The Cyprus golden visa in 2026 means permanent residence by investment, which needs at least €300,000 in new property or another qualifying asset, plus a secured income of €50,000 a year from outside Cyprus for the main applicant. The old citizenship-by-investment scheme was abolished on 1 November 2020, so the program gives residence, not a passport.
Cyprus still attracts investors who want a permanent EU residence permit with a low visit requirement. The program changed in May 2023, when the fixed deposit requirement was dropped and parents were removed from the list of family members. This guide explains the investment routes, the income test, the family rules, the timeline, the tax points and the cheaper slow-track option for people who do not invest. It also explains the mistakes to avoid. The investment, income and citizenship details come from a legal guide updated in June 2026. The routes, visit rules and tax details come from a second guide with no clear date, and the slow-track details come from a law firm page originally published in May 2023 and modified in September 2026. These are secondary sources, and two of them differ on the citizenship timeline, so confirm every figure with the Civil Registry and Migration Department and a Cypriot lawyer before you pay. If you are an American planning a move, your passport comes first, and our US passport guide covers how to get or renew one.
Is There a Cyprus Golden Visa in 2026?
Yes, Cyprus offers permanent residence by investment, but no citizenship by investment. The citizenship scheme was abolished on 1 November 2020, according to the June 2026 guide.
The program gives investors permanent status directly, not a temporary permit, according to the second guide, which says the permit is open-ended and needs no renewal. Living on the island is not required, but the same page says you must register as a resident within a year of approval. The June 2026 guide gives a validity of lifetime, provided the holder enters Cyprus at least once every two years.
Compare this with the Maltese route in our Malta golden visa guide and the Greek route in our Greece golden visa guide. All three give EU-based residence, but each has different fees, asset tests and holding rules.
What Are the Investment Routes?
The minimum is €300,000 across all routes, which include new residential property, commercial property, a stake in a Cypriot company and units in licensed funds. The table shows the main differences.
| Route | Minimum | Main condition |
| New residential property | €300,000 plus VAT | New-build from a developer only, resale does not qualify |
| Commercial property | €300,000 | Resale allowed |
| Cypriot company | €300,000 | Cyprus office and at least 5 employees |
| Licensed investment fund | €300,000 | Units in licensed Cypriot funds |
The second guide says the residential route must be paid in full with no mortgage, and that renting the property out is allowed. The June 2026 guide says at least €200,000 plus VAT must already be remitted from abroad at the time of application, and the balance paid by the time the permit is issued. It also says the fixed deposit of €30,000 for three years that older guides mention was abolished by the May 2023 amendments, although applicants still open a Cyprus bank account.
VAT matters. The second guide says the standard rate on new housing is 19 percent, with a reduced 5 percent only for the first 130 square meters of a primary residence priced up to €350,000. One passage in the June 2026 guide says “excluding VAT,” so ask the developer in writing whether the €300,000 is before or after VAT.
What Income Do You Need?
The main applicant needs at least €50,000 a year, with €15,000 more for a spouse and €10,000 for each child. For new-build residential property, the income must come from abroad.
The two guides agree on the amounts:
- Main applicant: At least €50,000 a year.
- Spouse: Add €15,000 a year.
- Each child: Add €10,000 a year.
- Example: A family of four needs at least €85,000 a year, according to the second guide.
- Source: For the new-build residential route, the income must come from outside Cyprus. Other routes also accept Cypriot income.
The second guide adds that holders must give annual confirmation of the investment, income and insurance. That means the income test is not a one-time check. Keep your proof of pension, dividends or business income up to date. Our visa documents checklist tool helps you keep these papers in one place.
A simple habit helps here. Each year, save a dated copy of your income proof, your insurance certificate and the property or fund statement in one folder. If the department asks for confirmation, you can answer in a day instead of searching for papers across several accounts. Families with variable income should also keep a note of how each amount reaches the €50,000 level.
Who Can Be Included in the Application?
Spouses, minor children and dependent unmarried students up to age 25 can be included, but parents cannot. The 2023 amendments removed parents.
The guides list:
- Spouse: Included.
- Children under 18: Included.
- Students: Dependent, unmarried, full-time students aged 18 to 25, per the June 2026 guide. The second guide says under 25.
- Parents: Excluded since the 2023 amendments.
Government fees depend on family size. The second guide does not give figures, and says fees are not refunded if the application is refused. Ask your lawyer for a written cost sheet that lists the government fees, legal fees, VAT and transfer costs before you pay a deposit on a property.
How Long Does It Take?
The official target is two months, but the June 2026 guide says decisions often take three to four months, and the second guide says the whole process can run 6 to 12 months. Preparation adds time.
The sources give these figures:
- Review: The regulation targets 2 months. Backlogs often push decisions to 3 to 4 months, per the June 2026 guide.
- Decision to card: 6 to 12 months in total, per the second guide.
- Property selection and legal check: 2 to 8 weeks.
- Payment and file preparation: 4 to 8 weeks.
Plan for the longer figure. A developer may ask for stage payments, and your bank may need weeks to process a transfer from abroad. Our visa processing time calculator helps with planning around delays.
What Is the Slow-Track Option?
Category F, called the slow track, is a permanent residence permit for people who do not invest, but it needs secured income from abroad and a long wait. It is cheaper but much less predictable.
A law firm page describes it:
- Income: Minimum secured annual income of €9,568, plus €4,613 per dependant. The page itself notes this “may not be sufficient to cover actual living costs in Cyprus.”
- Sources: Income must come entirely from abroad, such as dividends, interest, rental income and pensions.
- Housing: You must rent or own residential property in Cyprus and hold a Cyprus bank account.
- Work: You must confirm that you will not work in Cyprus.
- Family: A spouse and children under 18. Parents and other relatives are excluded.
- Permit: Permanent residence with a card issued for 10 years, then renewed.
- Waiting time: As of 2026, processing times cannot be reliably estimated, because the department is examining applications submitted several years earlier.
The page lists three grounds for cancellation: absence from Cyprus for two consecutive years, obtaining permanent residence in another country and failing to secure accommodation in Cyprus within one year of approval. Because of the unknown waiting time, this route suits patient applicants, not people with a deadline. Compare it with the fast Italian process in our Italy golden visa guide.
What Tax Rules Apply?
Permanent residence does not make you a Cyprus tax resident, which needs 183 days a year, or 60 days if you own a business or home on the island. The tax rules are separate.
The second guide describes the non-domiciled regime:
- Dividends and interest: Tax residents with no Cypriot roots pay 0 percent on worldwide dividends and interest for 17 years.
- Health contribution: 2.65 percent with a limited cap.
- Income tax: Income up to €22,000 a year is untaxed, and higher income is taxed at 20 to 35 percent.
- Other taxes: No inheritance tax, and capital gains tax applies only to Cypriot real estate.
- Warning: Permanent residence does not remove tax obligations in the country where you actually live.
US citizens remain subject to US tax reporting and taxation wherever they live, so a Cypriot tax rate does not remove US duties. Speak with a cross-border tax adviser before you rely on these rates.
How Long Until Citizenship?
Naturalization takes about 7 to 8 years of residence, and there is no citizenship by investment. The two guides give slightly different timelines.
The June 2026 guide says naturalization requires 7 years of legal residence within the preceding 10 years, including the last 12 months continuously. The second guide says about 8 years of actual residence on the island and knowledge of Greek, and that periodic visits do not count toward the period. Because the two pages disagree, ask a lawyer which rule applies to your case. Either way, a low-visit permanent residence does not lead quickly to a passport.
How Do You Spot a Cyprus Golden Visa Scam?
Be careful with anyone who promises a Cypriot passport for an investment, because that scheme ended in 2020. Also check every property carefully.
Be careful when a seller:
- Promises Cypriot citizenship for a payment.
- Sells a resale property as qualifying for the residential route.
- Asks you to pay a large deposit before your lawyer checks the title and the developer’s permits.
- Guarantees approval or a processing date.
- Quotes a price without saying whether VAT is included.
Only the Cypriot authorities decide applications. A developer may promise speed, but no one can guarantee the department’s timeline.
What Mistakes Cause Problems?
Buying a resale home, ignoring the income test and expecting citizenship cause most problems. Check each point first.
- Buying a resale home for the residential route.
- Taking out a mortgage on the qualifying property.
- Assuming the old €30,000 deposit still applies.
- Forgetting the annual proof of income and investment.
- Not entering Cyprus at least once every two years.
- Planning on citizenship by investment.
- Forgetting US tax reporting duties.
- Relying on secondary sources instead of the Migration Department.
When unsure, use the official source and a Cypriot lawyer. For other countries, compare our guides to the Portugal golden visa, the Spain golden visa, the UAE golden visa, the Germany golden visa, the UK golden visa, the Canada golden visa and the US golden visa.
FAQs
How much is the Cyprus golden visa in 2026?
At least €300,000 in new property or another qualifying asset, plus income of €50,000 a year, per a June 2026 guide.
Is there a Cyprus citizenship by investment?
No. The scheme was abolished on 1 November 2020, according to a June 2026 legal guide.
Do I need a €30,000 deposit?
No. A June 2026 guide says the three-year fixed deposit was abolished by the May 2023 amendments.
Can my parents be included?
No. Parents have been excluded since the 2023 amendments, according to both guides.
How long does it take?
The target is 2 months, but decisions often take 3 to 4 months, and the whole process can take 6 to 12 months.
Do I have to live in Cyprus?
No, but you must enter at least once every two years, according to a June 2026 guide.
Conclusion
The Cyprus golden visa gives permanent residence for at least €300,000 in a qualifying asset plus €50,000 a year in foreign income, with no citizenship route by investment. Expect a process of several months, annual proof of income and investment, and a long wait for any passport. Confirm VAT and the timeline in writing, use your own lawyer and avoid anyone who promises a Cypriot passport.
