What is the minimum income requirement for the Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa?

EUR 3,500 per month net of taxes and deductions for the main applicant. Adding a spouse requires EUR 4,200 per month (20% increase). Each dependent child adds a further 15%, or EUR 525 per month.

Can freelancers apply, or only employees?

Both can apply. A freelancer with international clients qualifies as long as income meets the EUR 3,500 monthly threshold and is not derived from Cyprus-based clients or employers.

How long does the application take?

Typically 4 to 6 weeks, though processing can extend to 2 to 3 months depending on the workload at the Civil Registry and Migration Department. Applications are submitted in Nicosia within the first 3 months of arriving in Cyprus.

Is the 1,000 permit quota per year or cumulative?

Per year. The Deputy Ministry confirmed in October 2025 that 1,000 new permits are available annually, up from the original 500 per year.

Does the Digital Nomad Visa lead to permanent residency?

No. The scheme explicitly does not offer a pathway to permanent residence or Cypriot citizenship. Nomad visa holders who want to remain beyond 3 years need to qualify under a different immigration category, such as Category F (financially independent persons).

Can a digital nomad visa holder open a Cyprus company?

The visa itself does not restrict incorporation. However, if the permit holder becomes a director of a Cyprus company that derives income from Cypriot clients, this may conflict with the requirement to work only for non-Cypriot employers. Legal advice is recommended before combining nomad visa status with a Cyprus company structure.

Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa Returns with 1,000 Annual Spots After March 2025 Relaunch

Oct 31, 2025

Visa & Residency

Read time: 3 minutes

Miriam Alonso

Cyprus reopened its Digital Nomad Visa scheme on 26 March 2025, ending a nearly two-year pause. In October 2025, the Deputy Ministry of Migration announced an expansion of the annual quota from 500 to 1,000 permits, effective immediately.

What Happened

The Digital Nomad Visa scheme was first launched in March 2022 but was suspended without formal announcement once the initial 500-permit quota was exhausted. The programme relaunched in spring 2025 with the original requirements intact. Six months later, the annual quota was doubled to 1,000 to accommodate demand from remote workers looking to establish themselves in Cyprus.

Who Can Apply

The scheme is open to non-EU/EEA nationals who work remotely for a company or clients registered and operating outside Cyprus. EU and EEA citizens already have the right to reside freely in Cyprus and are excluded from this specific permit.

Key requirements:

Minimum net monthly income of EUR 3,500 after deductions and taxes.
Employment under a remote work contract with a non-Cypriot employer, or active service contracts with non-Cypriot clients.
Valid health insurance covering hospitalisation and outpatient care in Cyprus.

Accommodation in Cyprus (rental contract or proof of ownership).
Clean criminal record from the country of origin.

What the Permit Provides

The initial permit is valid for 12 months. It can be renewed for two additional periods of up to two years each, giving a maximum stay of 3 years under the scheme. Dependent family members (spouse and minor children) can accompany the main applicant, subject to additional income thresholds: +20% per spouse or partner, +15% per dependent child.

What the Permit Does Not Allow

Permit holders may not work for or provide services to Cyprus-based companies or clients. The scheme is designed for income generated exclusively outside Cyprus. It does not create a pathway to permanent residence or Cypriot citizenship. Holders who wish to remain beyond 3 years need to qualify under a different immigration category.

Tax Implications

Digital nomad permit holders who spend more than 183 days in Cyprus in a calendar year become Cyprus tax residents. Those who qualify under the 60-day rule (fewer than 183 days in any other country, maintain a permanent home in Cyprus, and have professional or business ties to Cyprus) can also become tax residents.

Cyprus tax residency opens access to Non-Dom status for individuals who have not been tax resident in Cyprus in the previous 17 years, providing a 17-year exemption from SDC on dividends and interest income.

Source: gov.cy official announcement, March 2025; VisaHQ - quota expansion, October 2025.