--- title: "Cyprus Startup visa requirements 2026: 1-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/startup-visa/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Cyprus · Business / Startup # Cyprus Startup visa **First stay:** 1 yr Cyprus Startup Visa scheme Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Record corrected 11 Oct 2026](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/corrections/#change-cy-startup-visa) [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 1 yr (The Notification of Initial Approval gives the right to economic activity in Cyprus for two years, renewable for at least one more year; the residence permit is valid one year from the date of the Notification. The scheme is valid until December 2026.) - **Who can apply:** Most passports (Third-country nationals outside the EU and EEA.) - **Tax angle:** Tax relief (Non-domiciled residents outside Special Defence Contribution (17 of 20 years): Special Defence Contribution (SDC) applies only to residents who are also domiciled in Cyprus, so a tax resident without Cyprus domicile pays no SDC on dividends or interest; an individual is deemed domiciled after being tax resident in at least 17 of the last 20 years before the tax year.) ## Key facts Startup visa is a business / startup route for Cyprus. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source. - **Government fees:** €120 ≈ $130 · +2 more - **First stay:** 1 yr ## Cost, time and long term **Government fees: €120 ≈ $130 · +2 more** - EUR 120 (≈ $130) Issue of entry permit and temporary residence permit. - EUR 130 (≈ $150) Issue or renewal of temporary residence permit. - EUR 70 (≈ $78) Registration in the Aliens Register, first registration only. **Renewal: Renewable** Initial approval gives the right to economic activity for two years, renewable for at least one more year; a new application can be made three months before the end of year three. [Migration Department, Cyprus](https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/companies-investors-permanent-residence-3/startup-visa-2/) **Permanent residence: Conditions** If the company is assessed as successful, founders have the prospect of long-term residence. [Migration Department, Cyprus](https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/companies-investors-permanent-residence-3/startup-visa-2/) **Citizenship: General rule: 7 years of residence** General naturalisation rule: 12 months of legal continuous residence immediately before applying and at least 7 years of legal residence in the preceding 10 years, plus Greek at B1 level. [Ministry of Interior](https://www.gov.cy/moi/en/documents/acquisition-of-cypriot-citizenship-by-naturalization-due-to-years-of-residence-form-m127/) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant is a talented entrepreneur from outside the EU and EEA. - The startup is innovative and is established in or moved to Cyprus. - The applicant can be an individual or a team of founders. #### What you must show - Fees: EUR120 (≈ $130) for the entry permit and temporary residence permit, EUR130 (≈ $150) for issue or renewal, and EUR70 (≈ $78) for first registration. #### Steps 1. The Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy gives initial approval within five weeks. 2. The entry visa or residence application follows within 6 months if abroad, or 1 month if already in Cyprus. 3. The application is reviewed within three weeks. ## When you become tax resident How Cyprus decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **1 year at first, renewable** - **Tax residence:** - **More than 183 days in a tax year** Staying in Cyprus for periods exceeding 183 days in total in a tax year. - **At least 60 days in a tax year** 60-day rule: at least 60 days in Cyprus, not more than 183 days in any other country, carrying on business or employment in Cyprus, and keeping a permanent home in Cyprus that the person owns or rents. - **Foreign-source income:** **Non-dom (17 of 20 years)** SDC on dividends (5% for residents who are domiciled) and interest (17% for residents who are domiciled) under Law 117(I)/2002 as amended; ordinary income tax on residents continues to apply to worldwide income. - **Special regime:** **Non-domiciled residents outside Special Defence Contribution** · Tax relief [All tax rules for Cyprus](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026 **Full official text** Scheme for talented non-EU entrepreneurs to establish or move an innovative startup, approved by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy; renewed until December 2026. (source 1) #### What you must show and pay - A fee of EUR 120 (≈ $130) · Issue of entry permit and temporary residence permit. (source 1) - A fee of EUR 130 (≈ $150) · Issue or renewal of temporary residence permit. (source 1) - A fee of EUR 70 (≈ $78) · Registration in the Aliens Register, first registration only. (source 1) #### Requirements - The applicant is a talented entrepreneur from outside the EU and EEA. (source 1) - The startup is innovative and is established in or moved to Cyprus. (source 1) - The applicant can be an individual or a team of founders. (source 1) - Fees: EUR120 (≈ $130) for the entry permit and temporary residence permit, EUR130 (≈ $150) for issue or renewal, and EUR70 (≈ $78) for first registration. (source 1) - The Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy gives initial approval within five weeks. (source 1) - The entry visa or residence application follows within 6 months if abroad, or 1 month if already in Cyprus. (source 1) - The application is reviewed within three weeks. (source 1) #### Stay - The Notification of Initial Approval gives the right to economic activity in Cyprus for two years, renewable for at least one more year; the residence permit is valid one year from the date of the Notification. The scheme is valid until December 2026. - Initial permitted stay: 12 months. - Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal. #### Nationality Third-country nationals outside the EU and EEA. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia. #### Work Establish and operate the startup. #### Fine print The Migration Department page (posted 30 December 2025) says the scheme is valid until December 2026 and gives no date after that. Checked 2026-10-12 ## Official sources 1. [Startup Visa](https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/companies-investors-permanent-residence-3/startup-visa-2/) · Migration Department, Cyprus · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2025-12-30 2. [Acquisition of Cypriot citizenship by naturalization due to years of residence (form M127)](https://www.gov.cy/moi/en/documents/acquisition-of-cypriot-citizenship-by-naturalization-due-to-years-of-residence-form-m127/) · Ministry of Interior (Cyprus) · checked 2026-10-12 ## Startup visa and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Startup visa | – | 1 yr, renewable | – | | [Self-employed farm/mining](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/category-ab-agri-mining/) | Needs assets from €350k ≈ $391k | 10 yr, renewable | – | | [Self-employed trade](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/category-c-trade/) | Needs assets of ~€260k ≈ $290k | 10 yr, renewable | – | | [Self-employed profession](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/category-d-profession/) | – | 10 yr, renewable | – | | [Startup Visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/startup-visa-89-4/) Portugal | Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200 | 2 yr, renewable | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Startup visa? A fee of EUR 120 (≈ $130). Issue of entry permit and temporary residence permit. A fee of EUR 130 (≈ $150). Issue or renewal of temporary residence permit. A fee of EUR 70 (≈ $78). Registration in the Aliens Register, first registration only. ### How long can I stay on the Startup visa? The Notification of Initial Approval gives the right to economic activity in Cyprus for two years, renewable for at least one more year; the residence permit is valid one year from the date of the Notification. ### Can I work on the Startup visa? Establish and operate the startup. ### Who can apply for the Startup visa? Third-country nationals outside the EU and EEA. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia. ### Does the Startup visa lead to permanent residence in Cyprus? If the company is assessed as successful, founders have the prospect of long-term residence. The general rule for citizenship is 7 years of residence. ### Is there a tax break for Startup visa holders in Cyprus? Non-domiciled residents outside Special Defence Contribution (17 of 20 years): Special Defence Contribution (SDC) applies only to residents who are also domiciled in Cyprus, so a tax resident without Cyprus domicile pays no SDC on dividends or interest; an individual is deemed domiciled after being tax resident in at least 17 of the last 20 years before the tax year. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions. ## Tax Special regime ### [Non-domiciled residents outside Special Defence Contribution (17 of 20 years)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/tax/#tax-cy-domicile-sdc) Tax relief Foreign-source income: Non-dom (17 of 20 years) **Details** - On: SDC on dividends (5% for residents who are domiciled) and interest - Who: Tax resident of Cyprus under the Income Tax Law Special Defence Contribution (SDC) applies only to residents who are also domiciled in Cyprus, so a tax resident without Cyprus domicile pays no SDC on dividends or interest; an individual is deemed domiciled after being tax resident in at least 17 of the last 20 years before the tax year. #### Taxed on SDC on dividends (5% for residents who are domiciled) and interest (17% for residents who are domiciled) under Law 117(I)/2002 as amended; ordinary income tax on residents continues to apply to worldwide income. #### Who it applies to - Tax resident of Cyprus under the Income Tax Law. - No domicile of origin in Cyprus under the Wills and Succession Law, or domicile of choice abroad with 20 consecutive years of non-residence; deemed domicile arises after 17 of the last 20 years as a tax resident and persists until 20 years without residence. #### Exclusions - Persons with domicile of origin in Cyprus are domiciled for SDC. - Persons who reach 17 of the last 20 years of residence become domiciled and subject to SDC unless they elect the alternative in Article 3D (see “Alternative SDC: EUR 50,000 (≈ $55,900) a year (EUR 250,000 (≈ $279,000) for five years) for deemed-domiciled residents”). - Cyprus income tax on residents still applies to worldwide income under the scales in “Personal income tax scales from 2026”. #### Tax residence Tax residence is decided each year under Law 118(I)/2002 (183 days, or the 60-day rule); domicile is a separate test for SDC. Non-domiciled individuals can apply for exemption on form T.F.38. #### Visas A residence permit does not change domicile; tax residence years are what count. #### Other taxes SDC on rent and deemed dividend distributions were removed by Law 245(I)/2025 effective 1 January 2026; social insurance and GHS contributions are separate. Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/tax/) ## More in Cyprus [Digital nomad permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/digital-nomad-residence/) [PR · €300k fund units](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/invest-fund-units/) [PR · €300k new home](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/invest-new-house/) [PR · €300k commercial property](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/invest-other-realestate/) [Retiree on foreign income](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/category-f-retirement/) [PR · €300k company shares](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/invest-company-capital/) [EU Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/eu-blue-card/) [Employment offer permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/category-e-employment/) ## Business / startup visas elsewhere [🇪🇸 Entrepreneur visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/entrepreneur-visa/) [🇮🇹 Startup Hub (in-country)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/startup-hub/) [🇬🇷 Business investor permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/business-investment-b2/) [🇩🇪 Self-employed permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/self-employment-21/) [🇫🇷 Entrepreneur / freelancer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/entrepreneur-liberal/) [🇬🇧 Innovator Founder](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/innovator-founder/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-12 against 2 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Startup Visa](https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/companies-investors-permanent-residence-3/startup-visa-2/) · Migration Department, Cyprus · checked 2026-10-12 2. [Acquisition of Cypriot citizenship by naturalization due to years of residence (form M127)](https://www.gov.cy/moi/en/documents/acquisition-of-cypriot-citizenship-by-naturalization-due-to-years-of-residence-form-m127/) · Ministry of Interior (Cyprus) · checked 2026-10-12 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.