Moving to Cyprus for permanent residence from Russia, reviews about emigration, how to move, pros and cons, what is important to know

Pros and cons of emigrating to Cyprus

Since the 70s, quite complex relations have been observed between northern and southern Cyprus (Turkish and Greek sides). The reason for this is the non-recognition by the Greek side of the fact that the north of the country belongs to Turkey, as well as to the whole world. However, Türkiye is sure of the opposite. Even the northern side airport receives planes exclusively from Turkish cities.

There are no international flights here. As for the southern, that is, the Greek side of Cyprus, it is officially recognized as the territory of the Eurozone. International airports located in Larnaca and Paphos serve millions of people every year and provide the advantage of legal and unhindered entry into the country.

Moving to Cyprus from Russia for permanent residence, like to any country in the world, has its own circumstances, reasons and goals.

But, for sure, the following points are relevant for everyone leaving:

• a dream come true . Once you say it out loud or even just think about life in Cyprus, a picture of a picturesque town on the sea coast immediately appears before your eyes. Few people would refuse to change gray, gloomy, cold cities to a beautiful year-round resort with stunning scenery and a warm climate, not only for a week’s vacation, but also to turn it into a place of permanent residence;
• standard of living . In Cyprus it is slightly higher than in Russia. This applies not only to the tourist cities of the island. Almost every resident of even the most remote villages, every farmer has at least 1 car and his own house. Some things that in Russia are used to talking about as elements of luxury, for Cypriots are not an indicator of wealth, but a norm of life. For example, large, spacious apartments or the presence of a swimming pool;
• climate. In winter, the thermometer rarely drops below 150C, and in summer it can reach 400C. The climate is subtropical Mediterranean. Despite the rather hot summer months, it is considered moderate and mild. In addition, there is an opinion that, due to its climate, viral infections are practically unknown in Cyprus;

  
  Many people decide to move to Cyprus for permanent residence from Russia because of the country’s climate.

• roads _ In Cyprus they are truly impeccable. All roads are perfectly straight and clearly marked, and they themselves are equipped with bollards with reflectors. Even at the turns of small country roads, traffic direction indicators are painted with reflective paint, which makes it easier for drivers to drive at night. Also, the vast majority of intersections have been replaced with roundabouts;
• cars . Their prices in Cyprus are significantly lower when compared with prices for similar brands of cars in Russia. The used car market here is quite well developed;
• nature . All year round the island offers a perfect combination of sun, sea and beaches with a beautiful mountain landscape. However, the nature of northern Cyprus is different from the southern one. A huge range of mountains separates the coast of the northern part from the main Cyprus, thereby creating a special microclimate, isolating it from strong winds and preventing sudden temperature changes;
• taxes . The tax system in Cyprus is simple. In this regard, it is one of the states where it is easiest to open your own business;
• food . There is a huge selection of food products on the shelves of any supermarket. As a rule, they are divided according to the principle of nationality of cuisines and allow you to find both those familiar to Russian and any other. Local vegetables and fruits are very tasty and, like meat, of good quality;
• education. For children it is quite affordable and of high quality. There are many English-speaking kindergartens and schools, where you can often meet Russian-speaking children;

• safety . The country's crime rates are among the lowest in the world. We can say with confidence that there is no threat to life here.

Moving to Cyprus from Russia for permanent residence does not only involve positive aspects.

There are some features that can rather be considered disadvantages:

• medical insurance . The health insurance system is different from the one we are used to in Russia. It consists in the fact that expenses are first paid out of one’s own pocket, after which the insurance company decides to reimburse these expenses;
• paid medicine . Healthcare is largely in the hands of private clinics;
• weather . The local subtropical climate is sometimes marred by sandstorms coming from Africa. They are quite dangerous for the respiratory tract. This is especially true for people suffering from asthma.

But one of the main arguments in favor of Cyprus is the attitude of Cypriots towards Russians. There are a lot of tourists, as well as permanent residents from Russia, here, and the locals love them.

Russian IT companies located on the island provide jobs to Cypriots and pay significantly more than local employers. Therefore, many residents speak Russian.

Emigration methods

You need to move for permanent residence from Russia to Cyprus after weighing all the pros and cons.

Employment

Employment in Cyprus is problematic, especially for foreign citizens. Some local organizations are prohibited from hiring foreigners, and there is a lot of competition among the indigenous population for good vacancies.

A work visa for a potential employee is issued directly by the employer. Upon arrival in the country, they pass through a specially designed corridor. Citizens of non-EU countries can officially obtain a work visa and get a job only if there are no specialists in this specialty among Cypriots.

Therefore, highly qualified specialists have an advantage.

The maximum validity period of a work visa is 1 year. Fluency in English is a prerequisite for employment. The average salary of visiting employees in southern Cyprus ranges from 800 to 2500 euros. In the north of the island, salaries are much lower, which is explained by cheaper living on the Turkish side.

Business immigration

It is impossible to obtain citizenship in northern Cyprus, but this does not prevent an emigrant from opening his own business here. This can be done, for example, jointly with a Turkish Cypriot, actually or formally. The profit from this activity is divided in half, or a notarized document is drawn up stating that he will not count on his half of the business and the profit from it.

In this case, this partner receives only a certain part of the income in return for what is considered a nominal co-owner of the company. The condition for starting a business on your own is to have a bank deposit within the country in the amount of $100 thousand.

Having an official business allows you to obtain a business visa. It serves as a kind of “investor status”, and investing money in the country’s economy is highly encouraged.

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Immigration through education. Education

The state of Cyprus is quite loyal to the issuance of long-term student visas, and the procedure for obtaining them is somewhat simpler than for other countries. Documents for receipt are submitted remotely, and the risks of receiving refusals are minimal.

The package of documents includes:

• photocopies of all pages of internal and foreign passports;
• education document;
• medical certificate;
• certificate of no criminal record;
• 2 color photographs 3.5*4.5 cm;
• bank statements or sponsorship letter;
• consent of the parents of minors.

All of them must be translated into English and officially certified both within the country and by the embassy or consulate of the foreign state in which they will be presented. The collected package is sent by the applicant to the university, after which the educational institution submits it to the embassy for review.

To fly to Cyprus, an applicant must obtain provisions for free by filling out a form on the official website of the consulate. The visa itself is placed in the passport upon arrival.

Most universities in Cyprus are accredited in Europe and the USA. A certificate of international education obtained in them makes it possible to continue studying or get a job almost anywhere in the world.

A scholarship program can help you save on higher education. Some universities offer foreigners the opportunity to receive scholarships covering up to 50% of the annual tuition fee.

There are public and private universities in the country. Higher education is available in English. The education system includes bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs.

Family reunion and marriage

Entering into a fictitious marriage for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit in Cyprus is a rare phenomenon, since the migration service carefully controls the motives of marriage relations between the local population and foreigners. If it is revealed that the spouses do not live together, the foreign citizen is deported from the country and his information is blacklisted.

According to statistics, 9 out of 10 marriages concluded between Cypriots and foreigners break up after a few years. Taking this into account, you can apply for citizenship only after 3 years have passed after its official registration.

The presence of permanently residing relatives in Cyprus gives a Russian citizen the right to immigrate for the purpose of family reunification. These relatives can be spouses, parents or children under the age of 28.

Purchase of real estate

Purchasing real estate entails the advantage of obtaining citizenship within the first months of residence in the country, as well as the possibility of having dual citizenship.

The property must be owned for at least 3 years, after which it can be sold, leaving only residential property, worth at least 500 thousand euros. The investor's parents can also become citizens of Cyprus, subject to the purchase of housing for the same amount.

Applying for an F visa

Third-country nationals who work and have sufficient income from abroad can obtain a permanent residence permit category F. Overall, this is a very convenient visa, the only drawback of which is that it does not provide the right to work. It is practically unlimited and gives complete freedom of movement.

To obtain an F visa, you must demonstrate an annual income of 9,600 euros per applicant, plus an additional 4,000 euros for each family member. On an individual basis, the migration service may also request confirmation of additional income.

Refugee

To obtain refugee status upon arrival in Cyprus, a special application form is filled out. When submitting it and all the necessary documents to the migration service, it is necessary to specifically explain the reason why living in your home country is not possible, and also, if necessary, provide evidence of this.

An issued document confirming an application to the migration service for asylum gives the right to work only in the field of agriculture and farming. Applicants for this status cannot visit their home country or the northern part of the island.

While the application is being processed, you must visit the immigration office or police on the specified days to avoid arrest and deportation.

Other options for obtaining permanent residence in Cyprus

Permanent residence is easily obtained by citizens who invest an amount of 1 million euros or more in the Cyprus economy or purchase real estate for a total amount of 300 thousand euros. Such persons can immediately count on permanent residence, bypassing the five-year period on a long-stay visa.

Permanent residence status allows you to unlimitedly cross the country's border, but if you wish, it is enough to come here once every two years and the length of stay in Cyprus is not specified.

Work in Cyprus

Those citizens who plan to work in this country should know that it is very difficult to get a job in Cyprus. In order to qualify for any well-paid position, you must confirm to the employer your uniqueness as a specialist and prove that there are no professionals of this level in Cyprus.

After this, a contract is concluded and a Cyprus visa (residence permit) is issued for a period of one year with the right to extension.

All registration is the responsibility of the employer, so no one will contact a mid-level employee. A prerequisite for getting a job is a good knowledge of English.

Since the official language in Cyprus is Greek, knowledge of it will be a big plus when applying for a job. The government of the country is interested in top-notch specialists, and computer scientists and high-level programmers enjoy a special status here.

A doctor with a narrow and rare specialization can also count on a highly paid job and the loyalty of the migration authorities when obtaining permanent residence status.

Emigration through marriage

As one of the options for obtaining permanent residence in Cyprus, you can consider marriage with a resident of the country, but in order to obtain this status, you must have lived in marriage for at least three years and have serious evidence that this marriage is not fictitious.

Study in Cyprus

It should be borne in mind that many options for moving for permanent residence to another country in Cyprus are not entirely convenient. For example, obtaining higher education in Cyprus is quite expensive and the administration of higher educational institutions prefers to accept Cypriots than residents of other countries.

Therefore, enrolling in universities on this island is not very popular among Russians. It is believed that the level of teaching in educational institutions in Cyprus, despite advertising, is much lower than the level of teaching in other EU countries.

In many countries, universities have been operating for hundreds of years and are initially focused on accepting not only their compatriots, but also a large number of foreign applicants.

This fact is not advertised, but employers in other countries have a somewhat wary attitude towards graduates of Cypriot educational institutions. If two specialists apply for one position, one of whom has a diploma from the University of Cyprus, and the other with a diploma from a Prague or Madrid university, then preference will be given to the second applicant.

Frederick Institute of Technology

Applying for an F visa

The most convenient option for obtaining a residence permit followed by obtaining permanent residence status (PR) is a visa category “F”. This visa, also called a pensioner visa, is issued to citizens of third countries, including Russia, that are not members of the European Union.

This document gives its owner the right to permanently reside in Cyprus, but prohibits working and receiving money for it. That is, an applicant for a visa of this category must be financially secure. To obtain an F visa you must have the following:

• Bank account in the amount of 20 thousand euros;
• Regular income regularly received from abroad of at least 1 thousand euros per month;
• Insurance policy issued by a Cyprus company;
• A notarial deed confirming the presence of your own real estate or a lease deed for a period of one year;
• Additional documents.

The administrative system of Cyprus is quite unpredictable, since there have been cases where citizens with 10 thousand euros in their account received what they wanted, while those with 25 thousand euros were denied. The same applies to the amounts of monthly receipts.

Officially, a pensioner must receive at least 1 thousand euros per month, but in reality he may be refused without explanation, because the principle here is that the more, the better.

If the applicant has an insurance policy issued by a company in another country, it will only be considered as an additional one by the Cypriot immigration authorities, and the main policy will need to be taken out from a Cypriot company.

Stages of immigration to Cyprus from Russia

Moving to Cyprus for permanent residence from Russia occurs in several stages. First you need to get provisions. This can be done via the Internet, without leaving home, by downloading an application form on the official website, filling it out and sending it by email, to which the provisions will be sent within 24 hours.

It gives the right to a one-time visit to Cyprus to those arriving exclusively from the territory of the Russian Federation for a period not exceeding 90 days. Although the southern side of the island is a member of the European Union, it does not belong to Schengen territory, therefore, you cannot visit it with a single-entry Schengen visa.

To fly to the northern part from Turkey, you do not need a visa.

Upon arrival, the border service does not put stamps on the passport, limiting itself only to entering data about those entering its own database. But this visit to the country is rather illegal and may cause difficulties in crossing the checkpoint with the southern side.

Next, you need to decide on the grounds for immigration and prepare the documents corresponding to them for directly contacting the migration authorities with an application for a residence permit. To obtain indefinite permanent residence, the period of residence in the country must be at least 5 years.

And after 2 years after its registration, subject to certain conditions, you can count on receiving a civil passport. But, as mentioned above, buying real estate, getting married or participating in an investment program significantly shortens the period after which you can obtain citizenship.

What do you need to move to Cyprus? Algorithm of actions

To move to Cyprus, you need to go through several stages:

1. Obtain provisions that give you the right to a one-time visit to the republic. You can apply for it online. To do this, you need to download the form from the official website of the migration service, fill it out and send it to the address indicated on it. The provision will be issued within 24 hours. With it, you can enter the country only from the territory of the Russian Federation and stay there for no more than 90 days.
2. If you have a reason to emigrate to the island, you do not need to obtain provisions. You can immediately begin collecting the necessary documents and applying for a visa at the embassy.
3. After this, you must submit an application for a residence permit to the Cyprus Migration Service.
4. After living in the country for 5 years, you can apply for permanent residence.
5. After another 2 years, you can apply for the status of a citizen of Cyprus.

Requirements for foreigners

A person wishing to move to Cyprus must meet the following requirements:

• Be over 18 years of age.
• Have enough funds to live in this republic.
• Have no criminal record.
• Fluent in English, Greek or Turkish.

An exception is made if a Russian, Ukrainian or Belarusian comes to the country under a family reunification program in order to marry a citizen of Cyprus or for the purpose of education.

List of required documents

The list of required documents depends on the reason for moving to Cyprus. You will definitely need:

• citizen's passport and international passport;
• visa photographs;
• a bank statement indicating the amount held in the account;
• certificate of good conduct.

Depending on the reason for entering the country, you may be asked for the following documents:

• diploma, certificate and other documents on education and qualifications;
• an employment contract concluded with a Cypriot employer;
• documents confirming enrollment in an educational institution;
• a marriage certificate translated into Greek, certified by a notary;
• invitation from a relative;
• property rights papers;
• other.

If you enlist the help of specialists, they will prepare the documents. All you have to do is control the entire process.

Applying for health insurance

Medical insurance is mandatory. It must be issued in Cyprus. It’s easy to apply for it; just contact the insurance company with your passport and a document indicating your place of residence. The minimum cost of insurance is 150 euros, and you can get it in 1-2 days without undergoing a medical examination. The insurance period is 1 year. It covers outpatient treatment up to 1,700 euros, and in case of hospitalization - 13,000 euros. An immigrant's insurance policy must include a provision for transporting the body to the home country in the event of death.

Required documents

The list of documents required to obtain a residence permit is compiled in accordance with the intended method of immigration.

The main package includes:

• statement;
• copy of international passport;
• a copy of the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
• copies of birth and marriage certificates;
• medical insurance;
• 4 photographs (3.5*4.5 cm);

• certificate of no criminal record;
• a certificate from a local medical institution confirming the absence of certain diseases;
• a certificate confirming an annual income of at least 30 thousand euros per applicant;
• a document confirming the grounds for granting a residence permit.

To obtain citizenship, the following documents are submitted:

• a notarized application signed by three guarantors;
• copy of international passport;
• 2 photographs (3.5*4.5 cm);
• postage stamps worth 8.54 euros;
• a copy of a valid residence permit;
• document confirming residence in Cyprus for 7 years.

Individually, a certificate from your place of work and a document on education may be required. The cost of state duty for the provision of services is 500 euros.

Procedure for obtaining permanent residence

Obtaining a permanent residence permit in Cyprus, provided the right steps are taken, should not present any particular problems. It is not surprising that the fabulous island has become one of the most popular places for immigration of compatriots. In order to legally live in the Republic of Cyprus, you must go through the following stages of moving:

1. obtain a residence permit;
2. purchase real estate;
3. permanently reside in the territory of the state for 5 years.

An official permit for permanent residence is issued for 5 years, but can be extended in the future without any problems, unless, of course, the citizen has problems with the law.

List of documents and which institutions to submit them to?

Once in Cyprus, a foreign citizen is required to submit an application to the office of the Cyprus Immigration Department. In addition, an applicant for permanent residence must prepare the following basic package of documents to obtain a temporary residence permit:

• a valid original passport and photocopies of its pages;
• four correct color passport size photographs on a white background, without corners;
• documentary evidence of ownership of Cypriot real estate or a long-term rental agreement;
• statement of financial transactions on bank accounts. Credit organizations can be under either Cypriot or foreign jurisdiction. The law does not define when the bill should be. It should place at least 15 thousand euros per person;
• provide two-year bank guarantees. The time is kept from the time the application is submitted;
• Availability of health insurance with a minimum coverage of 30 thousand euros.

You will also need documents that serve as the basis for obtaining a residence permit.

All documents issued outside the territory of EU member states must be translated into English or Greek, and then the documents must be notarized.

If the applicant intends to grant a residence permit to his family members as well, he will need to complete the following additional documents:

1. Marriage certificate for spouses;
2. Birth certificate for children;
3. Four recent passport size color photographs for each family member;
4. Proof of the family's financial security. The amount required is 10 thousand euros for a spouse and adult children and 5 thousand for minor household members;
5. Medical insurance for all family members.

After 5 years, you can submit the following documents to obtain permanent residence

• original passport and photocopies of its pages;
• residence permit document;
• an extract from one of the Cypriot banks indicating the presence of at least 30 thousand euros;
• autobiography;
• document on the right of ownership of residential real estate;
• confirmation of no criminal record in the Fatherland;
• medical insurance;
• marriage and birth certificates;

Attention! Immigration officials may request additional documents from an applicant for permanent residence, so the applicant must be prepared to provide them.

When they can refuse

The following circumstances may be the reason for refusal to grant a residence permit or citizenship:

• presence of an outstanding criminal record in any state;
• incomplete set of documents or incorrect execution;
• unreliability and fictitiousness of the information provided;
• entry into the territory of Northern Cyprus through Turkey;
• the presence of diseases dangerous to others;
• violation of local laws;

• insufficient financial support.

Refusal of a residence permit: reasons

Sometimes it is possible to refuse to obtain resident status in Cyprus. According to the legislation of the country, it is not subject to appeal. But you can eliminate the reason for the refusal and resubmit the papers.

Among the reasons leading to the refusal:

• submission of an incomplete package of documents;
• an attempt to obtain a residence permit by dishonest means;
• violations of the law;
• insufficient financial assets;
• identified connections with enemies of the Republic of Cyprus - for example, entry into Northern Cyprus through Turkey.

Prices in Cyprus

Food expenses

An abundance of organic and affordable vegetables and fruits are available on the island all year round. Their prices are not very high, but other products will cost slightly more than in Russia.

Average prices for basic food products are as follows:

Fare

Public transport on the island is well developed. You can easily get to any point by bus or taxi, and Aeroexpress trains run to and from the airport.

The cost of a bus ticket depends on the type of ticket. They can be single or multiple, valid for one day or week, and also depending on the type of route - urban or intercity. Ticket prices range from 1.5 euros for a single day trip to 63 euros for a weekly pass. For children under 6 years old travel is free.

The price of an Aeroexpress ticket is 8 to 15 euros, depending on the direction. Children - 4 -5 euros.

An individual transfer from the airport will cost at least 50 euros. In this case, the passenger will be met from the plane with a nameplate and will be helped with luggage. A taxi ride costs about the same.

Communal expenses

Utility prices here are quite high. This applies to electricity, the Internet, and mobile communications. At the same time, gas is quite accessible, since it is produced here. Payment for water supply occurs according to meter readings and additionally includes a small fixed amount. A small family living in an apartment pays about 30 euros per month for water supply.

Since electricity is limited by the small size of the island, most of which is generated by fuel oil stations, electricity tariffs are quite high. One family costs about 100-150 euros per month for electricity alone.

The need to heat living quarters occurs only a couple of months a year. But, since the island is very hot in summer, air conditioning has to be used. Heating and air conditioning can cost about 1,500 euros per year. Subscription fees for Internet and telecommunications services are about 50 euros per month.

Each household is charged an annual fee of 100 euros by the municipal authorities for waste collection. And residents of residential complexes, in addition, jointly pay for pool cleaning services, a gardener and bills for maintenance and lighting of common areas.

Moving with a child

One of the important points when moving to Cyprus with a child is, perhaps, the environment. Many local beaches are marked with a blue flag, there is no industry, you can always go to the mountains and breathe clean air while walking through the forest.

The attitude of Cypriots towards children is very friendly, as is the atmosphere in general. There is a relaxed, friendly atmosphere here, there is no rudeness or aggression. After all, the emotional and informational background in which a child grows up is very important.

Relocation program

In 2021, there have been some changes to the Cyprus citizenship investment program. Applications are now accepted by agents included in the state register, and applicants, the number of which cannot exceed 700 people per year, can be invited for interviews. The processing time for relevant applications ranges from 3 to 6 months.

Also, more stringent requirements for reliability have been established for investors, and they also pay all the costs of checking it. In addition, a restriction has been introduced on the purchase of secondary housing, and licenses and certificates have been introduced for companies and agencies involved in submitting applications.

Moving to Cyprus for permanent residence from Russia not only provides the opportunity to live in a beautiful corner of the globe. Immigrants have the right to obtain a Schengen visa in a simplified manner. To maintain your status, it is enough to visit the country once every 2 years. It is not necessary to be on its territory all the time.

Author: Nadezhda Ukraeva

Article design: Oleg Lozinsky

Job

Another answer to the question of how to go for permanent residence in Cyprus is to get a job here by invitation. But we must take into account that the situation on the labor market here is difficult. Typically, this method of moving to Cyprus for permanent residence from Russia is implemented by very valuable personnel. The whole point is that a foreigner is invited to work if it has been proven that the same professional cannot be found in Cyprus. You can find a job on the Internet yourself on local websites, but you need to send your resume to employers who have indicated that they are ready to accept foreigners.

After it has been proven that there are no candidates for this position in Cyprus, the employer responds to the resume with an invitation. Then an agreement is drawn up, and then a residence permit is issued for a period of 1 year. However, the right to extension is retained. The advantage of this way of further acquiring permanent residence in Cyprus for Russians is that all worries about obtaining a residence permit are assigned to the employer. For this reason, local employers will only try to find a specialist who is worth it.

It is imperative that in order to move to Cyprus for permanent residence from Russia in this way, you need to have a high level of command of the English language. Since the official language in the country is Greek, knowledge of it will be a great advantage.

Highly qualified programmers, as well as doctors with narrow specializations, are most valued in this island state. They can count on a prestigious job, high wages, as well as loyalty from the authorities when moving.