All nationals of the Member States of the European Union have the right to move freely within the European Union and to enter and reside in any EU Member State. This right to freedom of movement is guaranteed by Article 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU).
EU and EEA Citizens entering Cyprus to work or stay or remain as visitors for more than 3 months need to register for a Residence Certificate for EU citizens.
The Application type and forms are different for European Union Citizens and their family members who are not European.
EU Residence Certificates offer the following categories:
EU1
Citizens of the European Union and their family members who are also citizens of the European Union apply under the EU1 status. The Residence Certificate is issued immediately or within a maximum of 5 days. It is issued directly from the Migration/Immigration Department in the city that the applicant resides. The Residence Certificate is issued once and does not expire.
EU2
Non-European family members of the European citizen apply under the EU2 status. Although the application of Non-EU family members is submitted to the Migration/Immigration Department in the city that the applicant resides, much like the EU1, it’s issuance is not simultaneous as it is further forwarded and examined by the competent authority.
This Residence Certificate which is now considered to be a Residence Permit has a validity of 5 years and upon expiry, the applicant can apply for the renewal.
Once the application is submitted, the applicant is allowed to stay, work and re-enter Cyprus if he travels with the receipt of submission of the application.
EU3
This is the permanent residence status for an EU citizen and their family members regardless of their origin country.
EU citizens living in Cyprus for a continuous period of 5 years are eligible to apply for a Permanent Residence Certificate, which will confirm their right to permanently live in the country.
The EU Citizen family members who are not citizens of an EU Member State will need to apply within one month before the expiration of the validity of their Residence Permit to obtain a permanent residence. The application under EU3
Permanent Residency is submitted to the Migration/Immigration Department in the city that the applicant resides, much like the previously mentioned EU1 and EU2 and it’s issuance is further forwarded and examined by the competent authority.
The validity of the EU3 Permanent Residency Certificate can be affected by absences longer than six months in a year. However, military services, maximum 12 consecutive months of absence for important reasons such as pregnancy, childbirth, serious illness, study or vocational training will not affect the validity of the Certificate. In case of absence of more than two consecutive years, the right of permanent residence will be lost.
The information provided by CRS is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or formal/ega/ advice. You should not act or refrain from acting based on any information provided above without obtaining legal or other professional advice.