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Cyprus Startup Visa Scheme

Cyprus · Southern Europe

Source: Mobility Asset DatabaseLifecycle: UnknownExtended ResidencyActive Investor Visas

Program facts from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database. Unknown facts are shown as Unknown, never as zero.

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Publication state
Mobility Asset Database
Lifecycle status
Unknown
Facts checked through
Sep 21, 2026
Source snapshots
Database edition

Identity and current status

The route identity and current status.

Present
Year establishedPublished
2017
Governing lawPublished
Cyprus Startup Visa Scheme (Council of Ministers decision under the Aliens and Immigration Law), administered by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy; renewed through December 2026
Responsible authorityPublished
Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, in cooperation with the Civil Registry and Migration Department

What the program provides

What the program gives the holder.

Present
What the program providesPublished
Cyprus residence and a path to grow a high-potential startup with a minimum €10,000-20,000 founder stake

Best suited for

Who the program tends to suit. Research only, never a personal recommendation.

Absent

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Eligibility

Personal qualifications an applicant must establish.

Present
Minimum ageUnknown
Unknown
Clean criminal record requiredPublished
Yes
Local health insurance requiredPublished
Yes
Nationality restrictionsPublished
No
Basic eligibilityPublished
Non-EU/EEA founder or team (up to 5 founders/senior executives) of an innovative, unlisted startup registered in Cyprus for under 5 years, with a high-growth, disruptive product/service or business model; each team member must hold at least 25% of company shares
Generational limitPublished
Not applicable

Household inclusion

How spouses and children are treated.

Present
Family sponsorshipPublished
Yes
Spouse includedPublished
Yes
Children includedPublished
Yes
Child age limitPublished
18 years
ChildrenPublished
Spouse and minor children receive residence permits with the founder; spouse may work for any employer, not only the startup

Documents

Evidence categories and filing documents.

Absent

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Process and timeline

How you apply and how long it takes.

Present
Processing timePublished
8–9 weeks
Can apply without travelingPublished
Yes
How you applyPublished
Email application to the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy (startupvisa@dmrid.gov.cy); residence permit collected in Cyprus or at a Cyprus consulate abroad
Required in-person stepPublished
Biometrics and residence permit card collection at the Civil Registry and Migration Department (or Cyprus consulate)
What the processing time measuresPublished
Deputy Ministry evaluation within 5 weeks of a complete application, plus Migration Department residence-permit processing of about 3-4 weeks after approval
Official application routePublished
https://www.gov.cy/en/service/apply-for-a-cyprus-startup-visa/

Costs and investment

Fees, income and savings thresholds, and investment amounts.

Present
Minimum investmentPublished
$11,700
Minimum passive investment (July 2026)Published
None required
Minimum active investment (July 2026)Published
$11,700
Processing feeUnknown
Unknown
Application feePublished
$164
Total cost to applyPublished
$164
Monthly income requiredUnknown
Unknown
Monthly pension income requiredPublished
None required
Monthly rental income requiredPublished
None required
Savings requiredPublished
$58,500
Proof of sufficient fundsPublished
Yes
Local bank deposit requiredPublished
No
Minimum local bank depositPublished
None required
Fees paidPublished
After approval
Cost notesPublished
Application/registration and residence-permit card fees reported at roughly €70 + €70 (≈€140 total, ≈USD 164) by immigration service providers; not confirmed on the Deputy Ministry's own fee schedule. A separate expedited-processing option (8-month guarantee) costs a €5,000 government fee.

Presence and maintenance

Stay, renewal, and how long the status lasts.

Present
Stay required to keep statusUnknown
Unknown
Physical presence requiredPublished
Yes
In-country visit requiredPublished
Yes
Move-in windowUnknown
Unknown
Length of residencyPublished
36 months
Residency is lifetimePublished
No
RenewablePublished
Yes
Maximum durationUnknown
Unknown
Maximum duration is lifetimePublished
No
Stay rule (Sept 2026)Published
No published day-count; the Deputy Ministry requires the startup's management and control to be genuinely based in Cyprus, and renewal after 3 years needs proof of continued Cyprus-based activity (15% revenue growth, €150,000+ investment attracted, or 3 local hires)
Tax residency rulePublished
Foreign individuals are tax residents if they stay in Cyprus for 183 days or more in any continuous 12-month period ending in the current tax year.
Personal income taxPublished
0-35%

Rights and onward pathways

Work, healthcare and other rights, and the path to permanent residence and citizenship.

Present
Time to permanent residencyUnknown
Unknown
Time to citizenshipUnknown
Unknown
Work for a local employerPublished
No
Start a businessPublished
Yes
Remote or freelance workUnknown
Unknown
Local healthcare accessUnknown
Unknown
University accessUnknown
Unknown
Can buy landUnknown
Unknown
Local bankingPublished
Yes

Risks, limitations, and uncertainty

Notes on changes, conflicts, and limits.

Present
Plan B note (Sept 2026)Published
Grants a renewable 3-year Cyprus residence permit (extended from 2 years in the Jan 2025 reform) tied to running the startup, not automatic permanent residence: after the permit period the founder must separately qualify under another Cyprus residency category (Category F, Regulation 6(2) investor, Category E employment) or reach 5 years of legal residence for EU long-term-resident status. The list's 'stay none' claim is not confirmed by any source found; management/control must stay based in Cyprus, so presence is left unscored rather than assumed zero.

Sources, freshness, and conflict disclosure

Where the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database took these facts from.

Present
Official program websitePublished
https://www.gov.cy/dmrid/en/
Plan B sources (Sept 2026)Published
https://www.gov.cy/en/service/apply-for-a-cyprus-startup-visa/ | https://www.sovereigngroup.com/news/the-cyprus-startup-visa-programme/ | https://www.easycorporate.com.cy/blog/cyprus-startup-visa-guide

Every fact on this page comes from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database (Sep 21, 2026 edition). A blank is shown as Unknown.

This anonymous dossier is read-only research. It does not establish personal fit, eligibility, legal or tax advice, filing, approval, residence, citizenship, or a held Right.