
Not yet. The European Commission gave Cyprus a positive readiness assessment in August 2026, Schengen member states discussed it in September 2026 without a vote, and Cyprus expects to join during 2027. Unanimous approval is required and has not yet been given. We treat this as a live, closely-watched development rather than a settled fact.
Do I have to live in Cyprus to keep my residency?
No minimum stay is required to hold the permit. You must visit Cyprus at least once every two years. Naturalisation is a separate track that does require genuine physical residence.
How long does the program take?
Current sources typically cite 2 to 6 months for a straightforward application under the fast-track Regulation 6(2) route, though timelines vary with documentation completeness and due diligence.
Can my family be included?
Yes. A spouse and dependent children can be included on the same application, though the exact age cutoff for children varies across current sources. We confirm the applicable threshold before each filing.
Latest News & Program Updates
Programme updates
- 2 Sep 2026 — Guide published. Bank deposit route confirmed removed; current income threshold confirmed at EUR 50,000. (Lincoln Global Partners)
- Oct 2026 — No Council vote yet: the request was discussed in a working party on 15 September, and Cyprus now expects full Schengen accession in 2027. (IMI Daily)
- Sep 2026 — EU Council scheduled to vote on Cyprus's Schengen accession, following the Commission's positive readiness assessment. (Cyprus Mail, Politis)
- 14 Aug 2026 — European Commission formally adopted a positive assessment of Cyprus's Schengen technical readiness. (European Commission, 2025-2026 Schengen Country Report, via Cyprus Mail)
- May 2023 — Regulation 6(2) amended: the EUR 30,000 fixed-deposit route removed; income threshold raised to EUR 50,000. (Michael Kyprianou & Co, on the Aliens and Immigration Regulations amendment)
Last reviewed 2 September 2026.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Programme terms are set by the relevant government and can change; confirm any figure with the authority, or with us, before acting on it.
