Cyprus Visas, Permits and Immigration

by moveforward on August 12, 2009

movingtocyprusIMAGE200 To enter Cyprus, you should have a valid passport for three (3) months and at the very least beyond the period of your stay. However, the following countries, cities, and nationalities are excluded from this requirement:

Passports

1.   Nationals of the European Countries including Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Iceland who have a national identity card bearing the photograph of the bearer.
2.   Passport holders of the United Nations issued passport named Laissez-passer provided they can present an entry permit that they previously obtained from the Immigration Office of Nicosia. In this case, Egyptians and Israelis can enter Cyprus freely if they can present the needed documents.
3.   Passport holders with travel documents the Government of the Republic of Cyprus issued to the Cypriot nationals.
4.   Document holders issued to recognized refugees and stateless persons.

There are some restrictions in the number and duration of entry for passport holders issued by the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus and the Yugoslav Republic bearing a stamp of “Macedonia.”

Visas

A visa is normally required in many countries. Here in Cyprus, there are exceptions when the intended period of stay of the immigrant is only up to 90 days. There are also some nationals who do not need a visa to enter Cyprus like the ones listed below:

1.   Nationals of all countries mentioned above.
2.   Nationals of Bolivia, Brazil, Andora, Argentina, El Salvador, Croatia, Bulgaria, Brunei, Costa Rica, Chile, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, Guatemala, Liechtenstein, Korea (Rep), Iceland, Israel, Monaco, Mexico, Venezuela, Vatican City, San Marino, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Switzerland, Norway, Uruguay, Panama and Romania.
3.   Transit passengers who are continuing their journey by the first connecting flight or the same flight within twenty-four hours. These passengers must carry and present the valid and proper documentation. They are not allowed to leave the airport except those from Bangladesh, Congo (Dem Rep.), Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Ghana and Eritrea. The said nationals can leave the airport premises provided they obtain an Airport Transit Visa.

Visa Types and the Corresponding Costs

The Business or Tourist Visa costs about C£6, but it is free of charge for nationals of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Syrian Arab Republic and Egypt provided that they possess return or onward tickets and sufficient funds to cover their period of stay in Cyprus.

The Multiple Entry Visa is issued only for business purposes. Strictly businessmen can acquire this visa. It costs around C£20 while the transit cost is at C£6. Airport transit also costs about C£6.

Visa Validity

The validity for the tourist or business visa is three (3) months and the transit visa lasts for five (5) days.

Visa Application

If you are applying for a visa to Cyprus, you must bring the following requirements to the nearest Cyprus embassy in your country:

•   a passport valid for at least half a year after returning from the visit to Cyprus;
•   an application form carefully answered and complete, and this can be obtained from the Cyprus Embassy or printed out from its website;
•   A whole body picture with white background or a passport-sized photo and proof of funds, otherwise known as “show money” sufficient enough to cover the duration of your stay in Cyprus;
•   A return or onward ticket and an invitation letter from a friend in Cyprus or proof of hotel reservation since this will help immigration officers authenticate your credibility;
•   a fee payable by postal order or cash, and the cost differs from currency and exchange rates; and
•   a registered self-addressed special delivery mail if done through postal applications, and for business purposes, an introductory letter from your company showing the details of your salary.

You may also provide an official invitation letter from a company based in Cyprus indicating the salary that you will be receiving.

Cyprus Visa Application Process

Personal applications are processed within 24 hours after the interview. In most cases, it is done on the same day. If your case has to be referred to Cyprus, the process will take up about ten working days more. This will also depend on the nationality of the applicant.

The following are advisories for travelers to Cyprus:

Travelers arriving in the Republic of Cyprus may enter the Republic only through the legal ports of entry: Larnaka and Pafos International Airports, or the ports of Larnaka, Lemesos (Limassol), and Pafos. All airports in the part of the Republic illegally occupied by the Turkish invasion forces, have been declared by the Government of Cyprus as prohibited ports of entry and exit, and no visitor should enter or leave the Republic through these ports.

Ports

Passenger and cruise traffic in Cyprus is served by the multipurpose ports of Lemesos (Limassol) and Larnaka on the south coast of the country. The use of the occupied ports of Famagusta and Kerynia is illegal, as is the purchasing of goods imported from these ports.

Marinas

Apart from Larnaka Marina and St. Raphael Marina mentioned here, there are also a number of ports and fishing shelters in Cyprus.

Illegal Hotels in Occupied Cyprus

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus hereby publishes a list of hotels situated in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus. The majority of these hotels belong to Greek Cypriot displaced persons who were forced to leave their properties following the Turkish invasion of 1974 or have been built illegally on properties belonging to displaced Greek Cypriots, in violation of the latter’s property rights and without their consent.

Temporary Residence

Nationals of any country who go to Cyprus for purposes of study or employment must be able to secure and obtain a student’s permit or employment permit through the Migration officer in Nicosia before their arrival in Cyprus. The applications must be submitted only by the directors of the schools in Cyprus and prospective employers.

One expat shared their experience in the application process in the Cyprus Expat Forum last August 25, 2009:

My husband and I are going through this procedure at this moment in time. We arrived 1st June and the first thing we had to do was go to the immigration dept (which is in the electrolux building off the Polemeida (cant spell it) in Limassol, roundabout and make an appointment!!. You cant phone. They will give you forms to fill in and to bring to your appointment. It should then be a formality. It costs 17euros each. Make sure that you take everything you can think of with you (passports, driving license, marriage certificates, birth certificate). We had a problem as we got married in Feb in Cyprus and had to give in our divorce papers to the municipal office, however, the immigration people had to have copies of those, despite the fact that we couldnt have gotten married without them and so we had to drive 150 mile round trip to obtain copies and now we cant get another appointment until Oct. I warn you, the red tape is dire……………….but its worth it living here…PM me if you want any other advice. We both brought our cars here on the ship and I managed to get them registered within 2 weeks (another nightmare in itself but worth it). Good luck with your move.

Immigration Permit

As an alien, you may apply for an immigration permit provided you belong to the Categories that are referred to in the 5th Regulation of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations of 1972. The immigration permit will be granted to you as an alien if the Immigration Control Board of Cyprus informs the Interior Minister that you belong to any of the categories listed below:

•   Category A – People who intend to be self employed in cattle breeding, agriculture, fish culture and bird breeding in Cyprus.
•   Category B – People who intend to be working in mining enterprises in Cyprus provided they present a relative permit.
•   Category C – People who intend to be self employed in a profession or trade in Cyprus. The only requirement in this category is to present a relative permit.
•   Category D – Those who intend to be self employed in a science related profession in Cyprus provided they have the necessary professional and academic qualifications. Securing sufficient and adequate funds during the stay in Cyprus is also necessary.
•   Category E – Persons who are offered to work permanently in Cyprus that will not create a local and undue competition.
•   Category F – Those who possess a secured yearly income that is high enough to have a decent living in Cyprus.

Immigration applications information was shared in the Cyprus Expat Forum last June 10, 2009:

You get them from immigration but it can be pain as you can be waiting in line for hours then when you get to the desk there is always something else they want even though you have brought everything they asked for. So you have to make another appointment and stand in line again. This can go on for ages.

We have a contact who does all this sort of thing for expats and it takes the stress out of it.

Immigration Fees

You need to pay about CY£70 for the immigration permit grant. The cost is paid and stated in the receipt following the application approval and before the issuance of the said permit.