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Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa

Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa


A Cyprus digital nomad visa is an immigration document that is useful for persons who qualify as digital nomads. A digital nomad is a person who has the possibility to work remotely (the work activity does not create the obligation to work in an office).

For instance, various work activities require employees to work with clients in a physical environment, and in this case, there are almost no chances to modify the work activity to a remote one. Digital nomads can be persons employed in a company or they can work as self-employed, while living for a limited period of time in other countries.

The law regarding digital nomads is in constant change; for instance, various European countries do not have a digital nomad program, but foreigners can use certain visas for this purpose (such as the tourist visa). But the Cyprus immigration law provides for a digital nomad program, which will be presented in this article.

Please mind that the digital nomad visa is a document that grants access to living in this country for a limited period of time.


What is the program for the digital nomad visa in Cyprus?


The Cyprus immigration law has recently enforced a new immigration program that is especially created for digital nomads. Given that the relocation of a person from a country to another can create tax and residency consequences, for stays longer than 90 days, the creation of a digital nomad program was necessary.

 Quick Facts  
  What is a Cyprus digital nomad visa

A visa that is created for digital nomads, who represent foreigners who are tax residents of their home countries but which can work and travel in Cyprus for the entire period of the visa validity. 

Who can apply for the digital nomad program 

Non-EU and non-EEA nationals who use telecommunication technology for their self-employment activity or work activity developed for an employer that is not related to Cyprus. 

Applying for a residence permit (yes/no) 

 Yes
Maximum visas issued per year 

Initially, the program was capped at 100 residence permits, but on 3 March 2022 the Council of Ministers of Cyprus increased the visa issuance at 500 units. 

Minimum monthly income required  In order to apply for the Cyprus digital nomad visa, the applicant must have an income of EUR 3,500 (after taxes). 
Visa validity 

 

1 year 
Renewal possible (yes/no) 

 

Yes
Duration of the visa renewal  2 years 
Family members allowed to migrate with the visa holder  The visa holder can arrive in Cyprus with the spouse/civil partner and the couple’s underaged children. 
Developing work activities
taxed in Cyprus 
Visa holders can’t develop work activities originating in Cyprus. 
Residency requirements for family members  The family members of the visa holder can stay in Cyprus for the same period of time as the visa holder; they must also obtain a residence permit.   
Family members allowed to work in Cyprus (yes/no)  No  
Duration of the visa processing  The Cyprus digital nomad visa is processed in 5-7 weeks.
Visa issuance fee  EUR 70 for the issuance of the residence permit. 
Visa renewal fee     EUR 70 for the renewal of the document. 

This is given by the fact that the digital nomad will develop work activities during the stay in Cyprus and normally, a work activity on the territory of Cyprus has to be accompanied by an appropriate work visa, in the case of foreigners.

For digital nomads who stay here for less than 90 days (or in other European countries), there are very few rules, but for those who intend to stay in a country for more than 90 days, a set of consequences can appear.

Due to this, one can actually apply for a Cyprus digital nomad visa, a program addressed to all foreigners arriving from countries outside the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA).

Foreigners from the EU do not need to start any immigration formalities as they have the right to live here without a visa. Our immigration lawyer in Cyprus has gathered the following information on this new visa:

  • according to the Civil Registry and Migration Department of Cyprus, the new visa program was enforced on 15th of October 2021;
  • those who want to apply for the digital nomad visa in Cyprus must know that they will obtain a residence permit as well (initially, the program was capped at 100 resident permits);
  • all applicants must prove that they have a monthly income of at least EUR 3,500 calculated after taxes, an income originated, of course, from the country where they have their tax residency;
  • the visa grants the right of living in Cyprus for a period of 1 year, but upon the expiration, the visa can be renewed for a period of 2 years;
  • if the successful participants of the Cyprus digital nomad visa program will stay in this country for more than 183 days per year, they will be considered tax residents of Cyprus, as long as they do not have any other tax residency obligations in another country.

Although the program for the Cyprus digital nomad visa was initially created to allow only 100 successful applicants per year, in 2022, on March 3rd, the Council of Ministers has decided to increase the maximum number of visas (and residence permits) to 500.

Given that this is a new program, the number of permits issued can suffer modifications and it is best to find out the latest changes from our immigration lawyer in Cyprus. For instance, those who want to relocate to Cyprus in 2025 as digital nomads have good news, as, in March 2025, the Cypriot authorities doubled the number of digital nomad visas that can be issued in a financial year, reaching 1,000.

Income requirements

As said above, the applicant for the Cyprus digital nomad visa must also make the proof of having a certain monthly income. For this, he or she has to present bank statements for the last 6 months of financial activity.

Also, in the case in which the foreigner arrives here with family members, the minimum monthly threshold of EUR 3,500 will be increased. The total amount will increase by 20% in the case the visa holder will arrive with a spouse, and by 15% in the case in which the applicant has children (the latter percentage is added to the first one, thus increasing the overall minimum threshold to 35%). Also, the 15% will be calculated for each child, not for all children.

Please mind that the application for this visa includes 9 types of documents the foreigner must prepare, including a health certificate which states that the person does not suffer from certain diseases.

If the person is hired in a company working in his or her home country, a list of documents has to be presented, including a declaration of the employer, in which it is stated that the applicant can work remotely. Below, you can watch a video about the Cyprus digital nomad visa:

What should the application file contain?


In order to immigrate to Cyprus under this visa type, applicants must prepare their application file, which should contain a set of mandatory documents. In the list below, our Cyprus immigration lawyers present the required paperwork:

  1. the valid passport;
  2. the contract attesting the remote work (business ownership documents, employment contract);
  3. bank statements that show evidence on having the minimum income required for this visa type;
  4. health insurance (which covers the validity of the visa);
  5. a clean criminal record issued by the police authorities in the home country;
  6. medical certificates that provide evidence of not having any infectious diseases;
  7. accommodation arrangements made in Cyprus (they can take the form of rental contacts or, for those that dispose of a large capital and plan to live here on a Cypriot residence permit issued on a permanent basis, a property purchase contact);
  8. proof of paying the processing fee for the Cyprus digital nomad visa.

What is the application procedure for the Cyprus digital nomad visa?


The application procedure is enforced following the basic rules provided by the Cyprus immigration law; our immigration lawyer in Cyprus can present all the steps one has to follow for the issuance of this visa, or of other visas of interest.

All foreigners who apply for this visa type will be issued with a residence permit. The 1st type of permit foreigners will obtain is a temporary one. Please mind that this document is not automatically granted when the visa is issued.

They represent 2 separate documents and the issuance of the residence permit is done only after the applicant obtained the visa. Thus, after the person will relocate to Cyprus based on the digital nomad visa, he or she should start the residency permit formalities.

This has to be initiated in a period of maximum 3 months after the arrival. The visa holder is required to present the necessary list of documents, all of which must be notarized and translated.

It is necessary to book an appointment with the Cypriot officials (this can be done online) and after the meeting is established, the visa holder will address to the Civil Registry and Migration Department working in Nicosia.

It is worth knowing that the applicant does not have to present in person, one can also appoint a legal representative. However, in the case in which the application file does not contain all the documentation, it will be rejected. Because of this, we highly recommend foreigners to address our immigration lawyer in Cyprus, who has an in-depth experience in preparing immigration files.

When applying for a residence permit, the Cyprus immigration law will require capturing biometric information of the applicant. Here, 3 main matters will be required: 1) taking a picture of the applicant, 2) taking the fingerprints, and 3) the signature.

This procedure can be done at the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia, or it can also be completed with the Aliens and Immigration Service of the Police that operates in the area where the foreigner lives.

Persons who travel with children and who will apply for residence permits for the children must know that the only biometric data required in this case will be the photo of the minors, as long as the children have an age below 6 years old. Below, you can read our infographic on how to obtain the Cypriot digital nomad visa:

Cyprus permanent residence and citizenship

Regardless if the foreigner arrives here under a digital nomad visa or a visa that grants permanent residency, it is mandatory to apply for a residence permit in Cyprus. Digital nomads will be issued with a temporary residence permit – for first time applicants, the permit will be valid for 1 year; the renewal of the document will allow residency for a period of 2 years.

Digital nomads who want to relocate here on a permanent basis and thus, obtain a residence permit in Cyprus that grants the right to stay in this country on an indefinite basis, must explore other options.

Please mind that permanent residency can also be lost, as it is not granted for the entire lifetime of a foreigner, as it can be the case for citizenship in Cyprus. A long absence from the country can lead to the revocation of the permanent residency.

For those interested in Cypriot citizenship by naturalization, it is important to know that at the moment when the application is made, the foreigner must have been living in this country for at least 2,555 days. From the total number of days, in the last year, the foreigner must live here on a continuous basis, without being away from the Cypriot territory on a long-term basis.

Thus, if the visa holder wants to apply for citizenship in Cyprus by naturalization, the above mentioned requirement is mandatory.


What are the advantages of the Cyprus digital nomad visa?

The advantages offered by the new Cyprus immigration law are numerous. First of all, successful applicants can live here for a long period of time – of up to 3 years, if this is of interest for the foreigner. Other visa programs that can be used as a replacement for the digital nomad visa can grant limited access to the territory of a state, generally of up to 3 months.

Another advantage brought by this program is that the digital nomad is allowed to bring his or her close family unit in Cyprus and such family members can stay here for the entire duration of the visa issued for the digital nomad. However, we mention that even though one can immigrate to Cyprus on a long-term basis, the visa holder is not entitled to develop work activities that are taxed in this country.

Under the Cyprus digital nomad visa program, the same applies for the family members that are included in the visa application. Please mind that in this particular case, a family unit is defined as the spouse or the partner of the visa applicant and their children. The couple can be married or in a civil union.

The application for the Cyprus digital nomad visa can take approximately 5-7 weeks from the moment when the application was sent; the applicant must also pay a small fee of EUR 70 when the temporary residence permit is issued. The same fee is payable at the moment of the document renewal. For more details on residence permits requirements, our immigration lawyer in Cyprus remains at your service.

What are the best locations for digital nomads in Cyprus?


Individuals who plan to immigrate to Cyprus as digital nomads can live literally anywhere in the country as long as their benefit from good internet connection. While Cyprus may not lead in internet connectivity at a European level, it still has qualitative services, with 4G and 5G connectivity and very good internet speed.

In general, digital nomads prefer large cities in Cyprus, as they provide all the services and facilities digital nomads may need, including coworking spaces. These are: Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos. However, many individuals opt for rural areas as well. The locations vary greatly based on the type of work individuals do and their lifestyle and circumstances.

In general, foreigners opt to immigrate to Cyprus under a digital nomad visa for reasons such as:

  1. the presence of co-working spaces;
  2. good connectivity at competitive prices;
  3. quality infrastructure;
  4. a relaxed, Mediterranean lifestyle;
  5. local cuisine/cultural activities;
  6. affordable housing prices;
  7. access to schools (for those who have families with small children).

We invite you to contact our immigration lawyer in Cyprus for legal assistance on the digital nomad visa application process.