Cyprus digital nomad visa: requirements (2026)

Legal framework

Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa Scheme, administered by the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection (Migration Department), under the Aliens and Immigration Law (Cap. 105, as amended). EU/EEA nationals rely on EU freedom of movement. Residency-by-investment governed by Regulation 6(2) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations.

Key points: digital nomad & residency in Cyprus

1. 01Dedicated Digital Nomad Visa

   The Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection operates the 'Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa' scheme for non-EU/EEA nationals employed remotely by foreign companies or self-employed serving foreign clients. Holders may not offer services to Cypriot businesses or clients.

   gov.cy gov.cy

2. 02Eligibility & Income Threshold

   Applicants must demonstrate stable monthly net income of at least €3,500 (after taxes and contributions). The threshold rises by 20% for an accompanying spouse/partner and 15% for each dependent child. Proof of employment or self-employment contract and health insurance are required.

   gov.cy pio.gov.cy

3. 03Quota & Current Availability

   The annual permit quota was doubled to 1,000 places effective 30 October 2025, following prior rounds that had their 500-place cap exhausted. Applications are submitted to the Migration Department in Nicosia within three months of arrival; processing takes approximately 5-7 weeks. Application fee is €70.

   visahq.com gov.cy

4. 04Permit Duration & Path

   The initial temporary residence permit is valid for one year and may be renewed for two further one-year periods (maximum three years total). There is no direct path from the Digital Nomad Visa to permanent residency via this route; long-term residency requires switching to another category.

   gov.cy

5. 05Residency by Investment (Golden Visa)

   A separate Permanent Residency by Investment program is active, requiring a minimum qualifying investment of €300,000 (e.g., in real estate or a Cypriot business). Applicants must also show annual foreign income of at least €50,000. This grants permanent residency and a path to citizenship after eight years of legal residency.

   moi.gov.cy

6. 06EU Nationals & Other Routes

   EU/EEA nationals exercise free movement rights and do not need a special visa to reside or work remotely in Cyprus. Third-country nationals with passive or foreign-sourced income may alternatively apply for Category F permanent residency (Reg. 6(2)), requiring demonstrable annual income from abroad, without a minimum investment threshold.

   home-affairs.ec.europa.eu moi.gov.cy

Timeline of decisions

1. 4 Dec 2025Law
   Cyprus Parliament repeals legal basis for investor-citizenship, closing the final golden-passport loophole

   Parliament struck out the Aliens & Immigration Law clause allowing the Council of Ministers to confer citizenship for 'special contribution' or investment reasons, effective 12 December 2025. All naturalisation henceforth follows the ordinary residence-based track only, definitively ending the Citizenship-by-Investment era.

   VISAhq (reporting Cyprus Parliament vote)

2. 30 Oct 2025Decision · official
   Digital Nomad Visa annual quota doubled to 1,000 concurrent permits

   The Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection confirmed the scheme's annual cap was raised from 500 to 1,000 concurrent permits, with applications accepted immediately. The expansion followed strong demand and an estimated €10 million annual injection into the Cyprus economy generated by permit-holders.

   Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Migration — Gov.cy

3. 1 Mar 2025Decision · official
   Digital Nomad Visa scheme reopens after 15-month freeze; 500 new permits allocated

   The Deputy Ministry of Migration reopened the Digital Nomad Visa Scheme to fresh applications after the original 500-permit quota was exhausted at end-2023. The reopening reinstated access for non-EU remote workers earning at least €3,500/month exclusively from overseas employers or clients.

   Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Migration — Gov.cy

4. 1 Dec 2023Decision
   Digital Nomad Visa 500-permit ceiling fully exhausted; new applications suspended

   By year-end 2023, all 500 concurrent Digital Nomad Visa permits had been issued — driven by a record 371 applications in 2023 alone — and the Migration Department halted new intake. The suspension exposed the scheme's popularity while underscoring the need for higher quota capacity.

   Cyprus Mail

5. 1 Jan 2013Law
   Cyprus Golden Visa (Permanent Residency by Investment) programme introduced

   Under Regulation 6(2) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations, Cyprus began granting permanent residency to non-EU nationals investing at least €300,000 (primarily in real estate or approved funds), with no minimum stay requirement beyond one visit every two years. Over 28,000 permits have been issued since 2014; the programme remains active and is the principal residency route for non-EU HNWIs.

   Henley & Partners

6. 1 May 2004Law · official
   Cyprus joins the EU — free movement of workers established for EU/EEA nationals

   Upon EU accession, EU and EEA citizens gained the right to reside and work in Cyprus without a visa, later formalised through the MEU1 registration certificate following transposition of Directive 2004/38/EC in 2007. This free-movement framework remains the primary residency route for the large EU population living and working remotely from Cyprus today.

   European Commission — Home Affairs

Sources

1. 1.gov.cy/en/migration/announcement-by-the-deputy-ministry-of-migration-and-int
2. 2.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/digital-nomads-and-family-members/
3. 3.pio.gov.cy/en/press-releases-article.html?id=47585
4. 4.visahq.com/news/2025-10-31/cy/cyprus-digital-nomad-visa-cap-raised-to-1000-deput
5. 5.moi.gov.cy/moi/moi.nsf/All/1A1EABBBA08669B5C2257B51002DF3EC
6. 6.home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/eu-immigration-portal/self-employed-wor