What is the difference between the pink slip and the yellow slip?

The yellow slip (MEU1) is the registration certificate for EU citizens. The pink slip is the temporary residence permit for non-EU nationals, including post-Brexit Brits. It costs €70 plus €70 registration, lasts a year and needs biometrics.

Does the yellow slip expire?

No. An EU citizen's Registration Certificate has no expiry date and no renewal. Non-EU family members hold an MEU2 residence card valid for five years.

How do I book a yellow slip appointment in Paphos?

Email pafosetiseis@police.gov.cy with your name, passport number and the service you need. The unit replies within five working days. The phone numbers are 26 806222 and 26 806215.

Can a lawyer apply for my yellow slip for me?

A lawyer can prepare the file and come with you, but you must attend in person because your photograph is taken. The Department of Labour says a power of attorney is not enough on its own.

Can I apply for a yellow slip online?

No. There is no online MEU1 application. You apply in person at your district immigration unit, or at the Migration Department in Nicosia if you live in Nicosia district.

What happens if I miss the four-month deadline?

The law allows a fine of up to €2,500. Some older sources quote €2,562.90, a conversion from the old Cyprus pound. Apply as soon as you can; the fine is a maximum, not automatic.

Can I work while my yellow slip is being processed?

Yes. EU citizens have free access to work in Cyprus, and the Migration Department says your submission receipt is proof of your application if police ask.

What are the requirements for a pink slip in Cyprus?

The visitor permit asks for income from abroad of €24,000 a year for one person, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child, paid into a Cyprus bank account. For a first permit a transfer or deposit of at least €10,000 is also accepted. You also need Plan A health insurance and a title deed, lease or host declaration.

Do children need their own yellow slip?

Yes. Each child is registered on their own MEU1 using the child or dependant-under-21 list, and the €20 fee is charged per person. Bring both parents' consent or a court order if only one parent is moving.

Does the yellow slip give me free healthcare?

Not by itself. GESY covers EU citizens who work in Cyprus, hold permanent residence, are a beneficiary's family member or are insured in another EU state, such as UK State Pensioners with an S1. A retired EU citizen without an S1 usually relies on private cover.

Can I travel around the EU with a yellow slip?

Your travel rights come from your EU passport or ID card, not the yellow slip. Cyprus isn't in the Schengen area, and gov.uk confirms the new EU Entry/Exit System doesn't apply to Cyprus.

What if I lose my yellow slip?

Report the loss to the police, then apply again with the certificate of loss, your ID and the reissue fee. Keep a photo of the certificate in case you need the number.

Yellow Slip Cyprus 2026: MEU1 Fees, Documents & Brexit

Yellow Slip Cyprus: Who Can Get the MEU1 in 2026 and How to Apply

The yellow slip is the Registration Certificate (form MEU1) for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens staying in Cyprus longer than three months. It costs €20, must be applied for within four months of arrival and never expires. If you hold only a British passport and arrived after 2020, you can't get one: you need a residence permit instead.

JJason 13 min read Last verified 27 September 2026

Get yellow slip help See the documents list

The short version

British passport only? You can't get a yellow slip unless you also hold an EU passport or lived here before 2021. See the permits UK-only passport holders use instead.

What it is: the Registration Certificate for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, applied for on form MEU1. "Yellow slip" is expat slang; the government never uses it.

Cost and timing: €20 per person, apply within 4 months of entry, decision within 1 month of a complete application.

Paphos: apply at the police Aliens and Immigration Unit, Eleftheriou Venizelou & Kaningos 22. Book by email to pafosetiseis@police.gov.cy.

No expiry: an EU citizen's certificate has no expiry date and no renewal.

Not a tax status: the yellow slip doesn't make you tax resident. That's the 60-day or 183-day rule.

Watch out

British passport only? Read this first

Since Brexit, UK nationals are third-country nationals in Cyprus. The yellow slip is only for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. You can get one as a Brit only if you also hold an EU passport (Irish is the most common). UK nationals who lived here before 31 December 2020 keep their rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

If neither applies, you need a different permit: a temporary residence permit (the "pink slip"), Category F, the digital nomad visa, permanent residency by investment, or an employment permit. Jump to options for UK-only passport holders.

€20

Government fee per person

4 months

Deadline from your entry date

1 month

Maximum decision time, complete file

€2,500

Maximum fine for not registering

What is the yellow slip in Cyprus?

The yellow slip is the Registration Certificate that proves an EU citizen's right to live in Cyprus for more than three months. You apply on **form MEU1** (the current file is MEU1B, revised in March 2026). The Civil Registry and Migration Department issues it under Law 7(I) of 2007 on free movement of Union citizens.

Young couple cycling along the Kato Paphos seafront on a spring morning — A morning ride along the Kato Paphos seafront

The name comes from the colour of the paper certificate. People also use "yellow slip" loosely for any residence registration, including the permits non-EU citizens get. That's where a lot of British readers get misled: if a forum post says "just get your yellow slip", the writer usually means "register with immigration", and the correct form for a UK-only passport holder is something else.

Once you have it, you use it to open a bank account, register with GESY, get an Alien Registration Certificate number for the tax office and, after five years, apply for permanent residence on MEU3. See the short definition in our yellow slip glossary entry.

What the yellow slip gives you, and what it doesn't

Several competitor guides oversell the certificate. Here is what it actually does for an EU citizen in Paphos.

Question	Yellow slip (MEU1)	What decides it
Right to live in Cyprus beyond 3 months	Yes, with no expiry date	The certificate itself
Right to work or run a business	Yes, free access to employment and self-employment	Your EU citizenship
Bank account, ARC number, tax registration	Yes, it is the document banks and the Tax Department ask for	The certificate plus your address
Free GESY healthcare	Not by itself	GESY covers EU citizens who are employed, hold permanent residence, are a beneficiary's family member or are insured in another EU state (for example with an S1)
Cyprus tax residency	No	The 183-day or 60-day rule
Travel to other EU countries	No, it isn't a travel document	Your EU passport or ID card
Permanent residence	Not yet	MEU3 after 5 years' continuous residence
Cypriot citizenship	No	A separate naturalisation application

Sources: Migration Department MEU1 page; GESY beneficiaries eligibility FAQ.

Who can get a yellow slip?

Your passport and your arrival date decide which form you use.

Your situation	Yellow slip (MEU1)?	What you apply for
EU, EEA or Swiss citizen (including a Brit with an Irish or other EU passport)	Yes	MEU1 Registration Certificate, €20
UK national living in Cyprus before 31 Dec 2020	Keeps an existing one	Withdrawal Agreement residence document (UKW forms), €30, valid 5 years
UK-only national married to an EU citizen	No	MEU2 Residence Card as a family member, €20, valid 5 years
UK-only national arriving from 2021 onwards	No	Temporary residence permit, Category F, digital nomad visa, PR by investment or an employment permit

Sources: Migration Department MEU1, MEU2 and Withdrawal Agreement pages; Law 193(I)/2020.

Fresh produce stalls under the stone arches of the Paphos municipal market in Ktima — The covered municipal market in Paphos old town

Yellow slip requirements for EU citizens

You qualify for the yellow slip if you hold a valid EU/EEA/Swiss passport or ID card and one of these applies:

you are employed or self-employed in Cyprus
you have sufficient resources for yourself and your family and comprehensive sickness insurance in Cyprus
you are a student, a dependent family member, or the spouse of a Cypriot citizen

The government sets no euro figure for "sufficient resources". Anyone quoting a precise minimum is guessing. Officers look at pension statements, bank balances and regular income for the last quarter.

The Migration Department publishes six separate document lists, one per category. The documents every applicant needs are a passport or ID, a title deed or certified rental agreement, a utility bill in your name, and health cover if you are not working here. Our yellow slip documents checklist lists every item by category.

How much does a yellow slip cost?

The government fee is €20, paid before you submit. Your real cost is higher once you add insurance and paperwork.

Government fee (MEU1)Per person, set by the Migration Department

€20

Plan A health insurance (if not working)Per adult per year, insurer estimates

€175–250

Certified translationsPer document not in Greek or English

€30–80

ApostillePer non-EU public document

€10–50

Muhtar certification of lease€2 at the office, up to €5 on a visit

€2–5

Total one-off, per adult

€237 – €405

Only the €20 fee is a government figure. Insurance, translation and certification costs are estimates from Cyprus insurers and immigration lawyers. Stamp duty on leases dated from 1 January 2026 was abolished.

How to apply for a yellow slip in Paphos

Paphos residents apply at the district police Aliens and Immigration Unit, not in Nicosia.

1
Rent or buy your home and get it certified
Weeks 1–3
The lease must be certified by the Muhtar or a certifying officer. Get a utility bill in your name, because it's on every list.
2
Gather documents for your category
Weeks 1–4
Translate anything not in Greek or English. Apostille non-EU public documents. Bring originals and two photocopies of everything.
3
Book the appointment by email
Reply within 5 working days
Email pafosetiseis@police.gov.cy (phone 26 806222 or 26 806215). The Department of Labour advises booking 3–4 weeks before you need to submit.
4
Attend in person and pay €20
Appointment day
You must be there yourself, even with a lawyer, because your photograph is taken. Pay the fee before submission and keep the receipt as proof you applied.
5
Receive the certificate by post
Up to 1 month
Approved certificates are posted to your declared address. Refusals come by letter with reasons. Keep your postal address up to date.

Café terrace with string lights on a pedestrian street in Paphos old town at dusk — Old town Ktima after dark, when the cafés fill up

Good to know

Two document rules that conflict

The Department of Labour page says the lease must be for at least one year. The Migration Department's own MEU1 list doesn't state a minimum term. A one-year lease avoids the argument.

The MEU1 list also still asks for a lease "duly stamped", but stamp duty on leases dated from 1 January 2026 was abolished under Law 239(I)/2025. If your lease is from 2026, ask the unit when you book what they accept instead of a stamp.

Free introduction

Want a lawyer to check your file before the appointment?

We introduce you to a vetted Paphos immigration lawyer who can confirm the right form for your passport, review your documents and attend with you. The introduction is free; the lawyer quotes their fee up front.

Confirms MEU1, MEU2 or a residence permit
Document review before you book
Paphos appointment support

Founder-led. Replies within one working day.

Options for UK-only passport holders

If you hold only a British passport and arrived after 31 December 2020, you are a third-country national. You can stay 90 days in any 180 without a visa. To stay longer you need one of these, and each has its own rules on work and income.

Route	Who it suits	Key facts
Temporary residence permit (visitor, "pink slip")	People testing Cyprus or waiting for Category F	Valid 1 year, €70 fee plus €70 Aliens Register entry, no work in Cyprus
Category F immigration permit	Retirees and people with secure income from abroad	Permanent, €500 application fee, no local work
Digital nomad visa	Remote employees and freelancers with foreign clients	At least €3,500 a month net income, 1-year permit renewable for 2
PR by investment	Buyers investing in property	Permanent residence through the Regulation 6(2) fast-track route
Employment permit	People hired by a Cyprus company, including your own	Employer-led, links to company formation

The "pink slip" is the everyday name for the temporary residence permit. It is not a UK version of the yellow slip: it uses different forms, takes biometrics and has different fees. Our relocation route finder helps you pick between them.

Older couple tending lemon and olive trees outside a stone village house near Paphos — A village garden of lemons and olives in the Paphos hills

UK citizens who arrived before Brexit

UK nationals who lived in Cyprus before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 keep their rights to live, work and move freely under the Withdrawal Agreement. Cyprus uses the declaratory system, so an existing yellow slip still proves your right to reside.

You can also apply for the newer Withdrawal Agreement residence document. Law 193(I)/2020 sets its fee at €30 and its validity at five years. Family members joining you have their own UKW forms.

If you're not sure whether you count as a pre-2021 resident, the test is whether you were living here in line with EU free movement rules on 31 December 2020. Old holiday-home visits don't count.

MEU1 vs MEU2 vs MEU3

The three EU-route forms do different jobs.

MEU1

Yellow slip

Wins 2 of 5

MEU2

Non-EU family member

MEU3

Permanent residence

Who applies

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens

Non-EU spouse or relative of an EU citizen

After 5 years' continuous residence

Fee

€20

Decision time

Up to 1 month

Up to 6 months

Validity

No expiry

5 years

10 years for non-EU family, renewable

Biometrics

Photo only

Photo, fingerprints, signature

The verdict

Most Irish-passport Brits need MEU1. A UK-only spouse of an EU citizen needs MEU2, and both apply together. MEU3 comes later. gov.cy uses the MEU3 code for two different pages, so confirm the version with the unit.

Tip

Tips from the Paphos office

Bring two photocopies of everything, plus originals.
Use statements from a traditional bank. Immigration lawyers report that Revolut and Wise statements are sometimes refused.
Pay rent by bank transfer. From 1 July 2026, rent over €500 can't be paid in cash, and you need payment proof anyway.
Don't laminate the certificate.

For the traps people fall into, read our yellow slip mistakes.

Yellow slip and Cyprus tax residency

The yellow slip is an immigration document. It doesn't make you tax resident and it doesn't register you with the Tax Department. Tax residency depends on your days: more than 183 in a calendar year, or 60 under the 60-day rule conditions.

Fishing boats and nets on the quay at Paphos harbour in early morning light — Early morning at Paphos harbour, before the boat trips leave

You do need your residence registration (and its Alien Registration Certificate number) before the Tax Department will issue a Tax Identification Code. Most people register for tax within a few weeks of the yellow slip. If you plan to claim non-dom status, file form TD38 in your first tax year. The tax residency hub shows the full order.

Yellow slip Cyprus FAQs

Only if they also hold an EU/EEA/Swiss passport, or lived here before 31 December 2020 under the Withdrawal Agreement. UK-only passport holders arriving now need a temporary residence permit, Category F, a digital nomad visa, PR or an employment permit.

Coffee, passport and folder on a sunny cafe table in Paphos

Not sure which form is yours?

Get introduced to a Paphos immigration lawyer

Tell us your passports, arrival date and income. We'll match you with a vetted lawyer who handles MEU1, MEU2 and residence permits in Paphos.

Get yellow slip help Download the checklist

Sources checked for this page

1.Migration Department — Registration of EU citizens (MEU1)Government
2.Migration Department — MEU1 supporting documents lists (Dec 2025)Government
3.Migration Department — MEU1 application formsGovernment
4.Migration Department — MEU2 residence card for third-country family membersGovernment
5.Migration Department — MEU3 permanent residence (EU citizens)Government
6.Migration Department — UK nationals and family members with free movement (Withdrawal Agreement)Government
7.Law 193(I)/2020 — English translation (Withdrawal Agreement residence)Government
8.Department of Labour — Procedure for the employment of EU citizens (yellow slip)Government
9.Migration Department — Appointments and district unitsGovernment
10.CRMD — Police Aliens and Immigration Unit appointment contacts (PDF)Government
11.Migration Department — Document ratification (translations and apostille)Government
12.Migration Department — Visitors and family members (temporary residence permit)Government
13.Migration Department — Digital nomads and family membersGovernment
14.Migration Department — Immigration permits (Category F)Government
15.gov.uk — Cyprus entry requirements (90-day visa-free limit)Government
16.Zeno Legal — Cyprus stamp duty abolition under Law 239(I)/2025Professional
17.GESY — Beneficiaries eligibility FAQGovernment
18.Migration Department — Supporting documents: visitor temporary residence permit (Dec 2025)Government
19.Migration Department — Frequent questions (representatives, biometrics, lost documents)Government

Written by

Jason

Founder, Paphos Advisor

British founder who moved his family from the UK to Paphos in 2025. I write down what I learned doing it properly — the tax, the residency and the living-here detail — and introduce people to the specialists I’d use myself.

How I research and fact-check

Yellow Slip Cyprus: Who Can Get the MEU1 in 2026 and How to Apply

What is the yellow slip in Cyprus?

What the yellow slip gives you, and what it doesn't

Who can get a yellow slip?

Yellow slip requirements for EU citizens

How much does a yellow slip cost?

How to apply for a yellow slip in Paphos

Rent or buy your home and get it certified

Gather documents for your category

Book the appointment by email

Attend in person and pay €20

Receive the certificate by post

Want a lawyer to check your file before the appointment?

Options for UK-only passport holders

UK citizens who arrived before Brexit

MEU1 vs MEU2 vs MEU3

Yellow slip and Cyprus tax residency

Yellow slip Cyprus FAQs

Can UK citizens get a yellow slip in Cyprus?

What is the difference between the pink slip and the yellow slip?

Does the yellow slip expire?

How do I book a yellow slip appointment in Paphos?

Can a lawyer apply for my yellow slip for me?

Can I apply for a yellow slip online?

What happens if I miss the four-month deadline?

Can I work while my yellow slip is being processed?

What are the requirements for a pink slip in Cyprus?

Do children need their own yellow slip?

Does the yellow slip give me free healthcare?

Can I travel around the EU with a yellow slip?

What if I lose my yellow slip?

Sources checked for this page

Keep reading

What is the yellow slip in Cyprus?

What the yellow slip gives you, and what it doesn't

Who can get a yellow slip?

Yellow slip requirements for EU citizens

How much does a yellow slip cost?

How to apply for a yellow slip in Paphos

Rent or buy your home and get it certified

Gather documents for your category

Book the appointment by email

Attend in person and pay €20

Receive the certificate by post

Want a lawyer to check your file before the appointment?

Options for UK-only passport holders

UK citizens who arrived before Brexit

MEU1 vs MEU2 vs MEU3

Yellow slip and Cyprus tax residency

Yellow slip Cyprus FAQs

Can UK citizens get a yellow slip in Cyprus?

What is the difference between the pink slip and the yellow slip?

Does the yellow slip expire?

How do I book a yellow slip appointment in Paphos?

Can a lawyer apply for my yellow slip for me?

Can I apply for a yellow slip online?

What happens if I miss the four-month deadline?

Can I work while my yellow slip is being processed?

What are the requirements for a pink slip in Cyprus?

Do children need their own yellow slip?

Does the yellow slip give me free healthcare?

Can I travel around the EU with a yellow slip?

What if I lose my yellow slip?