Cyprus · Startup Visa
Cyprus Startup Visa for Non-EU Founders
Cyprus runs a capped Startup Visa scheme for founders from outside the EU and EEA. The Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy judges each venture on innovation, and the current scheme runs until December 2026.
- Startup route
- Cyprus Startup Visa
- Minimum capital
- No fixed minimum; innovation score or EUR 1M revenue
- Permanent residence
- 5 years for long-term resident status
- Citizenship
- 7 of 10 years plus 12 months; Greek at B1
Cyprus Startup Visa
Status: Valid until December 2026; up to 150 visas can be issued
The scheme lets talented entrepreneurs from third countries enter, live and work in Cyprus to establish, operate or relocate a startup with high growth potential. An individual track serves a sole founder, while the team track accepts up to five non-EU nationals: founders only, or at least one founder plus senior executives. In both tracks the applicants must own at least 25% of the company's shares. Under the practical guide issued in December 2024, a positive evaluation grants three years of residence and economic activity, renewable for at least two more years if the company passes a growth review. DMRID approval is only the first stage, because entry and residence permits are issued separately by the Migration Department.
- Scheme deadline
- Valid until December 2026
- Cap
- Up to 150 visas under the current scheme
- Initial right
- 3 years of residence and economic activity
- Processing time
- DMRID decision within 5 weeks of a complete file
- Team size
- 1 founder, or a team of up to 5 non-EU nationals
- Government fee
- EUR 120 entry and residence permit; EUR 70 registration
- Leads to
- Long-term residence if the startup is judged successful
Requirements
- Every applicant is a national of a country outside the European Union and the European Economic Area.
- The company is an innovative startup: an unlisted small enterprise up to five years old that has not distributed profits or been formed through a merger.
- Applicants together own at least 25% of the company's shares, in both the individual and the team track.
- Category A startups (pre-revenue or under EUR 1 million) need a business plan scoring at least 3 per criterion and 15 out of 20 from independent evaluators.
- Category B startups need audited revenue of at least EUR 1 million and R&D of at least 10% of operating costs in one of three prior years.
- All application documents are submitted in English.
How to apply
- Prepare the Annex I application form with a business plan built on the Annex II guidelines, or the Annex IV auditor certificate for Category B.
- Send the complete application by email to the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, using the address on its gov.cy service page.
- Receive a Notification of Initial Approval, issued within five weeks of a complete submission when the evaluation is positive.
- From abroad, apply within six months to a Cyprus consulate or the Migration Department; from inside Cyprus, apply to the Migration Department within one month.
- Give biometric data, pay the permit fees and wait about three weeks for the Migration Department to examine the residence file.
Evaluation, hiring and the renewal review
Category A files go to two independent evaluators who score the business plan against published criteria, and a plan that passes with only one of them goes to a third. Applicants turned down with an average above 12 out of 20 may resubmit once with a revised plan that answers the evaluators' comments. Once approved, a team can add members up to the five-person limit at any time within the three years. The company may also hire up to five foreign employees without prior Department of Labour approval if each earns at least EUR 1,500 gross a month, and up to ten more once it shows investment of at least EUR 150,000 in Cyprus.
Two months before the residence permit expires, the founders can ask the Deputy Ministry to assess whether the startup has succeeded. The review looks for growth of at least 15% in revenue or investment of at least EUR 150,000, shown in audited accounts; a contribution such as three new jobs in Cyprus, a place in a local incubator or accelerator, or a new product launch; and recognized digital skills certificates held by the team. A positive review brings a Notification of Final Approval. After a negative one, the Migration Department tells the founders to regularize their stay on another basis or leave.
Questions and answers
Is the Cyprus Startup Visa still accepting applications in 2026?
Yes. The Migration Department has announced that the scheme was renewed and is valid until December 2026, and the official practical guide caps it at 150 visas. Applications still go first to the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy. Founders planning to apply late in 2026 should confirm with the Deputy Ministry whether the scheme will continue after that date.
Is there a minimum investment for the Cyprus Startup Visa?
The current practical guide sets no minimum capital figure. Category A applicants instead pass an innovation assessment of their business plan, while Category B applicants show audited revenue of at least EUR 1 million and R&D spending of at least 10% of operating costs. The later residence stage has its own fees and document checks at the Migration Department.
Can family members join a startup founder in Cyprus?
Yes. The guide gives the family members of approved founders and senior executives an immediate right of residence and a right to family reunification. Spouses of founders and senior executives can enter the labor market on the same terms and conditions as the sponsor, so a couple can both work while the company is being built.
How long does a Cyprus Startup Visa decision take?
The Deputy Ministry approves or rejects a complete application within five weeks. The Migration Department then answers the entry or residence application within about three weeks of complete submission. Applicants already in Cyprus as visitors must first ask in writing to change their status, a request the department reviews within five weeks.
Official sources
- Apply for a Cyprus Startup Visa - Gov.cywww.gov.cy
- Startup Visa - Migration Departmentwww.gov.cy
- Cyprus Startup Visa Scheme - Practical Guide (DMRID)www.gov.cy
Reviewed October 2026. Immigration rules change often. Confirm the current requirements with the official authority or a licensed adviser before applying.
Your path in Cyprus.
Startup visa
DMRID approval of an innovative startup; scheme open until December 2026
02Temporary residence
Residence and work permit from the Migration Department, renewed while approved
03Permanent residence
Long-term status after 5 years, or a EUR 300,000 investor permit
04Citizenship
Naturalization after 7 of 10 years plus 12 months, with Greek at B1