Investment Programmes

About Cyprus

Cyprus is situated in the north-eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea at the crossroads of three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and has an estimated population 830.000. Greek Cypriots form by far the largest ethnic group, accounting for almost 80 percent of the population. Turkish Cypriots, British, Russians, Armenians, Maronites and other ethnic groups make up the remaining 20 percent.

Cyprus became an independent sovereign republic in 1960 with a presidential system of government. In 2004, Cyprus became a member of the European Union. Cyprus has set-up a tax system which is ideally suited both to inbound and outbound investors. It resulted in aligning Cyprus with EU directives, abolished all distinctions between international business (formerly "offshore") and local companies as from 1 January 2003 whilst maintaining a favourable tax regime for the international investor.

Cyprus is known for its beautiful Mediterranean beaches and is home to many historical monuments, included in UNESCO's World Heritage List. Cyprus ranked 58 out of 144 countries in the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Index of 2014-2015. Measures implemented to reboot the country's economy and to secure a better quality of life for residents.

Permanent Residency by Investment

The Cyprus Permanent Residence Permit has been in existence for a number of years, and the requirements, as well as the process, have been amended to become simple. The Cyprus government has introduced recently a new procedure for granting the permit to applicants who are third-country nationals and intend to invest in Cyprus.

The tax burden on residents is low when compared to other countries. Although residence permit holders are not allowed to be employed in Cyprus, they are entitled to be a shareholder and receive income from the dividends of a company registered in Cyprus, and subsequently benefit from a low corporation tax of just 12,5% on net profits and 0% tax on dividends for non-tax residents.

The authorities aim to grant the permit within two months from the date of submission. According to the provisions of Regulation 6(2) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations, the permit may be granted to third-country nationals who fulfill the following criteria:

(a) purchase of one or more properties in Cyprus, with a value of €300.000 (plus VAT)
(b) provide a clean criminal record certificate issued by the authorities of the country of origin
(c) provide a statement of no intention to work in Cyprus, and
(d)  visit Cyprus at least once every 2 years

There are many foreign families who decide to move permanently to the island to take advantage of the warm weather, high standard of living and EU residency, or might be their preferred jurisdiction through which to conduct international business.