Cyprus: General Immigration

Cyprus has introduced an accelerated citizenship pathway for highly skilled foreign employees working for qualifying companies in the Republic. This framework, sometimes called the "Golden Knowledge" route, allows eligible professionals to obtain citizenship after four or five years of qualifying residence, depending on their Greek language proficiency. The regime represents a significant development for international professionals who have established their careers and lives in Cyprus.

Cyprus offers a number of residence options for non-EU nationals, but the terminology is often confusing. Clients frequently hear expressions such as “pink slip”, “temporary residence”, “permanent residence”, “Category 6(2)”...

Cyprus offers three options for non-EU nationals to acquire residence. Each of these residence routes offer the additional advantage of leading to Cyprus citizenship, as long as the relevant criteria are met.