Emigration to Cyprus is of great interest to citizens of the Russian Federation. Moving to the territory of a Mediterranean island is often preferred not only by business and wealthy people, but also by students, hired workers and even retirees. To be able to enjoy the maximum number of benefits here, you must obtain, if not citizenship, then at least a residence permit in Cyprus.
What rights and restrictions does a residence permit provide?
In Cyprus, residence permits can be temporary (residence permit) or permanent (permanent residence). Pink Slip is considered an analogue of a residence permit here. This is a document that allows a person who is not a citizen of the European Union to legally stay in the state for more than 3 months in a row.
Pink Slip is issued for a specific period and must be renewed periodically. Permanent residence, on the contrary, is for life.
A residence permit in Cyprus for Russians provides the same rights as for citizens of the country, in particular, to:
- unimpeded movement within the territory of the state;
- getting an education;
- tax benefits;
- employment (except for positions in government agencies);
- running your own business;
- social Security;
- joining local organizations;
- access to all categories of services and goods.
In Cyprus, there are restrictions on Russians conducting those types of businesses that can only be carried out by citizens of European Union countries. Also, not all long-term social benefits are available to residence permit holders. The duty of a foreigner is to comply with public order and the laws of the country. Otherwise he may be deported.
On what grounds can one obtain a residence permit?
Obtaining a residence permit in Cyprus is possible in several ways. Among the most popular methods are purchasing real estate, opening a private business, signing an employment contract with a Cypriot employer, enrolling in a local university, or entering into an official marriage with a citizen of Cyprus.
There are other ways, which, however, are suitable for a limited number of foreigners. These include repatriation (return to the historical homeland if you have Cypriot roots), registration of refugee status and family reunification. Let's take a closer look at the most common options.
Marriage with a Cypriot citizen
A residence permit for Cyprus for Russian citizens can be obtained through official marriage with a Cypriot. It is allowed to register a marriage both on the territory of the Russian Federation and in Cyprus. As practice shows, in Russia it is much easier to do this: the package of documents that needs to be prepared is not so voluminous.
Once registered, the marriage certificate must be submitted to the Cyprus government authorities (along with additional papers if required) in order to obtain a Pink Slip.
Some foreigners try to use marriage to Cypriots as the first step towards obtaining citizenship of the country. But it should be borne in mind that this option does not immediately bring the desired results. An application for citizenship can be submitted three years from the date of marriage. For at least two of these three years, a foreigner who has been issued a “pink slip” in Cyprus must live on the island without leaving its territory. Applications for citizenship can take months, and in some cases years, to be processed.
Refugee status and residence permit
In terms of the number of applications for refugee status received from foreigners, Cyprus ranks last among EU countries. According to Eurostat data, most applications come from citizens of the Middle East and Africa.
The Cypriot authorities distinguish two categories of refugees. Firstly, these are political refugees - those who were persecuted for their political views and religious affiliation. Having received a residence permit in Cyprus, they have the right to get a job, move their family and even - after 7 years of permanent residence - apply for citizenship.
The second category is humanitarian refugees who come from states where political upheavals are taking place or hostilities are taking place. By receiving the right to temporary residence in Cyprus, they agree to the requirement to return to their homeland after the situation has stabilized.
Employment in Cyprus
To obtain a temporary residence permit, work in Cyprus must be given to the applicant on the basis of an official invitation from the employer. In addition to this document, you will need to provide paper that confirms that the applicant has permission to work in Cyprus. In some cases, it is also necessary to obtain a license for the type of activity that the foreigner plans to engage in on the island.
To obtain the necessary permits, you need to contact the Cyprus Ministry of Labor. In this case, the employer will have to prove that no Cypriot is applying for the vacant position.
Studying in higher education institutions
Higher educational institutions in Cyprus are not considered top in Europe, but the education received within their walls is highly valued by Russians. The most popular areas are finance and international economics.
Foreign students are attracted by the fact that many courses are taught by practical businessmen, managers and employees of reputable companies operating in Cyprus. Students are issued a temporary residence permit valid for 2 to 4 years.
Pink Slip is available not only to university students, but also to parents/guardians of children enrolled in Cypriot schools and colleges. In this case, adults receive the status of accompanying persons.
The conditions of a residence permit in Cyprus require the provision of a certificate of income and a bank account statement as confirmation that the adult and child have enough funds to live abroad.
Residence permit through opening your own business
Foreigners who have expressed a desire to do business in Cyprus are issued a Pink Slip for 1 year, which must be renewed before obtaining permanent residence.
An applicant for a residence permit must register in his name - establish or buy - a company in Cyprus. The most common form is considered to be Ltd (Limited Liability Company), which is an analogue of an LLC - a limited liability company.
Then you need to apply for a work permit in the country, proving the financial independence of your company. Funds in her current account must come from foreign, and not from Cypriot sources. You should also open a local bank account in the company's name.
Business in Cyprus is attractive because it has the most entrepreneur-friendly tax legislation in the European Union. In particular, the lowest corporate tax in the EU is set at 12.5%.
Buying a property
Owners of property in Cyprus are entitled to a temporary residence permit. In 2021, as before, you can apply for it in an expedited or regular manner. In the first case, the entire process will take no more than 2 months. For the second option, the exact deadlines have not been officially established, but, as practice shows, the registration procedure takes about 8–12 months.
A Cyprus residence permit for investments in real estate can be obtained in an accelerated manner if the cost of the purchased property is at least 300,000 euros without value added tax (VAT). You are allowed to buy one or two new properties, as long as they are from the same developer.
The property owner needs:
- immediately pay a fee for the object in the amount of at least 200,000 euros excluding VAT;
- prove with documents that the property was purchased with money that did not come from Cypriot sources;
- provide an extract from a Cypriot banking institution indicating the presence of funds in the account in the amount of EUR 30,000 or more;
- confirm the absence of a criminal record (including that of the husband/wife, adult children, if any);
- write a statement that he does not apply for work in Cyprus (the same paper must be signed by the husband/wife and adult children).
A residence permit in Cyprus when purchasing real estate in this case is issued not only to the owner of the property, but also to the husband/wife, minors, as well as adult children under the age of 25, if they are students. In order for adult children and members of their families to receive this status, you need to buy an object worth 600,000 euros (if there is one child) or 900,000 euros (if there are two children).
The usual procedure for obtaining a residence permit in Cyprus applies to those who have purchased secondary real estate or an object worth up to 300,000 euros.
In addition to the document of ownership, you must provide a certificate stating that the purchase was made with funds that did not come from Cypriot sources, as well as an extract from the Cypriot bank indicating the availability of money in the owner’s account. The applicant's annual income must be from 10,000 euros for himself and from 5,000 euros for his husband/wife and each minor child.
Residence permit for a pensioner
A residence permit in Cyprus for pensioners is available in two cases: under the family reunification program or as financially independent persons belonging to category F.
The right to family reunification can be exercised by a foreigner whose close relatives (children, husband/wife, father/mother) temporarily or permanently reside in Cyprus. You will need to prove your relationship and provide a passport of a family member living on the island.
Financially independent persons of category F are foreigners who have a stable and legal annual income of at least 1,000 euros in Cyprus or abroad. A potential resident must have at least 20,000 euros in a Cypriot bank account. Financially independent persons are not eligible for employment in Cyprus.
Are Cyprus borders open or not for Russians from April 1, 2021?
It was initially reported that Cyprus will open its borders to tourists from Russia from March 1, 2021 and the country will be placed in the red zone.
But at the end of February, the Cypriot authorities changed their minds and left Russia on the list of countries included in the gray zone. From April 1, the country’s borders are open to Russians, this was officially announced by the Minister of Tourism of Cyprus Savvas Perdios.
The opening of the borders of Cyprus to ordinary people took place on April 1, 2021. This was reported by the representative office of the Russian Embassy in Cyprus to the travel company Tez Tour, according to the ATOR website.
Cyprus opens borders for tourists from Russia from April 1, 2021
From April 1, 2021, the Cyprus authorities opened the borders to tourists from Russia and other foreigners from countries that are included in the red zone.
The Cyprus Embassy confirmed the information that from April 1 they began issuing visas to Russian citizens to travel to Cyprus. This was announced by the representative of the country's Ministry of Tourism, Dimitris Dimitriou, as reported on the website ntv.ru. The visa can be applied for online via the Internet; the same rules were in effect before the pandemic.
- Tourists will need to take 2 PCR tests, which must be done in English.
- One negative test will need to be done at least 72 hours before crossing the border.
- The second one will need to be returned after arrival at the Cyprus airport at your own expense. The cost of the test will be 30-32 euros, its results should be ready within 20 minutes, then the tourist can go on vacation.
- All tourists from Russia who arrive on the island must register on the Cyprus FlightPass website one day before departure. On this website you can book coronavirus testing at Cyprus airports.
Restrictions and ban on entry to Cyprus due to coronavirus
From March 15, 2021, the Government of Cyprus has banned the entry of Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and any other foreigners into Cyprus.
The exception is for foreigners who officially study or work in Cyprus. Tourists were blocked from entering Cyprus in March.
From June 15 and July 1, Cyprus opened its borders to many European countries.
From August 28, entry is allowed for Russians who have a residence permit and the right to reside and stay in Cyprus. The borders of Cyprus remain closed to ordinary tourists in winter.
Procedure for obtaining a residence permit
Obtaining a temporary residence permit in Cyprus is much easier than in other EU countries. To obtain the document, you need to come to the island with a special pro-visa. It is issued to Russian citizens for a period of 3 months. During this time, the applicant manages to submit the necessary package of documents.
Let's take a closer look at how to obtain a residence permit in Cyprus and what documents are needed for this.
Package of documents
Citizens of different countries may be required to provide various additional documents, but the main list consists of:
- statements;
- original foreign passport and its copy;
- 4 photos 3x4 cm;
- a document confirming ownership of real estate in Cyprus, or a rental agreement;
- income certificates (pension certificate);
- health insurance + copy;
- statements from a Cypriot bank indicating the availability of funds in the personal account (the specific amount has not been established);
- bank guarantee (515 euros per person is frozen by the bank in the account in case the need for deportation arises);
- marriage certificate + copy;
- children's birth certificates + copies;
- business registration certificates.
All documents must be translated into Greek and English and notarized. Along with the Pink Slip, the resident is issued another document - the Alien Book, which he can use as an identification document in Cyprus.
Do I need a visa to enter?
Russian citizens need a visa to visit Cyprus in 2021. You can apply for it online and receive an electronic permit to enter the country.
You can use the services of an accredited Cyprus Visa Center (operating since 2004), and without delving into the nuances of registration, for a small fee you can quickly get a visa online, just by filling out an application on the website (https://visa-cyprus.ru/rules), spending on it's a couple of minutes.
By calling the duty phone number 8-916-226-0898, you can ask for help in creating an application or clarify the cost of the service and the status of the order at any time 24 hours a day.
How to extend a residence permit
Pink Slip can be renewed an unlimited number of times. To do this, you must submit an application for its extension 30 days before the expiration date of the document. It may take from 30 to 90 business days to review the issue. During this time, the applicant can remain in the country completely legally.
If a resident needs to travel outside of Cyprus for more than 3 months after the Pink Slip has expired, but has not yet been extended, he will have to apply for a single-entry visa to return to the country.
If a foreigner has a multiple-entry visa, he has the right to enter Cyprus and under it. Then you will need to submit a package of documents to obtain a new residence permit.
Northern Cyprus: rules, laws, possible risks for tourists
An island in the Mediterranean, so attractive to tourists, businessmen and investors, has been under occupation for more than forty years. A third of the territory is occupied by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is now under the control of Turkish soldiers and is not recognized by the world as a separate state.
Only one country in the world - Turkey - has recognized this republic, on which it virtually depends 100%.
Between the two parts of the island there is the so-called green line, which runs directly through the capital of Cyprus - the city of Nicosia. There are several official checkpoints along this line, and you can cross the Green Line without hindrance.
Most tourists enter Cyprus officially, with a national visa or a Schengen visa. According to the legislation of the Republic of Cyprus, there are only two legal checkpoints - airports in the cities of Larnaca and Paphos. All other routes (airports in the northern part of the island, seaports) are considered illegal.
Does it make sense to violate the law of the Republic of Cyprus? Much depends on what purpose you are going to the island for. The fact is that both the standard of living and prices in Cyprus differ radically in its two parts. Thus, hotel accommodation, tourist services, restaurants, entertainment in Northern Cyprus are 3-4 times cheaper than in Southern Cyprus. The same goes for real estate. The cost of housing in the Turkish part of the island is tens of times lower than in the “European” Greek part.
There are attractions in both parts of the island. The city of Nicosia, which has the most beautiful ancient architectural structures, is divided between Greek and Turkish Cyprus. They even offer tourists this unusual option: visit one of the observation platforms in the area of the “green line”, from which all the sights of the “closed zone” are clearly visible.
Southern Cyprus is a modern European state, everything here is at a high level - from service and maintenance to the protection of human rights. In Northern Cyprus everything is much more complicated. But the sea is the same everywhere.
Moreover, the northern part of the island is very quiet, calm, and there are not many tourists. Relaxing by the azure sea on clean beaches alone with yourself - if this is your goal, then you will be completely satisfied with Northern Cyprus.
There are two options for how to get to Northern Cyprus in 2021:
- fly to Larnaca or Paphos with an official visa, then rent a car and drive through one of the checkpoints to Northern Cyprus (you will need to pay additional insurance for entering by car from the southern part of the island);
- cross the border on foot in the center of Nicosia (capital of Cyprus);
- fly to Ercan airport from Turkey (planes land there only from this direction), fly back in the same way.
Crossing the “green line” from Southern Cyprus with an official visa does not threaten you with anything. If you fly to Northern Cyprus, and the checkpoint officer wants to check your documents (this is done selectively, but there is still a risk), then you are in serious trouble.
Visiting Northern Cyprus other than via Southern Cyprus is considered an illegal border crossing.
This will not be limited to a fine: with such a stamp in the international passport and being included in the “black list”, it will be impossible to open a new visa to Southern Cyprus, problems may also arise when applying for visas to the EU (Schengen).
Therefore, it is recommended to first fly to the southern part of the island and then go north.
Northern Cyprus is on the right, and southern Cyprus is on the left
There are other, no less important nuances that Russians often do not pay attention to. Thus, there is no official representation of our country on the territory of Northern Cyprus, since Russia also does not recognize this state. Therefore, if any problems arise, there will simply be nowhere to turn.
Car insurance is not valid on this land, nor is the insurance that is issued when opening a visa. You remain completely unprotected and can only rely on your own strength.
Prospects for obtaining Cypriot citizenship
A foreigner who has a residence permit in Cyprus may need from 7 to 10 years to obtain citizenship of the country. This path, although long, is associated with a minimum amount of financial costs.
So, 5 years after receiving the first residence permit, you can apply for a permanent residence permit, which will not need to be renewed. After another 2 years, subject to permanent residence in Cyprus, you can apply for citizenship. Documents are reviewed within 1-3 years.
The Cypriot authorities offer foreigners the opportunity to obtain a country passport and in accordance with the provisions of a special government program, according to which it is necessary to invest from 2 million to 2.5 million euros in local real estate (commercial or residential purposes). In this case, Cypriot citizenship can be obtained within a few months. The holder of a Cypriot passport is not limited in the right to work or open a business in the country.
Best Places to Stay in Cyprus
Almost all Russian citizens who are planning to obtain a residence permit in Cyprus are interested in the question of which city is better to settle in.
Limassol is considered to be the “Russian city” on the island. About 20,000 Russians live here, there are kindergartens and schools with Russian as the language of instruction, signs for shops, hotels, and catering establishments are duplicated in Russian.
Limassol is a symbiosis of a resort and business city. Here it is quite easy for a foreigner to find a job and, if desired, open a personal business.
Life in Cyprus for citizens of the Russian Federation is also comfortable in Nicosia, Larnaca, Ayia Napa. The infrastructure there is not as developed as in Limassol, and the rhythm of life is calmer, however, there are many Russian-speaking people living there.
