Tax incentives and access to the European business market
Download the guide Calculate the costPermanent residence in Cyprus can be obtained by investment in real estate or securities worth at least €300,000.
Permanent residence holders may not pay taxes on global income, including dividends and capital gains. The country also has no inheritance tax, low income and property tax rates.
The Cypriot jurisdiction is one of the best places to register the tax residency of an international business or open a new company. This is because the corporate tax rate in the country is only 12.5%.
After 5 years of living on the island, a permanent resident can obtain Cypriot citizenship and travel without visas to 170+ countries, including the European Union and the UK.
There is no tax on global income and inheritance, rates of property and income taxes are low. The corporate tax rate is one of the lowest in Europe — 12.5%.
Prices on Cypriot real estate grow by 1-4% every year. The same yield is applied to leases of residential property.
Permanent residence is issued for life and is passed on to children. 5 years after receiving permanent residence, its holder can apply for Cypriot citizenship and become a full citizen of the European Union.
Unlike many other investment immigration programs, applicants for permanent residence in Cyprus can buy a share in a local business, open their own companies or transfer operating companies to the island’s jurisdiction.
Cyprus has been included in the list of developed economies by the IMF since 2001. According to the Human Development Index, Cyprus ranks 31st in the world. The island has the lowest crime rate in Europe.
Or a partner
Including children from previous marriages
With physical or mental disabilities
An investor can choose from several investment options of €300,000: to buy residential or commercial real estate, shares of Cypriot companies or units of local investment funds.
If the applicant has chosen to invest in non-residential property, buying or renting housing on the island will also be necessary. Again, there are no space or cost requirements.
Investments can be returned only after the permanent residence or citizenship expiration.
An investor can buy one or two new-built properties with a total value of €300,000 plus VAT. The standard VAT rate is 19%, but if the property is the only housing for investor residing, VAT is reduced to 5%. It is not possible to buy a resale property.
Immigrant Invest has its database with hundreds of reliable properties, including those at the construction stage, which our clients can buy without a commission. Our lawyers will organize a trip and accompany investors when choosing a property.
Investor | Spouses | Family of three or more people | |
---|---|---|---|
Purchase of a residential property | €300,000+ | €300,000+ | €300,000+ |
VAT The standard rate is 19%, for the only housing — 5% | €15,000+ | €15,000+ | €15,000+ |
Legal services | 1% of the transaction amount | 1% of the transaction amount | 1% of the transaction amount + €500 per each additional applicant |
Confirmation of income The annual minimum income must be deposited in a Cypriot bank account and kept for three years | €30,000+ per year | €35,000+ per year | €40,000 per year + €5,000 per each family member starting with the forth one + €8,000 per each parent |
Due Diligence | €15,000 | €25,000 | €25,000 + €10,000 per each family member over 12 years old |
Immigration submission fee | €500 | €500 | €500 + €500 per each child over 18 and each spouses’ parent |
Registration fees | €70+ | €140+ | €210+ + €70 per each family member starting with the forth one |
Medical insurance | €2,000+ per year | €4,000+ per year | €6,000+ per year + €2,000 + per year per each family member starting with the forth one |
An investor can buy one or two commercial properties with a total value of €300,000 plus VAT. The property can be new or secondary. Offices, shops, hotels or a combination worth at least €300,000 qualify as commercial properties under the option.
Investor | Spouses | Family of three or more people | |
---|---|---|---|
Purchase of a commercial property | €300,000+ | €300,000+ | €300,000+ |
VAT The standard rate is 19% | €57,000+ | €57,000+ | €57,000+ |
Legal services | 1% of the transaction amount | 1% of the transaction amount | 1% of the transaction amount + €500 per each additional applicant |
Confirmation of income The annual minimum income must be deposited in a Cypriot bank account and kept for three years | €30,000+ per year | €35,000+ per year | €40,000 per year + €5,000 per each family member starting with the forth one + €8,000 per each parent |
Due Diligence | €15,000 | €25,000 | €25,000 + €10,000 per each family member over 12 years old |
Immigration submission fee | €500 | €500 | €500 + €500 per each child over 18 and each spouses’ parent |
Registration fees | €70+ | €140+ | €210+ + €70 per each family member starting with the forth one |
Medical insurance | €2,000+ per year | €4,000+ per year | €6,000+ per year + €2,000 + per year per each family member starting with the forth one |
Equity investment in a Cypriot company that conducts business and employs at least 5 people in Cyprus.
Investments in units of Cyprus investment funds in the form of AIF, AIFLNP, RAIF.
Investor | Spouses | Family of three or more people | |
---|---|---|---|
Investment option: 1. shares of Cypriot companies; 2. units of Cypriot investment funds |
€300,000+ | €300,000+ | €300,000+ |
Confirmation of income The annual minimum income must be deposited in a Cypriot bank account and kept for three years | €30,000+ per year | €35,000+ per year | €40,000 per year + €5,000 per each family member starting with the forth one + €8,000 per each parent |
Due Diligence | €15,000 | €25,000 | €25,000 + €10,000 per each family member over 12 years old |
Immigration submission fee | €500 | €500 | €500 + €500 per each child over 18 and each spouses’ parent |
Registration fees | €70+ | €140+ | €210+ + €70 per each family member starting with the forth one |
Medical insurance | €2,000+ per year | €4,000+ per year | €6,000+ per year + €2,000+ per year per each family member starting with the forth one |
Purchase of a residential property | Purchase of a commercial property | Investments in securities | |
---|---|---|---|
Investment | €300,000+ | €300,000+ | €300,000+ |
VAT | €15,000+ | €57,000 | — |
Confirmation of income The annual minimum income must be deposited in a Cypriot bank account and kept for three years | €40,000 per year | €40,000 per year | €40,000 per year |
Due Diligence | €25,000 | €25,000 | €25,000 |
Immigration submission fee | €500 | €500 | €500 |
Registration fees | €210 | €210 | €210 |
Fee for a permanent residence card | €7,000 | €7,000 | €7,000 |
Medical insurance | €6,000+ per year | €6,000+ per year | €6,000+ per year |
Get an individual calculation for your family with all associated costs and government fees
Make an individual calculationObtaining permanent residence in Cyprus by investment takes about two months. Everything can be done remotely, so it is not necessary to fly to the island. The applicant will only need to collect documents and select an investment object.
Due Diligence is a mandatory step in any residency program for investors. Its results define whether the investor becomes a resident of the country.
To increase the chances of approval, Immigrant Invest conducts own preliminary Due Diligence.
A certified Anti Money Laundering Officer checks the investor’s documents and searches for information about him in international databases. If there is a problem, we suggest a solution, such as attaching an affidavit to the application or choosing a different program.
The check is confidential and takes only one business day. Thanks to it, the risk of rejection is reduced to 1%.
We help collect, translate and apostille documents, get medical insurance and conclude a real estate lease agreement.
We hand the documents over to our agent in Cyprus when everything is ready.
Main set of documents includes:
When buying a property, we submit documents to the Cyprus Department of Lands and Surveys of Cyprus, including an application to reduce the VAT rate to 5%. The investor transfers €200,000 and VAT to the developer.
We have our own database of properties, including those under construction. We will help you decide on the type of investment or choose a property, draw up a contract of sale and conduct a deal.
The applicant does not have to fly to the island as our agent in Cyprus can submit all the documents.
The decision to grant permanent residence is made within two months. Within a year after the approval, the investor and their family must visit the island to submit biometric data and obtain permanent residence.
Everyday life issues will remain after obtaining permanent residence in Cyprus as the investor will have to communicate with banks, the migration service and other officials. We will help to get the necessary documents and make everything go smoothly.
We collect and submit the necessary documents and take over communication with officials.
We request a tax resident status to the tax office after a standard stay in the country for more than 183 days a year or after 60 days for property owners who run a Cypriot company.
We help to choose a bank and prepare documents for opening an account.
We prepare the documents and apply if you want your parents or close relatives to move to Cyprus.
We have our database of properties, and we work directly with Cypriot developers, so you do not have to pay a commission. We help choose a region, type of real estate and suitable property, including at the construction stage. We accompany you when selecting a property and making a deal.
We conclude a contract for the management of the real estate. We undertake the preparation of housing, the search for tenants, the conclusion of an agreement, rent and taxes.
Schedule a meeting in one of the offices or online. A lawyer will analyze the situation, calculate the cost and help you find a solution based on your goals.
Yes, all investments can be returned after the expiration of the permanent residence or citizenship. If you sell securities before this time, the status will be cancelled. If an investor sells real estate, he is obliged to buy another property for the same or higher price.
The minimum investment amount is €300,000. The investor also needs to open a bank deposit of €30,000 per person, undergo Due Diligence with a fee from €15,000, pay administrative and registration fees of €570 per person, as well as the fee for a permanent residence card of €5,000 and get medical insurance. If the applicant has chosen to invest in non-residential property, then it will also be necessary to buy or rent a property on the island.
The citizenship by investment program is suspended in Cyprus. Previously, an investor could get a country’s passport by investing 2 million euros.
The owner of the permanent residence in Cyprus can become a citizen of the country after having lived on the island for at least 5 years. Additionally, they will need to confirm knowledge of the language and culture of Cyprus, as well as pass an interview at the migration service.
It is mandatory to visit the country within a year after the approval of permanent residence — to submit biometric data and receive a permanent residence card. After that, it is enough to visit the island once every two years, keep investments, and also have an income of €30,000 per person per year.
A permanent resident without tax residency may not pay tax on global income, including the one from investments: taxes must be paid only on profits earned on the island.
Tax residents must pay income tax on all their income and other types of taxes. The income tax rate depends on the income amount, e.g. up to €28,000 per year are taxable under 20%, and €60,000 per year — is under 35%.
It is not necessary to become a tax resident, even if you live in the country for more than 183 days a year.
We will select a country and status that will solve your problems, we will accompany the whole process.
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