If you want to move to Cyprus from Russia you will be required to apply for a visa. All third-party nationals, which include Russian citizens, are required to comply with visa formalities for immigration to Cyprus, as per the applicable law.
The legislation provides for 2 main types of immigration formalities, established in accordance with the purpose of stay: 1) stays of maximum 90 days and 2) stays of minimum 90 days.
The main difference between the 2 is that for Russians, visa formalities must be completed in both situations, but for long-term stays (of minimum 90 days), a residence permit in Cyprus will be required. When this is the case, our immigration lawyers in Cyprus can assist you.
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Russians can relocate to Cyprus without any type of restrictions, as long as they comply with the minimum legal requirements. For short-term stays, a visa is mandatory for Russian passport holders. The following conditions must be met for those who move to Cyprus from Russia:
According to the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Moscow, Russian passport holders can’t enter any type of work arrangements in Cyprus while being in this country on a C visa.
More so, it is necessary to make the proof of already having the sufficient financial funds to sustain all the expenses throughout the duration of the visit, and to provide evidence on the accommodation arrangements, but also on the departure arrangements (the return flight ticket).
For those who arrive to Cyprus for maximum 90 days, it can’t be said that they are residing in this country, but rather that they are visiting it or staying here for other short-term purposes. Residing here implies having a Cyprus permanent residence or a temporary one, depending on the case.
As a permanent resident, at some point, depending on the particularities of a foreigner’s case, citizenship in Cyprus can also be acquired (this right is available for all foreign nationals). Persons who want to relocate here on a long-term basis can apply for a Pink Slip. The document grants the right to residency for a period of 1 year and upon expiration, the document can be renewed.
This document doesn’t grant the right to work in this country, therefore, the applicants must prepare a larger sum of money as a minimum financial requirement for the duration of the stay (the minimum is EUR 25,000). Another option for Russians who already have the sufficient financial funds to relocate to Cyprus is the Category F visa, which provides many advantages, but not the right to work.
With this document, one can stay here on a permanent basis and purchase properties. According to the latest data of the Department of Land and Surveys, Russians are the largest group of foreign nationals who acquired properties in Cyprus in the beginning of 2023, followed by Britons and Israelis.
Individuals who will relocate to Cyprus from Russia on a long-term basis need to obtain suitable residency permits, that will be issued in accordance with the purpose of the arrival (work, business, family reunification, etc.). The issuance of any immigration document, residency permits included, involves various processing fees that will be charged by local authorities.
Currently, foreigners are required to pay a fee of EUR 200 for the issuance of this document. Those who need to renew their documentation must pay the same fee (EUR 200) upon the expiration of the first permit – the renewal must be initiated in due time (prior to the end of the validity of the first document).
The Cyprus immigration law stipulates that individuals who relocate to Cyprus from Russia for employment who are the holders of a residence permit issued for work purposes, must pay EUR 200 to renew the permit, provided that they change their first employer. Another fee associated with residency appears when registering with the Aliens’ Registry (the fee is EUR 70).
According to the stipulations of the Cyprus immigration law, non-EU foreigners who move to Cyprus have the right to bring here their close family members living overseas. This can be achieved only in certain circumstances, such as the type of visa the non-EU holds and the number of years lived in Cyprus.
In general, the term family reunification refers to the close family unit of the foreigner, which is defined by the spouse and children. There are many conditions to respect in order to qualify for this type of relocation, and they apply to all foreign nationals, including individuals who move to Cyprus from Russia.
Some of the requirements refer to the residency arrangements, the financial resources of the family unit living in Cyprus, the health of those who relocate here and many others. Our Cyprus immigration lawyers can inform Russian nationals on the conditions they should abide by if they want to obtain a visa for family reunification purposes.
In certain cases, visa applications can be refused based on various grounds. The Cyprus immigration authorities will inform the applicants on the reason of the refusal, but it must be noted that the legislation grants the right to appeal the decision, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, Article 146. Our Cyprus immigration lawyers can offer legal representation.
We invite you to find out more details on the visa options you can have if you want to immigrate to Cyprus from Russia. Our immigration lawyer in Cyprus can present in-depth details, procedures and requirements on the visas that can be used for employment, family reunification or business.