Cyprus permanent residency by investment — the “fast-track PR” under Regulation 6(2) — survived the country’s 2020 citizenship-program scandal and remains one of the EU-adjacent field’s simpler offers: €300,000 into property or funds, proof of income, and permanent residence for the family. The honest version involves VAT that can move the real price six figures, tightened dependant rules, and a live proposal to raise the threshold. Verified 28 July 2026.
Cyprus PR in one paragraph (verified 28 July 2026): Invest €300,000 + VAT in new residential property (or commercial real estate, Cyprus company shares, or licensed funds), show secure annual income from abroad of €50,000 (+€15,000 for a spouse, +€10,000 per child), and receive permanent residence — typically processed within months. Since May 2023, adult children and parents are largely excluded as dependants and annual compliance checks apply. Cyprus’s citizenship-by-investment closed in 2020; naturalisation now requires genuine residence (8 years standard — minimal-presence PR holders do not meaningfully accrue it). A proposal to raise the threshold to €500,000 is circulating but not enacted.
At a glance
| Status | Open (July 2026) |
| Minimum | €300,000 + VAT (VAT 5-19% — a materially variable extra) |
| Income requirement | €50k/yr from abroad + per-dependant amounts |
| What you get | Permanent residence (not Schengen — Cyprus applies its own entry rules) |
| Dependants | Spouse + minor children; adult children/parents largely excluded since 2023 |
| Citizenship | No fast track; 8 years of actual residence for naturalisation |
The VAT line most summaries skip
“€300,000” is the before-VAT price of a new property (resales generally don’t qualify for the standard route). VAT runs 19%, with a reduced 5% rate available under conditions for a primary residence — meaning the same headline investment can cost €315,000 or €357,000 in practice. Our cost calculator models this inside the extras band; your Cypriot lawyer should model it exactly for the specific property before you sign anything.
Who Cyprus fits
Families wanting a straightforward, mid-priced permanent base in an EU member state — English widely spoken, favourable non-dom tax treatment for those who do relocate, and a process light on bureaucracy by regional standards. Two limitations to price in: Cyprus is not in Schengen (your PR doesn’t confer Schengen mobility the way Malta’s or Greece’s does), and there’s no realistic passport endpoint without genuinely living there for years.
Watch items
- The circulating €500k-threshold proposal — unenacted, but Cyprus has form for sudden changes; quarterly re-checks here, and it argues against slow-walking a planned application.
- Annual compliance checks (income, property holding, clean record) are real — build them into the plan.
FAQ
Is Cyprus PR a golden visa?
Functionally yes — investment-based permanent residence — though Cyprus never uses the term. The old citizenship scheme (closed 2020) is a different, defunct program.
Does Cyprus PR give me Schengen access?
No — Cyprus is an EU member but not in Schengen. Factor your travel patterns accordingly.
Can I rent out the property?
The qualifying property is expected to serve as your residence; take advice before structuring rental plans around it.
All programs: 2026 comparison · status tracker · consultation
Verified 28 July 2026. Not legal, tax or investment advice; no outcome can ever be guaranteed.