Can I get Cyprus PR by buying a resale property?

Not under Category A, the residential route, unless the sale contract was lodged with the Land Registry before 7 May 2013. Resale is allowed only for Category B commercial property such as offices, shops or hotels.

Can I get residency in Cyprus if I buy a house?

Yes, if it's a new home bought first-hand from a developer for at least €300,000 plus VAT and you have €50,000 a year of income from abroad. Buying a resale home, or one under €300,000, doesn't give you residency on its own; you'd still need a visitor permit or another route.

Does Cyprus permanent residency let me live elsewhere in the EU?

No. A Cyprus permanent residence permit lets you live in Cyprus. It doesn't give you the right to live or work in other EU countries, and Cyprus isn't in Schengen, so the card doesn't replace Schengen visa-free rules for your UK passport.

How often do I have to visit Cyprus to keep PR?

At least once every 2 years. The permit lapses if you're away for 2 years in a row. The residence card itself is renewed every 10 years.

Does the €50,000 income have to be after tax?

The government page says secured annual income and doesn't say "after tax". Some law firms read it as net of tax. Ask your lawyer how they will present your income. If you're close to the line, the safe plan is to show €50,000 after tax.

How long does Cyprus PR by investment take?

The Migration Department targets about 2 months to examine a complete application. Law firms report 2 to 6 months in practice, and the whole process from property search to card takes longer.

Can my adult children be included?

Unmarried children aged 18 to 25 who study abroad and depend on you can apply separately, with an extra €10,000 of income each. Other adult children need their own €300,000 investment, or a higher-value property that covers them.

Does Cyprus PR give me the right to work?

No. You and your spouse can't take employment in Cyprus. You can be an unpaid director of a Cyprus company, or a director of the company you invested in.

Can I lose Cyprus permanent residency?

Yes. The permit lapses if you don't take up residence within 1 year of approval, if you're away for 2 years, if you get permanent residence elsewhere, or if you sell the investment without replacing it.

Free readiness check · 3 minutes

Cyprus Permanent Residency Requirements: Are You Ready to Apply?

The fast-track PR route needs €300,000 (plus VAT) in a qualifying investment, €50,000 a year of secured income, clean criminal records and health insurance. Score yourself before you sign for a property, not after.

Check my readiness Talk to a PR lawyer

Score yourself against the PR requirements

Answer yes, no or not sure. Mandatory items are marked. You get a score, a colour band and a gap list.

The numbers that decide it

€300,000

Minimum investment

Excluding VAT

€50,000

Secured annual income

+€15,000 spouse, +€10,000 per child

€500

Application fee

Plus €70 per person for the ARC

2 months

Government target to examine

Once the file is complete

Cyprus permanent residency requirements, explained

The fast track runs under Regulation 6(2) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations. The current policy, the 4th revision, has been in force since 2 May 2023. The requirements come in four parts.

1. The investment

You invest at least €300,000 in one of four categories. Most Paphos buyers choose Category A: a new house or flat bought as a first sale from a developer. You can combine up to two units to reach the total. Resale homes don't count unless the contract was lodged before 7 May 2013. VAT comes on top, and your receipts must show at least €300,000 excluding VAT. Read the PR property requirements guide before you reserve anything.

2. The income

You need secured income of at least €50,000 a year, plus €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 for each child under 18. With a Category A home, all of it must come from abroad. Your spouse's income counts. You prove it with your tax return or a certified accountant's certificate.

3. Character and health

You and your spouse need clean criminal record certificates from your country of origin and your country of residence. Everyone needs health insurance covering inpatient and outpatient care. From 1 September 2026 you also need medical tests: hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis and a chest X-ray.

4. Commitments after approval

You can't take a job in Cyprus, except as a director of the company you invested in. You must keep the investment. You must move here within 1 year of approval and never be away for 2 years in a row.

Watch out

The most expensive mistake: buying before checking

Resale villas in Peyia or Tala can look like better value than a new build, but they do not qualify for Category A. Check the developer's title deed position and first-sale status with an independent lawyer before paying a reservation deposit. A buyer due diligence introduction costs far less than a property that can't carry your PR.

How to read your readiness score

85–100 (green): you meet the core requirements. Brief a lawyer to build the MIP2 file. Applications are filed in person in Nicosia, or by an authorised representative.
60–84 (amber): one or two gaps. Missing medical tests or apostilles are quick to fix. An income shortfall is not.
Below 60 (red): compare other routes. Category F needs only €9,568 a year, but law firms report long backlogs. The visitor permit covers the wait. The relocation route finder lays out every option.

Any mandatory item answered "no" keeps you in amber, however high your score. The Migration Department doesn't accept files missing required documents. For the other stages of your move, browse our free Cyprus relocation tools.

What PR by investment costs on top of the property

Cost	Amount	Notes
Application fee	€500	Covers everyone in the application
Alien Registration Certificate	€70 per person	Where you don't already have one
Adding a family member later	€50 per person	After approval
VAT on a new-build home	5% or 19%	5% only if it qualifies as your main residence (tier-2 source)
Legal fees	Quoted by the lawyer	Get a fixed quote in writing

Source: Migration Department investor permit page, checked 27 September 2026. VAT rates from tier-2 legal sources.

Other ways to get permanent residency in Cyprus

Regulation 6(2) is the fast track, not the only road. These are the permanent routes a UK passport holder can use, and what each asks of you.

Route	Main requirement	Fee	Typical wait	Can you work?
Regulation 6(2) investment	€300,000 + VAT invested, €50,000/yr income	€500 + €70 per person	2-month target; 2 to 6 months reported	Only as director of the company you invested in
Category F	€9,568/yr secured income from abroad, +€4,613 per dependant	€500 + €70	Multi-year backlogs reported by law firms	No
Long-term resident status	5 years of continuous legal residence on a qualifying permit	Set by the Migration Department	Months, after the 5 years	Depends on the permit
Family member of an EU citizen (MEU3)	5 years living here as the family member of an EU citizen	Set by the Migration Department	Up to 6 months reported	Yes

Sources: Migration Department investor and Category F permit pages (checked 27 September 2026). Long-term resident and MEU3 details from tier-2 legal sources: ask a lawyer whether your permit type counts towards the 5 years. Permanent residence is not citizenship: naturalisation is a separate, longer process that professional sources say now includes a Greek language test.

Free consultation

Get your PR plan checked before you buy

Send us your readiness result. We'll introduce you to a vetted Cyprus immigration lawyer who handles Regulation 6(2) files, and to an independent property lawyer if you need one.

Qualifying-property checks before you pay a deposit
MIP2 file preparation and Nicosia filing
Free introduction; lawyers quote their own fees

Founder-led. Replies within one working day.

Cyprus permanent residency requirements: FAQ

At least €300,000 invested (plus VAT on a new home), and €50,000 a year of secured income, plus €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 per child. Add the €500 application fee, €70 per person for registration, and your legal fees. To see what day-to-day life costs on top, try our Paphos cost of living calculator.

Before you pay a deposit

Get the property and the PR file checked together

Most PR problems start with a property that doesn't qualify. Get a free introduction to a vetted immigration lawyer for the MIP2 file and an independent property lawyer for the purchase.

Talk to a PR lawyer Property due diligence help

Sources checked for this page

1.Migration Department: Immigration permits for investors, Regulation 6(2)Government
2.Migration Department: Immigration permits (Category F)Government
3.Migration Department: Category F required documentsGovernment
4.Migration Department: EU/EEA citizens and family members (MEU3 permanent residence)Government
5.GOV.UK: Living in Cyprus (residency and citizenship)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

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Cyprus Permanent Residency Requirements: Are You Ready to Apply?

Score yourself against the PR requirements

The numbers that decide it