Non-EU Students looking to travel and study in Cyprus need to apply and obtain a student visa and a temporary residence permit.

Holders of a valid, double or multiple entry, Schengen visa can travel to Cyprus without requiring the national visa to stay in Cyprus for up to 90 days.

EU and EFTA nationals do not require a student visa to enter Cyprus but will require a residence permit if their course will last longer than 90 days.

Steps in the application process:

1. Enrol at University or Training Organization: Receive your formal admissions letter confirming your registration to your course.
2. Documentation: We shall prepare and provide you with a visa application form which you will need to execute and provide us together with 4 passport sized photographs, academic qualification records, proof of English proficiency and a scanned copy of your passport.
3. Conduct medical examinations: you must undergo medical examinations for hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and syphilis.
4. Visa appointment: once we have received the documentation our legal team shall arrange an interview at a Cypriot Embassy, mission or consulate in your home country.
5. Approval of Visa: the Cyprus Student Visa approval stage is fairly quick and an approval shall be granted within 15- 30 days.
6. Arriving in Cyprus: Upon arriving in Cyprus, you must visit the migration department and submit all relevant documentation for your temporary residence permit. Your biometrics and signature will be needed and will therefore need to appear personally at the migration department.

Required documentation:

• Application form
• Proof of available funds to support your course and stay in the Republic of Cyprus
• Academic Records and qualifications
• Evidence of English language proficiency (IELTS or TOEFL)
• Clean criminal record Certificate from your home country
• Travel health Insurance

For further information on Cyprus Student Visa please contact us.

Unlike citizens of the Republic of Cyprus and EU nationals, a permit for the acquisition of properties in Cyprus for Non-EuU nationals must be obtained. The Application is submitted once the deal for the property has been finalised and have proceeded with the execution of the sale agreement.

The non-Eu national will not be allowed to register the immovable property under his name without furnishing permit by the Council of Ministers of the Republic for the following type of properties:

• apartment
• house
• building plot or land up to approximately two donums (2,676 square metres)

This permission is obtainable provided that the property is not intended for commercial exploitation. In certain cases, however, the Council of Ministers may grant the approval for the acquisition of property for commercial purposes if the particular project is considered to help the Cyprus economy in general (e.g. in terms of tourism or employment).

A company owned by Non-Eu Nationals may also acquire premises for their operations (with no limit on the extent) and for the residence of their foreign employees, provided they maintain a fully-fledged office and the residence to be registered on the name of the employee.

PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING THE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY PERMIT – COMM 145

We prepare and submit on behalf of the applicant the application with all required supporting documents to the Local District Office where the applicant resides. In turn the District Office once satisfied will prepare their report and submit it to the Council of Ministers for their decision.

If the Council of Ministers is satisfied, it shall give instructions to the District Office to issue the relevant Permit.

The following documents are required and accompany the COMM 145 application form:

• Application COMM 145 duly completed and executed.
• Survey plan of the property
• Copy of the title of deed (certificate of ownership) of the property
• Copy of the building permit for the erection of the house/block of flats or for the residential development of estates. If separate titles of ownership have been issued for the flats of the block or if the house is mentioned on the title of ownership, applicants need not submit a copy of the building permit. For plots under division, applicants must submit a copy of the division permit.
• Copy of the sale contract duly stamped by the Inland Revenue Department.
• Level Plan of the house or the flat.  A division plan must be submitted in the case of division of plots. In areas of residential development, the plan must be submitted showing the position of the house on the entire holding.
• Documents stating the financial situation of the applicant.
• Copies of the pages of the applicant’s passport and those of his spouse (the pages containing the data and the photo of the holders and stamps of arrival to and departure from Cyprus).
• Certificate of marriage of the applicants or relevant attestation of their Embassy and in cases where the spouses do not have the same surname and when the name of the husband is not written on the wife’s passport.
• Copy of the residence permit or work permit of the applicant in the Republic of Cyprus.

Time Frame

The review period by the District Office and Council of Ministers is usually concluded within 30 – 40 days.

For any questions regarding the immovable property permit in the Republic of Cyprus contact us at info@ddlegal.co 

The General Health Care System of Cyprus otherwise known as GHS  or ΓΕΣΥ covers a comprehensive package of healthcare services for the equal and equitable treatment of all citizens that are eligible to register under the platform.

For EU citizens residing in Cyprus:

• Reside in the areas that are controlled by the Republic of Cyprus.
• Being employed (registered with the Social Insurances) or having acquired permanent residence status.
• Being a member of the family of a beneficiary.
• Being insured in another EU Member State.

Third Country Nationals:

• Reside in the areas that are controlled by the Republic of Cyprus.
• Being employed (registered with the Social Insurances) or having acquired permanent residence status.
• Someone who has been granted refugee or supplementary protection status.
• Being a member of the family of a beneficiary.
• Being insured in another EU Member State.

The Enrolment Process

1 – Online Enrolment

• Via the Beneficiary Portal
• The Beneficiary must firstly create an Account via the HIO Website and activate the account.
• Once connected to the Portal, a set of instructions in to be followed.
• The enrolment process requires specific fields to be filed in for identification purposes (e.g., Address, Telephone Number etc.)

In case the beneficiary cannot be identified with the Registries, they are asked to submit an online beneficiary registration request, that must be printed and send it by post to the Health Insurance Organisation with all required certificates and evidence. Persons who do not have access to the internet can enrol with the help of third-party beneficiaries who have an account in the Portal provided that the procedure is done with the consent of the interested party.

2- Enrolment by visit to a Personal Doctor

Beneficiaries who do not have access to the internet can complete their enrolment by visiting a Personal Doctor of their choice. During such a visit the application of enrolment is then completed, and the Doctor will file the application in the Beneficiary Record. During the said visit the beneficiary can also complete their registration in the Personal Doctors List which is a subsequent procedure that follows upon successful registration.

Personal Doctors List

Beneficiaries who apply for registration in a Personal Doctors List:

• Beneficiaries under the age of fifteen (15) are registered in the list for children. Between the ages of fifteen (15) and eighteen (18) are either registered as children or adults.
• Beneficiaries who are above the age of eighteen (18) are registered as adults.
• Beneficiaries over the age of sixty-five (65) can be registered in the list of a personal Doctor as adults or to a personal Doctor who specialises in geriatrics.

There are two different ways to register with a Personal Doctor

• Online via the Beneficiary Portal: The applicant must send an online request to be registered in the list of a Personal Doctor of their choice whom they can find online (extensive lists exist through the HIO Website, Beneficiary Portal, or printed directories at announced places). If the Personal Doctor accepts the applicants request, they are then notified by email and/or through the Beneficiary Portal). Finally, a meeting is set up for the registration to be completed where a Form of Mutual Acceptance is signed which the Doctor sends to the HIO.
• By visiting a Personal Doctor: Beneficiaries who are already enrolled in the Beneficiary Registry can visit a Personal Doctor they wish to be registered with. The Personal Doctor then searches for the beneficiary through the Beneficiary Registry for identification purposes. Once identified the Mutual Acceptance Form is signed and a letter is sent to the HIO by the Doctor. Upon request and given that an email was provided through the Beneficiary Record a unique number is sent whereby the beneficiary can access their Beneficiary Record.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) enables European Citizens to have access to, State provided, necessary medical treatments during a temporary stay in any of the EU member states including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. It should be noted that third country nationals who reside on a permanent basis in one of the member states cannot use their EHIC in Norway, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland and are only covered for emergency treatment in Iceland.

The EHIC card is issued for free and it only covers medical treatments which are provided through state facilities. In some member states there are standard fees and charges in public healthcare centres.

Important notes:

• It is not an alternative to travel insurance schemes as it only covers medical emergencies.
• Does not cover any costs if the expressed purpose of travel is to receive medical treatment.
• Does not guarantee free services.
• Insured individuals who move their habitual residence to another member state, should register with the S1[2] form instead of using the EHIC.

In Cyprus the EHIC can be acquired from any Citizens Service Centre or the Local Post Office Centres.

Required Documents:

• The relevant form titled APPLICATION EHIC 20.
• Identification Card or Birth Certificate or Confirmation of Registered European Citizen or Permanent Residence in the Republic.
  • Must be registered with the GHS. FOLLOW OUR ARTICLE ON REGISTERING WITH THE GHS (ΓΕΣΥ)
• Must provide a copy of the form “Mutual Acceptance for Registration in a Personal Doctor Beneficiaries List” or the digital notification titled “Registration request to Personal Doctor” which is received upon successful registration with a Personal Doctor.

Countries such as the United Kingdom fall within category C and therefore citizens travelling to Cyprus will be required a Flight Pass prior to boarding.

To find out if you are eligible click here

The requirements defined by the Ministry of Health are dependant on a number of factors about you and your visit.

To receive a Cyprus Flight Pass each passenger (over 18 years old) will need to:

• Create an account
• Enter personal information such us: 1) Flight details 2) Reason for travel 3) Personal information and contact details 4) Where you will be staying in Cyprus 5) Emergency contact details.
• Add your flight details
• Make legal declarations 
• You may be required to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test
• If travelling with minors (<18 years old) they can be added to your application as companion travellers

On successful completion of your application you will receive a report including your Cyprus Flight Pass and all relevant information which will be asked to present prior to boarding and on arrival at immigration.

The countries are:

Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islandsare special members of the European Union and part of the Schengen Area, despite the fact that they are located outside the European continent.

Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican Cityhave opened their borders with but are not members of the Schengen Area.

Cyprus, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Ireland and the United Kingdomare European Union members, that have not yet joined Schengen Area that are required to and are opting to join soon.

With A Schengen visa the holder is entitled the following:

–       Tranvel or stay for a period not exciding 90 days in any 180 days period (“short stay visa”),

–       transit through the international transit areas of airports of the Schengen States (“airport transit visa”).

• Remains in Cyprus for at least sixty (60) days during the tax year
• Carries out any business in Cyprus and/or is employed in Cyprus and/or holds an office to a person resident in Cyprus at any time during the relevant tax year,
• Maintains a permanent residence in Cyprus which includes leasing.

The main purpose of the proposal is to allow an individual to become a tax residence in Cyprus provided that the individual does not stay in any other country for one or more periods, which exceed 183 days in total and who is not a tax resident in any other Country within the relevant tax year.

Cyprus Tax Rates

A tax residence of Cyprus will be taxed on their worldwide as per the below rates:

Tax Base (EUR)                                        Tax rate (%)
Up to €19.500                                               0%
€19.501 to €28.000                                     20%
€28.001 to €36.300                                    25%
€36.301 to €60.000                                    30%
Over €60.000                                               35%

Contribution to Special Defence
Cyprus tax residents which are not domiciled in Cyprus will be exempt from special defence contribution which is levied on dividends, interest, and rental income.