Complete guide to obtaining a Cyprus digital nomad visa, the required documents, the application steps, and FAQs
The Cyprus digital nomad visa is known as the “Digital Nomad Visa Scheme”. Nationals from non-EU and non-EEA countries can temporarily reside in Cyprus with this visa scheme. In the past, only 100 temporary residency permits were issued under this program, but now the number has been increased to 500.
The objective of the Cyprus digital nomad visa is to establish Cyprus as a center for electronic service provision. Aiming to attract digital nomads to the country will contribute to Cyprus’s economic development.
Benefits of Working as a Digital Nomad in Cyprus
If you work in Cyprus as a digital nomad, you will enjoy many benefits:
- Affordable visa scheme. The visa costs only €70, and it is extremely cheap compared with other countries that offer digital nomad visas.
- Tax exemption. As a digital nomad in Cyprus, you will be free from tax charges until your 183rd day of stay. After the 183rd day, you are considered a tax resident, and then taxes are imposed on you.
- Safety. One of the safest countries in the EU to live in is Cyprus, which has one of the lowest crime rates in all of Europe. Cyprus ranks in the top five countries in the world in terms of safety by population.
- Reasonable costs of living. Compared with other countries that have similar quality of life, Cyprus has much lower costs of living. The average rent in Cyprus is 46% lower than in the US and about 60% lower than in most major European cities. For a family of four, the estimated monthly costs without rent are €2,558.17, and for a single person, the estimated monthly costs without rent are €726.29.
Who Can Apply for a Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa?
Individuals from non-EU and non-EEA countries are eligible to apply for the Cyprus digital nomad visa. These individuals need to:
- Work remotely through telecommunication technology
- Be employed in a company registered abroad, and they can work independently somewhere else or be self-employed, offering services to clients abroad
- Have a sufficient monthly income of at least €3,500.
How to Apply for a Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa?
The application process includes the following steps:
- Compile the necessary documents. Make sure to have your documents ready before travelling to Cyprus. The list of the documents is under “Requirements for Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa”.
- Enter the Republic of Cyprus. Depending on your nationality, you may need a Cyprus tourist visa. Applicants that are already in Cyprus can only continue with the next steps.
- Complete the application. Download the application form, print it out, and fill it with the required information.
- Go to the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia. Within the three months, you enter Cyprus, you need to go and submit the application form and the required documents at the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia (the capital of Cyprus).
- Pay the expenses. The visa fees include the registration to the Aliens’ Registry (only in cases of initial registration), which is only €70.
- Wait for a response. The processing time for a digital nomad visa in Cyprus is between five and seven weeks. If the application is approved, the residence permit is valid for a year, and you will be notified accordingly. In case of rejection, you will be informed accordingly as well.,
Requirements for Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa
The documents you need to apply for a Cyprus digital nomad visa are:
- The Cyprus digital nomad visa application form. You can download the form from the website of the Cypriot Ministry of Interior (here).
- Copy of a valid passport with a validity of three months.
- Copy of passport or other travel documents that shows the last entry in Cyprus.
- Two passport-sized photos. Your passport must be in colors and taken with a white background. The dimensions of the photos must be 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). The head must be between 1 -1 3/8 inches (25-35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
- Your updated CV or resume.
- Evidence of sufficient and stable monthly living resources. A sufficient amount will be €3,500. To prove your living resources, you can use your salary payment showing the net worth or bank statements for the last six months.
- Original certificate of a clean criminal record. You can get your clean criminal record at the local police department.
- Proof of accommodation. You can prove your accommodation with a rental agreement, a hotel booking, or a lease. The rental agreement should be duly stamped if valued at over €5000.
- Valid health insurance. You need health insurance that covers inpatient and outpatient care as well as repatriation of remains (Plan A).
- Original blood analysis results. The results should show that the applicant does not have HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and chest x-rays for tuberculosis (TB). The results must be duly certified by a specialized doctor.
- An affirmation that shows that the applicant and his dependents will not provide work or any services to employers established in Cyprus.
- Letter of intent. The letter should say what activities you will perform in Cyprus and the reason for your travel there.
- For employees working for a company outside Cyprus:
- Employment contract
- Employer’s confirmation that the applicant can perform his duties in Cyprus
- A copy of the company’s registration certificate abroad
- Information about the status of the applicant in the company
- For self-employed:
- Contracts of projects or services
- Confirmation by the applicant that he can perform his duties remotely and that his duties are not related to Cyprus
How Long Can I Work in Cyprus as a Digital Nomad?
The validity of the Cyprus digital nomad visa is one year, with the possibility of renewal for two years. You can renew the digital nomad visa at least one month before the expiration date. You have to go to the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia, submit all the required documents, and pay a fee of €70.
Processing Time For A Digital Nomad Visa in Cyprus
The processing time for a digital nomad visa in Cyprus is between five and seven weeks.
How Much Does the Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa Cost?
The visa fees include the following:
- Issuance or renewal of a temporary residence permit – €70
- Registration to the Aliens’ Registry (only in cases of initial registration) – €70
Paying Taxes as a Digital Nomad in Cyprus
As a digital nomad in Cyprus, you will be free from tax charges until your 183rd day of stay. After the 183rd day, you are considered a tax resident, and then taxes are imposed.
The Republic of Cyprus has one of the most pleasing tax systems in Europe. Personal income tax in Cyprus is imposed on individuals who are tax residents. Those who are not tax residents are taxed only when their income derives from Cyprus. The personal income tax rate in Cyprus is:
| From 0 to €19,500 | the tax rate is 0% |
| From €19,501 to €28,000 | the tax rate is 20% |
| From €28,001 to €36,300 | the tax rate is 25% |
| From €36,301 to €60,000 | the tax rate is 30% |
| From €60,001 and above | the tax rate is 35% |
In addition, the tax rate of the social security contributions is 8.3%, the standard value-added tax (VAT) is 19%, the immovable property transfer levy (IPTL) is 0.4%, and the corporation tax is 12.5%.