Cyprus Golden Visa: A complete guide for UK residents

For UK residents looking for a way to secure permanent residence in Europe, the Cyprus Golden Visa can offer an attractive route. After all, life in Cyprus promises a warm climate, favourable tax policies and quick residency processing.

This guide covers everything you need to know, including eligibility, requirements, benefits, costs and timelines. Plus, how to start the process of applying for your visa.

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What is the Cyprus Golden Visa program?

The Cyprus Golden Visa is a scheme that grants permanent residence (not immediate citizenship) to non-EU nationals in return for a qualifying investment in the country.¹

It’s designed for those who are willing to place capital into property, business or funds in the country in return for being able to move to Cyprus.

The scheme doesn’t grant an EU passport, however, as was the case under the previous Cyprus Golden Passport scheme which was terminated in 2020.²

Under this current permit, residency is indefinite but to maintain it you need to visit Cyprus once every two years.³

Cyprus Golden Visa benefits

There are several reasons why UK investors may consider this route:

Lifetime permanent residence

Once approved, you will receive a permanent residence permit rather than a temporary visa.³

Minimal physical presence requirement

You aren’t required to live in Cyprus full-time. Instead, you must stay for one day every two years in order to maintain your residency status.³

Family inclusion

The program allows you to include your spouse and children in your application. Currently, children up to 25 years old can be classed as dependents and included,⁴ especially if they are in full-time education.

Path to citizenship

While not instant, this residency route can lead to Cypriot citizenship after seven years of residence.⁵ This is subject to further conditions being met, including criminal record checks and potential language and culture tests.

Strong quality of life

Cyprus offers a high standard of living, along with a great climate, good healthcare and well-regarded education. English is also a widely spoken language, making integration easier for UK nationals.

Attractive tax regime

Cyprus doesn’t have inheritance tax,⁶ which can make it a favourable choice for many investors. Non-domicile residents can also enjoy beneficial tax treatment on foreign income. ⁷

What are the risks of a golden visa?

As with any investment-by-residency scheme, it’s important to weigh up the pros and cons.

For the Cyprus Golden Visa, these are some of the key risks to consider:

• Regulatory risk. Immigration and investment rules can change. While the current scheme might be well-established, future governments might tighten criteria.
• Property risk. Real estate investments can become affected by market volatility reducing your property value or rental income.
• Liquidity risk. Real estate investments are also not quickly cashable, especially in smaller markets and during economic downturns. A return on investment is also never guaranteed, when selling a property.
• Due diligence costs. Legal, notarial, translation and due diligence checks can be expensive.
• Ongoing requirements. You must maintain your investment and submit annual proofs.⁸
• Citizenship uncertainty. Although there is a pathway to citizenship, it’s not automatic and depends on long-term compliance.

As with any significant investment, it can be beneficial to consult an independent tax and financial advisor before making a decision.

Eligibility for the Cyprus Golden Visa: UK residents

UK residents or citizens are eligible to apply as third-country nationals for the Cyprus Golden Visa.

What’s more, you can typically include your spouse and children under 25 especially if they are studying and/or financially dependent.⁴ The scheme no longer automatically includes parents or parents-in-law.

To apply, you:⁹

• Must submit a clean criminal record certificate from your country of origin (and residence, if different).
• Must have health insurance for all family members (unless covered via Cyprus’s public system).

You must also declare that you do not intend to work in Cyprus, unless you are a director in an invested company.⁹

📚 Read more: Cyprus digital nomad visa: Complete guide

Golden Visa Cyprus requirements

Europe has various different Golden Visa programs, each with their own requirements. Here is a summary of the main criteria for Cyprus' scheme:

1. Investment. A minimum of €300,000 EUR in one of the approved categories.¹⁰
2. Income. Evidence of a secure foreign annual income of at least €50,000 EUR, plus €15,000 EUR for a spouse and €10,000 EUR per dependent child.¹⁰
3. Clean criminal record. Including clean police certifications from your country of origin and residence.⁹
4. Health insurance. for all applicants.⁹
5. Visiting. Once every two years to keep the permit active.³
6. Documentation. Proof of transferred invested funds, translated into the correct language.

📚 Read more: How to transfer large amounts of money from the UK

Investment options for the Cyprus Golden Visa

Below are the approved pathways for investment, all with the same minimum investment cost but with varying risk profiles and management needs.

Investment Option	Minimum Investment (EUR)	Key Conditions
New residential property	€300,000¹⁰	Can buy up to 2 units, must be new residential real estate.¹⁰
Commercial property	€300,000¹⁰	Includes offices, hotels, retail - resale is allowed.¹⁰
Shares in a Cyprus company	€300,000¹⁰	The company must have a physical presence in Cyprus and employ at least 5 people.¹⁰
Cyprus-regulated investment fund	€300,000¹⁰	Units in AIF, AIFLNP, or RAIF type funds, regulated by CySEC.¹⁰

Residential property

Under the scheme, you can buy one or two residential units from approved developers,¹⁰ but the investment must come from abroad. Buying a new property qualifies but a second-hand residential property doesn’t.

Commercial real estate

Commercial property investment including shops, offices and hotels is allowed,¹⁰ but you must show title deeds, a contract, due diligence approval and evidence of a business plan or accommodation arrangement.

Corporate investment

Investing in a Cyprus-registered company is permitted but the company must operate in Cyprus and employ at least five people.¹⁰ This is to ensure that the investment has real economic impact.

You’ll usually have to provide a share purchase agreement, incorporation certificate, evidence of business activity and employee records.

Investment funds

The scheme also allows you to invest in units of Alternative Investment Funds regulated in Cyprus.¹⁰ You need to present proof of fund purchases and fund documentation as well as the legal structure of it.

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How to apply and get a Cyprus Golden Visa: a step-by-step process

Here’s a detailed walk-through of how to apply for the Cyprus Golden Visa:

1. Initial assessment and advice. It can be beneficial to engage a local immigration or legal advisor to check your eligibility and choose the most suitable investment route.
2. Prepare documentation. You’ll need a passport or ID, proof of a clean criminal record from origin and residence, a health insurance certificate, annual income proof and source, title deeds, purchase agreements and proof of funds. Any documents not in Greek or English also need to be translated and certified.¹¹
3. Make the investment. As well as transferring the required funds from abroad, you’ll be required to sign purchase agreements.
4. Submit application: Once an investment has been made you or an authorised representative can submit the MIP1 form as well as supporting documents to the Civil Registry and Migration Department.
5. Due diligence. Background checks are carried out including criminal record verification, source-of-funds checks and health insurance confirmation.
6. Biometric appointment. You or your authorised representative must attend a biometric appointment in Cyprus for card registration.
7. Receive permanent residency permit. Once approved, you’ll be issued a permanent residence card.

Cyprus Golden Visa Timeline

Before you can submit an online visa application, you are required to find an investment, make the investment and prepare the required documentation. The timeline for this can vary. However, once you have submitted an application, you have 240 days to book and attend a biometric appointment.¹²

Once done, your application will move to the next step. Current processing times for application review and approval are upwards of two months.¹³ However, this does depend on the case. Only then will you receive permanent residency.

Remember, you are required to visit Cyprus at least every two years, maintain investment and submit an annual report of income and insurance.

Cyprus Golden Visa path to citizenship

The previous Cyprus citizenship-by-investment program that provided citizenship for large investments was abolished in November 2020.²

Under this current scheme, after seven years of permanent residence, you can apply for Cypriot citizenship subject to meeting requirements. You may also be assessed on criminal records, residency record and other good character criteria.

Renewing and maintaining your Cyprus Golden Visa

The permit is permanent but you must visit Cyprus at least once every two years in order to maintain your status.³

You must also maintain your qualifying investment and continue to submit proof of foreign income and health insurance.⁹

Golden Visa Cyprus costs and fees

Here’s a breakdown of the average costs associated with obtaining the Cyprus Golden Visa:

• Minimum investment. €300,000 EUR in one of the approved routes.¹⁰
• VAT (if property). For residential, it’s the standard 19% but reduced 5% may apply in some cases. For commercial, generally full rate applies.¹⁴
• Application fee. €500 EUR¹⁵
• Alien Registration Certificate (ARC). €70 EUR per person (if needed) at biometric/card-issue stage.¹⁵
• Residence card issuance/renewal. approx €50 to €70 EUR per person.¹⁵

As well as this, you need to consider legal, notary and translation costs which typically work out at around 1% to 2% of the transaction value for property.¹⁵

There may also be banking and transfer fees when sending funds into Cyprus and the required health insurance will vary in cost depending on age, family size and coverage.

📚 Read more: The best UK banks for sending money abroad

Taxes for a Cyprus Golden Visa holder

Understanding tax implications is key for any UK resident considering this route. Here’s what you need to know:¹⁶

• No inheritance tax. Cyprus doesn’t levy inheritance tax on personal estates.
• Foreign income. If you remain non-domiciled, you may benefit from favourable tax treatment.
• Corporate tax. If you invest into a Cyprus company, the corporate tax rate is relatively low. The Cyprus standard rate is 12.5%.
• Capital gains tax. Gains on foreign assets may not be taxed in Cyprus depending on your residency or domicile status.
• Other local taxes. Property ownership may attract local property taxes, depending on municipality and local regulations.

FAQ on Cyprus Golden Visa

How long can I stay in Cyprus if I own property via the Golden Visa?

You can stay for as long as you like. The residency permit is permanent. To maintain it, the only required stay is one visit every two years.³

Does Cyprus allow dual citizenship?

Yes, Cyprus permits dual citizenship. This means you don’t have to renounce your UK citizenship.

Is Cyprus a good place to live as a British expat?

While this will depend on several personal factors, many British expats do find Cyprus an attractive place to live. Namely, this can be attributed to the excellent weather and quality of life, favourable tax treatment on foreign income, good schools and healthcare systems and the fact that English is widely spoken.

Is the Cyprus Golden Visa a good investment?

While investment success will depend on several factors, it can be. The Cyprus Golden Visa has a minimal stay requirement compared to other EU Golden Visas. This combined with the tax planning benefits and real estate potential can make it attractive.

However, it doesn’t offer immediate citizenship, unlike some other countries. The minimum investment (€300,000 EUR) is relatively high compared to some residency schemes.

For example, both the Italy Golden Visa¹⁷ and Greece Golden Visa¹⁸ only require a minimum investment of at least €250,000 EUR in property. The New Zealand Golden Visa has a minimum investment of 5 million NZD.¹⁹

What’s more, the annual foreign income requirement may limit who can qualify.

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Sources used:

1. Migration Department - Immigration Permit for Investors
2. DOM Live - Cyprus Officially Ends The Golden Passport Scheme
3. Global Citizen Solutions - Cyprus Golden Visa
4. Global Residence Index - Cyprus Golden Visa Residency
5. KPMG - Revised Rules for Cyprus Golden Visa
6. Pro Act Partnership - Inheritance Tax in Cyprus
7. Blevins Franks - Capital Gains Tax Benefits in Cyprus
8. GK Law Firm - Costs, Benefits and Path to Citizenship
9. Citizen Remote - Permanent Residency by Investment
10. Henley Global - Cyprus Residence by Investment
11. The Golden Portugal - Cyprus Golden Visa
12. VFS Global - Your Visa Appointment
13. Citizen Remote - Cyprus Golden Visa
14. Immigrant Invest - Cyprus Golden Visa
15. Immigrant Invest - A Guide To Obtaining Your Visa
16. La Vida Golden Visas - Cyprus Tax Residency
17. Get Golden Visa - Italy Golden Visa
18. Get Golden Visa - Greece Golden Visa
19. Immigration New Zealand - New Zealand Golden Visa

Sources last checked on date: 20-Nov-2025