The assistance of our Cyprus immigration lawyers can be of use for natural persons who are seeking to relocate here for employment purposes, in the case of those interested in getting married in Cyprus or for those who want to invest here. Our Cyprus immigration lawyers are ready to assist foreigners in numerous legal matters.
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What are the main types of services offered by our Cyprus immigration lawyers?
Our Cyprus immigration lawyers can represent foreigners in legal matters such as:
• applying for a work permit in Cyprus, which can be issued as a general employment permit or it can be addressed to highly qualified persons;
• applying for a visa that grants the right of studying in this country;
• helping with the formalities related to the issuance of the registration certificate required for those moving to Cyprus for a period longer than three months;
• applying for a temporary residence permit, which grants the right of staying here for a period of one year;
• applying for Cyprus permanent residence – the document can be obtained after five years of residency in Cyprus;
• applying for Cypriot citizenship through naturalization or through investments;
• our Cyprus immigration lawyers can offer assistance in getting married to a Cypriot national as a foreigner;
• providing legal representation in family reunification programs addressed to foreigners.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Who can request the services of our immigration lawyers in Cyprus | The services of our Cyprus immigration lawyers are available for individuals seeking employment in this country, foreign investors, students, asylum seekers, etc. |
Legal representation for short-term stays (yes/no) | Yes |
Areas of assistance for short-term stays in Cyprus | Visa application, submitting visa documentation. |
| Legal assistance in immigration for work purposes (yes/no) | Yes |
| Assistance in obtaining a visa for business purposes (yes/no) | Yes |
| Legal assistance in family reunification programs, offered by our immigration lawyers | Advice on the applicable law, gathering and submitting the visa application for the purpose of family reunification, legal assistance in visa refusals/appeals, etc. |
| Legal representation for long-term or permanent relocation | For long-term/permanent relocation, our Cyprus immigration lawyers will help foreigners in the process of obtaining a residence permit. |
| Assistance in obtaining a permanent residence permit/citizenship | Our team will offer tailored assistance on the issuance of a residence permit (as the document is granted for various purposes, such as investment, business, family reunification, employment, etc.). For citizenship, we can advise clients on their qualification criteria (based on the type of citizenship they apply for) and we can guide them through the entire process. |
| Asylum services for refugees | Refugees in Cyprus have the right to accommodation, employment, family reunification, social assistance, education, etc. Our Cyprus immigration lawyers can offer the necessary legal support for accessing these rights. |
| Persons entitled to obtain asylum | Asylum is available for any person who fears persecution in his/her own country, based on race, political views, nationality, religion, etc. It can also be granted to persons who fear that their life is put at risk by various means (torture, degrading treatment, execution) and to persons who arrive from military conflict areas. |
| Basic immigration rules for non-EU/non-EEA citizens | Individuals who arrive from non-EU/non-EEA countries are required, in general, to apply for visas regardless of the purpose of arrival or its duration, unless exempted under a visa waiver agreement. |
| Basic immigration rules for EU/EEA citizens | EU/EEA citizens benefit from the right of free movement within the EU area, which means that they can arrive and/or relocate to Cyprus visa free. |
| Basic requirements for becoming a citizen | For citizenship by naturalization, foreigners must have 7 years of residency within the 10 years prior to the application. It is also required to have 12 months of uniterrupted stay in the year preceeding the application. For citizenship by marriage, the couple must be married for at least 3 years and the spouse applying for citizenship must have at least 2 years or residency in Cyprus prior to the application. |
| Immigration services for investment | Visa application, submission of documents, maintaining the connection with the institutions involved in the process, assistance in hiring local or foreign workforce, etc. |
| Main immigration programs for investors | The Cyprus Golden visa (residence by investment). |
When can I arrive visa free in Cyprus?
The right to arrive visa free in this country is granted to all EU and EEA nationals, who benefit from the right of free movement. Additionally, some third party nationals can arrive visa free for short-term stays – this can be the case of Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, Australia, etc., along with third-party nationals who hold diplomatic passports.
What is a short stay, according to the Cyprus immigration law?
A short stay is defined, under the Cyprus and EU laws, as a visit that has a duration of maximum 90 days in a period of 180 days (overall, a foreigner can stay in the country for up to 180 days per year). Visits longer than that enter the area of immigration, where the foreigner needs to comply with complex immigration rules – such as applying for a visa and a residence permit.
What types of visas are available for foreigners in Cyprus?
The Cyprus migration legislation prescribes several categories of visas: the airport transit, the short-stay and the national visas. Our Cyprus immigration lawyers can present the characteristics of each type of document and the requirements one must fulfill when applying for them.
The infographic below presents our immigration services in Cyprus:
What should I do if I want to arrive for employment in Cyprus?
It depends on your nationality. If you arrive here for employment as an EU/EEA citizen, you do not need to complete any immigration formalities. However, if you are a third party national, you must apply for an employment visa adequate for the type of activity you are qualified to undertake in this country. Professional assistance on the matter can be offered byour immigration lawyers in Cyprus.
Can you offer legal representation in obtaining visas for investment purposes?
It must be noted that the program requires an investment of only EUR 300,000, which can take various forms. For instance, the Cyprus immigration law allows foreigners to invest the money in residential property, therefore making it available to individuals who plan on relocating here for personal reasons. You can rely on our team of lawyers for full legal representation in the investment visa formalities.
Does Cyprus have asylum laws?
Yes, foreigners can relocate here for asylum purposes, as stipulated by theCyprus immigrationlaw. In order to benefit from the refugee/asylum seeker status, an individual must arrive from a country where his/her life is put in danger. All individuals who arrive to Cyprus, regardless of their circumstances, must apply for asylum so that they can have the right to stay on the Cypriot territory.
When should an individual initiate the visa application?
Individuals moving to Cyprusshould submit their visa applications in due time (based on the estimated date of the arrival in this country). In general, it is recommended to submit the application at least 15 days prior to the intended arrival, but the timeline is highly influenced by the type of visa required. Please refer to our immigration lawyers in Cyprus for in-depth details.
The next video presents the services of our immigration lawyers in Cyprus:
What happens when a visa application is rejected?
When an individual’s visa application is rejected, the person will be informed in writing as to why the application was declined. The Cyprus immigrationlaw permits foreigners whose visas were declined to appeal the decision within the first 75 days from the moment when the applicants were informed.
Can I leave Cyprus if my residence permit hasn’t been issued yet?
If you want to immigrate to Cyprus, you need to apply for a residence permit after your arrival. Provided that you need to travel overseas before the moment when you have been issued with your residency document, you may need to apply for a re-entry permit upon the return to Cyprus.
What should I do if I lost my residence permit?
In the case in which you have lost the document that proves you have your residence in Cyprus, it is required to inform the authorities (the police). After this, you will be issued with a new document.
What do I need to do in case my personal data has changed?
From an immigration point of view, personal data is linked to a person’s passport, so, if any of the information of your passport has changed during the time you hold an immigration document issued by the Cypriot authorities, you need to report the respective changes. In such cases, it is necessary to apply of a renewal or re-issuance of a document.
How can our Cyprus immigration lawyers help foreigners in obtaining citizenship?
Our lawyers can assist foreigners in the process of obtaining citizenship in Cyprus by naturalization. You can also rely on our team in the case in which you want to know the steps for becoming a citizen through the marriage to a Cypriot national. If you have Cypriot ancestry, you are invited to send your inquiries to our team, who can help you with the citizenship process as well.
Please contact our Cyprus immigration lawyers for more details on the types of visas available here, as well as on any other immigration services you can benefit from.
