Visa to Cyprus

Immigration to Cyprus begins with a single visit to the island. It can be both familiarization and a specific move with the purpose of obtaining residence permit or permanent residence. In any case, it is necessary to obtain an entry permit.

1. Why it is worth coming - and moving - to Cyprus

Cyprus has a very good location: it is a small Mediterranean island with a mild climate, warm in winter; sunny, but not deserted. It is beautiful and distinctive, and its natives are characterized by peacefulness, family life and the ability to live a measured and enjoyable life.

Despite the fact that Cyprus is mostly perceived as a resort (and here is a really nice beach vacation), the island has a lot of other interesting things to offer. It is a mountainous area with authentic villages and picturesque reservoirs, an abundance of ancient and even ancient sights (churches, fortresses, ancient temples), here you can get a good higher education and not bad to arrange your life.

The main advantages of Cyprus are:

1. pleasant climate with dry summers, sunny fall, blooming spring and mild winters (snow falls only in the highlands);
2. fresh fruits and vegetables all year round, most of them local;
3. a relaxed, very sedate pace of life even in the major cities - especially out of season;
4. a safe environment: low crime rate;
5. love for children and infrastructure for them: public and private schools, excellent universities, many parks and extracurricular activities;
6. a growing standard of living, which every year is approaching the European level;
7. relatively inexpensive prices for living - for real estate, utilities, food and other expenses; they can be compared with those in Moscow, and they are definitely lower than in many other European countries.

Citizenship of Cyprus gives special advantages: it is visa-free travel in the EU, the ability to purchase real estate in the mortgage at a very favorable rate, to study and work in different countries, to have a European quality of life for themselves, their children and elderly parents. Many move to Cyprus also because it is one of the easiest countries in the EU for immigration: permanent residence permit in Cyprus can be obtained through an accelerated program for the purchase of real estate from 300 thousand euros. This is one of the lowest thresholds in the EU.

2. applying for a Cyprus national visa

Below will be made up all the information on the FAQ on Cyprus visa (answers to the most common questions). Thanks to them you can apply for a visa on your own - or contact a reliable travel agency.

2.1 Types of Cyprus visas

The Republic of Cyprus allows third-country nationals to enter on several types of visas (and not only national visas). These are:

1. Transit National Visa (Type A). Needed by those who will be transferring at the airport of Larnaca or Paphos or at the seaport of Limassol. On it you can have time to "walk" around the country, as the visa covers up to 5 days of stay on the island.
2. Electronic pro-visa. It is issued online and allows you to visit Cyprus by direct flights. Since 2022 it is not available for Russian citizens.
3. Single-entry tourist national visa (Short Stay Visa, type C). Issued for a single visit by a tourist - i.e. hotel reservation - or an invitation to a friend's house. Most common among Russian tourists since 2022.
4. Multiple-entry tourist national visa, or visitor visa (type C). It can be obtained at the invitation of a relative legally residing in Cyprus.
5. Open Schengen multi-visa (equal to the Cypriot national visa). It is possible to enter only through a Schengen country.
6. Open multivisa of Bulgaria or Romania.
7. Residence permit of one of the EU countries.

All these visas give the right to stay in the Republic of Cyprus not more than 90 days in a period of 180 days (roughly speaking, 3 months per half year). If you need a longer stay, you will need to apply for a visa category D through the consulate - it allows you to stay up to a year, but to get it you need to confirm a good reason: usually it is study, work, volunteering, etc. The requirements for obtaining a Cyprus visa category D are more stringent: as a rule, an extended package of documents is required, which are requested individually from each traveler.

In many cases it is easier and more useful to get a residence permit on the same grounds (study, work): this will be the first step on the way to naturalization and citizenship of Cyprus. The whole process until you receive your passport will take 7 years.

Another option, more quickly: residence permit through investment in the economy of the country (as a rule, it is the purchase of real estate in the amount of 300 thousand euros). This way is shorter: for naturalization it is enough to live on the island for only 5 years.

2.2 Documents for Cyprus visa and their cost

The standard package of documents does not differ from the requirements of many EU countries. It includes:

1. a passport expiring at least 3 months after the end of the visa period, with two free pages and copies of the main pages;
2. copies of the internal passport with the main page, with the propiska and information about previously issued passports;
3. two 3x4 photos;
4. completed application form in English;
5. copies of visas of Schengen countries, Romania, Croatia (until 2023) and Cyprus for the last 3 years - if they are available;
6. proof of accommodation: hotel reservation on its letterhead with a stamp, documents for your own real estate on the island or an invitation from a friend/relative living in Cyprus;
7. medical insurance, which covers treatment for 30 thousand euros on the territory of the island, in the Schengen zone, Bulgaria and Romania for the entire duration of the trip;
8. proof of financial solvency: income certificate from work, bank account statement, sponsorship letter from relatives or host party;
9. return tickets from Cyprus - not obligatory for those who were invited by relatives or who own Cypriot real estate;
10. for a child: birth certificate and a copy of it, as well as copies of both parents' passports; if traveling with a parent's passport - a copy of this page of the passport and a photo of the child pasted there;
11. if the child is traveling with one parent, permission to travel abroad from the other parent or proof of his/her absence (e.g. death certificate);
12. visa fee payment receipts.

All documents are submitted to the consulate in person or remotely, representative offices are located in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar and Yekaterinburg. It is also possible to entrust a travel agency with Cyprus visa processing.

You will have to pay extra for the service of a travel agency, but for residents of regions far from consulates it may be more favorable than flying for personal presence (if it is required).

2.3 Time and cost of processing

Visa fee is 80 euros per adult, 40 euros per child from 6 to 12 years old, under 6 years old - free of charge. It can be paid in rubles, but at the rate of the consulate, not the Central Bank, it will be a little more expensive.

As a rule, consideration of the application is fast: from 1 to 5 working days. Refusal is rarely received, only in the case of detection of falsification in the documents and outright unreliability of the citizen who submitted the application.

3. Short summary

It is not difficult to collect documents for a Cyprus visa and submit them independently. Therefore, third country visitors for personal travel often choose this method. When buying a tourist voucher, you can entrust the registration to a travel agent: this is also an acceptable method that saves time and effort for the traveler.

National visa gives the opportunity to arrive in Cyprus and make a residence permit in Cyprus - or choose, buy real estate and get a permanent residence permit in Cyprus under a simplified program.

Read also:

1. Permanent residence permit in Cyprus: relocation and ways of acquiring the permit.
2. Ways to obtain Cyprus residence permit
3. Work Permit in Cyprus
4. Cyprus Weather Forecast: Current Temperature and 10-Day Average for Nicosia, Limassol, and Paphos
5. Cyprus resorts