Residency, not citizenship
First, clear up a common misconception: Cyprus no longer offers citizenship by investment. The Cyprus Investment Programme was terminated in November 2020. What remains is a well-established route to permanent residency by investment, plus ordinary naturalisation after long-term lawful residence.
The fast-track route (Regulation 6(2))
The popular fast-track permanent residency under Regulation 6(2) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations generally requires:
- An investment of €300,000 (plus VAT) in one of the qualifying categories — most commonly new residential property, but also commercial property, Cyprus company shares with employees, or units in Cyprus investment funds.
- Proof of a secure annual income from abroad (a base amount, increased for a spouse and each dependent).
- A clean criminal record and supporting documentation.
- Holding the investment and meeting visit requirements to keep the permit valid.
The thresholds and qualifying categories are periodically tightened, so verify the current criteria before committing funds.
Who it suits
- Non-EU families wanting an EU base and freedom to live in Cyprus.
- Investors seeking a relatively quick, low-physical-presence residency (a short visit requirement, not full relocation).
Note that permanent residency gives the right to reside, but not automatically to work — employment may need separate authorisation — and it is not a passport.
The path to citizenship
Citizenship is obtained by naturalisation after a qualifying period of lawful residence (commonly seven years, reduced in some cases), with knowledge-of-Greek and integration requirements that have been introduced and tightened in recent years.
Other residency routes
If €300,000 is not your path, consider:
- Employment-based permits, including the Company of Foreign Interests regime for skilled non-EU staff.
- The [Digital Nomad Visa](/publications/cyprus-digital-nomad-visa) for remote workers.
- EU citizens, who simply register rather than apply for a permit.
An immigration & residency lawyer can match the route to your goals and prepare the filing.