Legislation and policy
According to Aliens and Immigration Regulation 14, a visitor's permit is issued to a third-country national (TCN) for the purpose of (a) entering the Republic for short or long-term holidays, (b) touring or (c) investigating the possibility of settlement in the Republic. According to the same Regulation, the holders of a visitor's permit cannot normally carry out an economic activity in the Republic.
Categories of Applicants
Based on the policy of the Visitors’ Sector, the categories of TCNs that can apply for a visitors’ temporary residence permit are as follows:
a) Visitor- Autonomous visitor permit
b) Visitor – Dependent Spouse Visitor
c) Visitor – Dependent Minor Child of Visitor
d) Visitor – Priest, Monk/Nun of the Orthodox Church or of the Churches of Religious Minorities in the Republic of Cyprus
d) Visitor – Dependent Adult Family Member of TCN with Immigration Permit (direct ascendant/direct descendent)
e) Visitor – Dependent Partner of a Cypriot citizen with a duly proven permanent relationship for the purpose of marriage. The specific temporary residence permit is issued for three months and concerns foreign nationals who maintained a duly proven long-term relationship with a Cypriot citizen (at least one year) and who entered the Republic by legal entry with a visa and did not stay in the Republic for more than three months after the expiry of their visa.
* For any other category of visitor who is related to a Cypriot or European citizen or a TCN with a different temporary residence permit in the Republic than the above, the relevant information and the relevant forms can be found on the electronic link of the corresponding sector that concerns the supporting family member (e.g. Family Members Cypriot Citizens, Foreign Interest Companies, EU Citizens, etc..
Necessary supporting documents
The necessary supporting documents for each category, which will accompany the application, both for the first registration and for the renewal of the license, can be found at the bottom of this page.
Entry into the Republic and first registration and renewal procedure
In order for a TCN to submit an application for first registration and temporary residence permit as a visitor, he/she must enter the Republic through a legal entry with an entry visa (Visa) issued by the Diplomatic and Consular Authorities of the Republic (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and with the presentation of a valid travel document. Before the expiration of his visa, he/she should submit the application for a temporary visitor's residence permit to the central offices of the Civil Registry and Migration Department or at the district branches of the Aliens Immigration Unit of the police or to the provincial levels of the Aliens and Immigration Service, depending on the district where he/she resides. Regarding the renewal of the visitor's permit, applications must be submitted up to one month before the expiration of their existing permit.
Duration of validity of the residence permit
Visitors are granted a first temporary residence permit of one (1) year, except for the residence permits of priests/monks/nuns of the Orthodox Church or the churches of other religious minorities in Cyprus where it is extended to three (3) years if there is a relevant request from the church and the necessary supporting documents are presented.
If the passport expires sooner, the residence permit is issued with a validity of three months before the expiry of the applicant's passport. For wives and children or direct ascendants, where applicable, who reside with a visitor's residence permit, a residence permit is issued up to the validity of the dependent's residence permit, provided that the travel document of the TCN is valid along with the aforementioned time constraints.
These permits are renewable, provided that the relevant criteria are met.
Ιt is noted that the residence permits issued for Visitors for the purpose of marriage with a Cypriot citizen are valid only for three (3) months in order for the marriage to be conducted.
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