Cyprus Nomad Visa

What is the Cyprus digital nomad visa?

It is a temporary residence permit for people from outside the EU and EEA who work remotely for an employer registered abroad, or for clients and companies located abroad. Cyprus's Migration Department, part of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, runs it under the name "Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa" scheme.

Despite the name, it is not a visa you get before travelling. You enter Cyprus first, then apply for the residence permit in Nicosia.

The scheme has a ceiling. The Council of Ministers approved it in October 2021 with 100 permits and raised the cap to 500 in March 2022. The Migration Department reopened applications in March 2025 and, in its current guidance, says the maximum number of permits remains 500.

Who can apply for the Cyprus digital nomad visa?

You qualify if you are a non-EU, non-EEA national who can work remotely using telecommunications technology, and you are either:

• employed by a company registered abroad and allowed to work from any location, or
• self-employed, providing services remotely to clients located abroad.

Neither you nor your family may work for, or provide services to, employers or clients established in Cyprus. You sign an affirmation saying so. If you are still looking for foreign work, our remote jobs board is a good place to start.

How much income do you need for the Cyprus digital nomad visa?

You need stable monthly income of at least €3,500 net, meaning after tax and social contributions are deducted. This is a higher bar than it looks, because many schemes use gross figures.

The amount rises by 20% for a spouse or partner and by 15% for each child. You prove it with salary slips showing net pay and detailed bank statements for the last six months showing steady income from outside Cyprus. If you cannot show net income directly, you sign an affirmation that your net income is not below the minimum.

How long can you stay, and can you renew it?

The first permit is valid for one year. You can renew it, and a renewed permit is issued for a maximum of two years, so the scheme covers up to three years in total.

Apply for renewal at the Migration Department at least one month before your permit expires, with updated documents. The income and insurance rules still apply at renewal.

How much does it cost?

The Migration Department charges €70 to issue or renew the temporary residence permit, and €70 for registration in the Aliens' Registry the first time you register. Medical tests, translations, certified documents and health insurance are extra.

What documents do you need?

The Migration Department's list of accompanying documents (version dated 19 March 2025) asks for:

• A passport valid for at least three months from the date you apply, and a copy of the page showing your last entry into Cyprus.
• If employed: an open-ended contract or one at least as long as the permit, your employer's confirmation that you can work remotely and not for anyone in Cyprus, the company's stamped registration certificate, its contact details and your role in it.
• If self-employed: service or project contracts at least as long as the permit, and your own confirmation that the work is remote and not for clients in Cyprus.
• Proof of income as described above.
• An original criminal record certificate from your country of origin, or from your country of residence if different.
• Original blood test results showing you do not have HIV, syphilis or hepatitis B or C, and a chest x-ray for tuberculosis, certified by a specialist doctor.
• Health insurance covering inpatient and outpatient care and repatriation of remains (known as "Plan A").
• A title deed or rental agreement for your home in Cyprus (stamped if valued over €5,000) and a matching utility bill.
• An affirmation that you and your family will not work for employers or clients in Cyprus.

All documents must be officially translated and certified.

How do you apply from Nigeria?

You cannot complete the application from Nigeria. The scheme is designed for you to arrive in Cyprus first and apply in person.

1. Gather your contract, six months of bank statements, payslips and a police character certificate in Nigeria, and arrange certified translations.
2. Check whether you need a visa to enter Cyprus. Cyprus has no resident diplomatic mission in Nigeria, only an honorary consular post in Lagos, so confirm the right application channel with the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs well in advance.
3. Travel to Cyprus. The scheme's guidance says applicants enter with a tourist visa where one is needed.
4. Rent a home, sign the lease and get a utility bill, then do the medical tests and buy health insurance.
5. Within three months of arrival, submit the application and documents at the Migration Department's central offices in Nicosia, in person or through an authorised representative, and pay the fees.
6. Give your biometrics (photo and fingerprints), either when you apply or later at the Department or the district immigration police.
7. Wait for the decision letter, which tells you how to collect the permit.

Incomplete applications are not accepted for examination, so check every item first. Premium membership includes nomad visa assistance if you would like help.

How long does processing take?

The Migration Department says examination takes between five and seven weeks. Because the scheme has a 500-permit ceiling, apply as early as you can once you arrive.

Do you pay tax in Cyprus on a digital nomad visa?

It depends on how long you stay. According to the Migration Department, if you spend more than 183 days in Cyprus in the same tax year, you are treated as a Cyprus tax resident, unless you are a tax resident of another country.

The scheme's official pages do not describe any special tax exemption for digital nomads. This is general information, not tax advice; speak to a tax adviser in Cyprus about how your foreign income would be treated.

Can you bring your family?

Yes. Your spouse or civil partner and your children under 18 can live in Cyprus for the same period as you. They need their own temporary residence permits through the same procedure, and they cannot work or carry out any economic activity in Cyprus. Remember the higher income threshold for each family member.

What to know before you move

• Time difference: Cyprus uses Eastern European Time, one hour ahead of Lagos in winter and two hours ahead from late March to late October.
• Banking: your income has to show up in bank statements as coming from outside Cyprus, so keep your salary or client payments flowing through one clearly documented account.
• Health insurance: the policy must cover inpatient and outpatient care and repatriation, for the whole permit period.
• Renting: you need a signed lease and the matching utility bill to apply, so secure housing early in your three-month window.

Comparing Mediterranean options? See Malta and Greece.