Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa Scheme

Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa Scheme – An attractive option for remotely workers

In the early years of pandemic Covid-19, the term “work remotely” has gain popularity throughout of the world.

Work remotely has been extended and prolonged in many businesses with a positive impact on both the employer and employees, whereas in some cases “work from home” has been the exception that proves the rule.

In this context and as part of the Cyprus government strategy for attracting businesses and/or expansion of their business activities, the Council of Ministers on October 15^th, 2021, approved the introduction of the Digital Nomad Visa Scheme (“DNV”) in Cyprus with a ceiling of 100 residence permits to be issued. In addition to this, on March 3^rd, 2022, the Council of Ministers increased the ceiling to 500 residence permits.

The aim of this scheme is focusing to strengthen Cyprus as a centre for the provision of electronic services in combination with the other corporate advantages offered by the Republic of Cyprus.

In a nutshell, the Cyprus DNV scheme allows third country nationals who can perform their work remotely using telecommunications technology to reside temporarily in Cyprus and work for an employer who is registered out of Cyprus or perform work through telecommunications technology for companies or clients located abroad.

Eligibility to benefit the above scheme has individuals from third countries – non-EU who can perform their work on a remotely basis through telecommunications technology and are employed in a company registered abroad and/or are self-employed offering services remotely for clients located abroad. They also must prove that they have stable and sufficient monthly net income of at least Euro 3500(after the deduction of contributions and taxes).

The DNG holders acquire a right to reside for a year in Cyprus with a possibility of renewal for further 2 years as well as they can bring their family members for the same period as their permit is in force without the right to be employed of perform economic activity in Cyprus. Additionally, if they reside in the Republic of Cyprus for one of more periods that in total exceed 183 days within the same tax year, then they can consider tax residents of Cyprus, provided that they are not tax residents in any other country.

The procedure for obtaining a digital nomad visa is easy going. The interested party can enter Cyprus with a tourist visa and within 3 months of his/her arrival should submit his/her application at the Civil Registry and Migration Department along with all required documentation.  All documents accompanying the application forms should be officially translated and duly certified/ratified.

In case the applicant legally resides in Cyprus under a different status, he/she has the right to submit the relevant application to be granted a temporary residence permit as a Digital Nomad, at the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia.

For the issuance of the temporary residence permit capturing of biometric data (photo and fingerprints) and signature of the third country national is a prerequisite, which is completed with the submission of the required application and receipt along with a valid travel document.

The applications for renewal should also be submitted to the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia along with the necessary accompanying documents, at least 1 month before the temporary residence permit’s expiration date.