Residency & Golden Visas / Cyprus / Route
Cyprus · Residency route
Obtain Cyprus permanent residency through commercial property investment.
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Programme overviewنظرة عامة
Advising UAE residents on European residency from our Dubai office.
Two facts to know before anything else
Cyprus is not in Schengen. It is an EU member state, which is not the same thing. A Cypriot residence permit does not give you Schengen travel rights. It is the single most common misunderstanding about Cyprus.
There is no Cypriot citizenship by investment. The Cyprus Investment Programme was terminated on 1 November 2020, by decision of the Council of Ministers dated 13 October 2020. What remains is permanent residence by investment — a different product with a different outcome.
Investment criteria
Permanent residence by investment is granted under Regulation 6(2) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations. XIPHIAS confirms the current criteria — the investment threshold, the income requirement and the qualifying investment categories — in writing with the Civil Registry and Migration Department before filing, and before any client commits funds.
Citizenship is a separate matter. Naturalisation for non-EU nationals requires 8 years of legal residence within the previous 11, plus 12 months of continuous residence immediately before the application.
One thing to settle before you start
These are residency programmes, not citizenship. That distinction matters more for an Indian passport holder than for most, because India does not permit dual citizenship: under Section 9(1) of the Citizenship Act 1955, voluntarily acquiring another citizenship ends your Indian citizenship automatically.
Holding European residency does not affect your Indian citizenship at all. Only naturalising would. So the residence permit is the safe part; the decision point comes years later, if and when you choose to naturalise.
Talk to a European residency consultant in Dubai
XIPHIAS Immigration has guided families into Europe since 2009, and our Dubai team works with UAE residents. We were named Best Immigration Consultant by The Times of India in 2022. Our immigration consultants in Dubai will take you through the current rules, costs and timeline.
Sources
- Republic of Cyprus — Cyprus Investment Programme registry (scheme terminated 1 November 2020)
- Republic of Cyprus — Civil Registry and Migration Department
Verified against government and EU sources on 30 September 2026.
What you getالمزايا
Permanent residence in Cyprus, an EU member state (Cyprus is not in the Schengen area).
Spouse and dependent children can be included in the application.
Access to healthcare and education in Cyprus.
Ability to own shares and receive dividends.
Eligibilityالأهلية
Requirements
Invest in eligible commercial property at the threshold XIPHIAS confirms with the Civil Registry and Migration Department before filing.
Provide clean criminal record certificates for all adult dependents.
Provide proof of a secure annual income from legal sources abroad.
Submit official declaration confirming no employment in Cyprus (except as company director of invested business).
Transfer investment funds from abroad.
Who cannot apply
Applicants with serious criminal records.
Failure to provide proof of funds.
Non-compliance with application requirements or invalid documentation.
The processكيف نعمل
Preliminary check
Conducted by a certified AML officer to ensure compliance.
Select property
Choose eligible commercial property and sign contract with developer; XIPHIAS confirms the current threshold first.
Transfer funds
Transfer the purchase funds to the developer from abroad.
Submit application
Submit application to Civil Registry & Migration Department.
Biometrics
Visit Cyprus to provide biometric data for main applicant and dependents.
Residence cards
Receive permanent residence cards.
Risk notes
Cyprus is not a Schengen member. A Cypriot residence permit does not give Schengen travel rights. Cyprus is an EU member state, which is a different thing.
The Cyprus Investment Programme — citizenship by investment — was terminated on 1 November 2020 by decision of the Council of Ministers dated 13 October 2020. There is no Cypriot citizenship-by-investment route.
XIPHIAS confirms the current permanent residence criteria — investment threshold, income requirement and qualifying categories — in writing with the Civil Registry and Migration Department before filing, and before any client commits funds.
Compliance
Citizenship by investment terminated 1 November 2020, per the Cyprus Ministry of Finance.
Cyprus is an EU member state but is not in the Schengen area.
Permanent residence by investment is granted under Regulation 6(2) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations. XIPHIAS confirms the current criteria with the Civil Registry and Migration Department before filing.
Naturalisation for non-EU nationals requires 8 years of legal residence within the previous 11, plus 12 months of continuous residence immediately before applying.
Questionsأسئلة شائعة
This route, answered.
Offices, shops, hotels, or similar developments approved by Cyprus authorities. XIPHIAS confirms the current investment threshold with the Civil Registry and Migration Department before filing.
Start the Cyprus route.
A senior advisor will confirm the exact costs, timeline and documents for your case — privately, and entirely off the record.