Cyprus is an excellent country for settlement due to low crime rates, quality educational oppertunties, pleasant climate, and high quality of life. Are you asking yourself- Can an international student get PR in Cyprus? You have come to the right page! This blog covers everything you need to know about Cyprus PR. You will learn what is a Cypus PR called, and how can you switch from a student visa to a PR in Cyprus. You will also learn about the Cyprus PR eligibility, requirements, application process, and more. Keep reading to find out the answers.
This Blog Includes:
- Can an International Student Get PR in Cyprus? An Overview
- How to Get a PR in Cyprus As An International Student?
- Who Qualifies for a Cypus PR?
- What are the Cyprus PR Requirements for International Students?
- How Do I Apply for Permanent Residency in Cyprus?
- Where to Apply for Permanent Residency in Cyprus?
- How Much Does It Cost to Get PR in Cyprus?
- How Long Does It Take to Get PR in Cyprus?
- What is the Validity of Long Term Residence Permit in Cyprus?
- What are the Cyprus Long Term Residency Benefits?
- How Many Years Does It Take to Get Citizenship in Cyprus?
- FAQs
Can an International Student Get PR in Cyprus? An Overview
Yes. International students can get a PR in Cyprus. However, you cannot directly apply for a PR. This is because the government does not issue long-term residency permits to students. Therefore, to get a PR you have to stay in Cyprus for an additional 5 years. To get a PR you have to visit Cyprus on a student visa, get a post-study work permit, and then apply for a work and resident permit. After 5 years, you can apply for a PR. However, you will have to meet additional PR requirements.
How to Get a PR in Cyprus As An International Student?
International students can get a PR if they stay in the country for 5 years. Follow these step-by-step instructions to get a Cyprus PR.
Complete Your Education
Can an international student get PR in Cyprus? Yes. They can. However, the first step is to complete your education in the country. You can enrol yourself in a top university in Cyprus, and then travel to Cyprus on a student visa. After reaching the country you can apply for a student residence permit.
Get a Post Study Work Permit
Cypurs grants a post-study work permit for 12 months. During this permit, you can search for employment in the country. It is important to know that the post-study work permit will only allow you to seek employment. It will not allow you to work.
Get a Work and Residence permit
After you get a job you need to apply for work and residence permit. The work and residence permit is valid for 1-3 years. The exact duration will depend on the duration of your employment contract, and the type of work and residence permit. The type of work and residence permit given are as follows-
- Remunerated employment (single permit – GEN)
- Employment – other cases (non-single permit – NSP)
- Domestic work (DW)
- Seasonal work (ESW)
Choose a work and residence permit that will allow you to stay in the country for the long term. For example, a seasonal work permit or a domestic work permit will not be granted for long-term employment. Therefore, there is no point in applying for it if you are a seasonal worker.
Stay in the Country for 5 Years
You can renew your work and residence permit and stay in the country for 5 years. Thereafter, you can apply for a PR. However, to get the PR you have to meet additional requirements. The Cyrpus PR will allow you to stay in the country for 5 years, and is renewable. The PR in Cypurs is called the long-term residence permit.
Note- If you are an investor you can directly apply for an immigration permit.
Is Cyprus Good for Studying and Working for International Students?
Who Qualifies for a Cypus PR?
Can an international student get PR in Cyprus? Yes. You can get a PR if you have stayed in the country for 5 years and meet the basic eligibility criteria. That is,
Eligibility Criteria for Cyprus PR | Description |
Nationality | You must be a third-country national |
Duration of stay | Stayed for 5 years in Cyprus |
Residence Permit | You must hold a valid residence permit. Meaning, you must have stayed legally for 5 years |
Periods of Absence | Must not have left Cypus for 6 consecutive months. Moreover, your total stay outside of Cypus must not be longer than 10 months |
The following categories of people are exempted from applying for a long-term residence permit:
- You must not be a student/person residing for vocational training purposes [This means you must not be a student at the time of PR application. Students can get a PR if they stay for an additional 5 years]
- Must not be staying based on subsidiary protection other than international protection
- Must not be an asylum seeker
- An unpaid worker, domestic or seasonal worker.
- Persons subject to the 1961, 1963 and 1975 Vienna Conventions
What are the Cyprus PR Requirements for International Students?
Can an international student get PR in Cyprus? Yes. If they meet the PR requirements.The Cyprus PR requirements for international students are as follows. Note- these are just the general documents you will need.
Cyprus PR Requirements | Description |
Application form | Form (MIP1) must be filled |
Passport | Your passport must be valid for at least 2 years |
Residence permit | Your temporary residence permit must be valid at the time of application. |
Employment contract | Stamped for at least 18 months or an open-ended contract |
Clean Criminal Record | Original Certificate from the Republic. |
A Health Insurance | Health Insurance Certificate that covers all risks |
CV | Short CV of the applicant |
Academic/professional qualifications / previous experience | Translated to English or Greek |
Basic Greek Knowledge | Level A2 |
Bank Statement | Last 12 months |
Proof of income | Income proof from other sources apart from employment |
Proof of accommodation | Rental agreement |
Tax returns | For the last 5 years, and a certificate saying that you are cleared of any tax liability |
VAT Return | For the last 5 years, and a certificate saying that you are cleared of any VAT liability |
Statement of contributions | Social Insurance Fund fpr the last 5 years |
Statement of relationship (if applicable) | Marriage or Divorce Certificate. |
How Do I Apply for Permanent Residency in Cyprus?
How can an international student get PR in Cyprus? First, of all you need to stay for 5 years. Thereafter, you can apply for a PR after following the steps below:
- Fill out the application form– Download the application form from the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection (Migration Department)
- Gather the relevant documents– Gather all the documents required for the PR application.
- Submit documents- Submit these documents at the Offices of the Department in Nicosia. For this, schedule an appointment by visiting the official website of the Migration department.
- Pay PR fees– Pay the application fee at the time of submission
- Submit personal details– Photo, and biometric information after showing your passport. This can be done on the same day.
- Decision- If your application has been you will receive an approval letter. On the other hand, if your application has been rejected you will receive a rejection letter.
Where to Apply for Permanent Residency in Cyprus?
It is important to know where you can apply for PR in Cyprus. The application form can be submitted at:
Particulars | Where to Apply |
Cyprus Long-Term Residence Permit | Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection (Migration Department) |
How Much Does It Cost to Get PR in Cyprus?
Can an international student get PR in Cyprus? You can get a PR after 5 years of stay. To get a PR apart from meeting the requirements you need to pay the visa fees. The visa fees are as follows:
Particulars | Cyprus PR Application Fees |
Cyprus Long-Term Residence Permit | EUR 30. |
How Long Does It Take to Get PR in Cyprus?
Can an international student get PR in Cyprus? Yes. International students can get a PR in Cyprus after 5 years of stay. Once, the PR application is submitted it will take time to get processed. The processing time is provided below:
Particulars | Cyprus PR Processing Time |
Cyprus Long-Term Residence Permit | 6 – 12 months. |
What is the Validity of Long Term Residence Permit in Cyprus?
Cyprus offers long term residence status as PR. The validity of this permit is as follows:
Particulars | Cyprus PR Validity |
Cyprus Long-Term Residence Permit | 5 years (renewable) |
What are the Cyprus Long Term Residency Benefits?
Can an international student get PR in Cyprus? After staying in the country for 5 year the PR application can be submitted. There are several benefits of Cyprus PR. These benefits are as follows-
- You can live, study and work in the country for 5 years, and renew the permit as long as your passport is valid.
- You can travel to the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days within 180 day
- Rejoin with family members including children up to the age of 25
- You no longer have to pay tax on inheritance, global income property, etc
- Access to quality education, and healthcare facilities in the country
- You can also choose to start a business in the country
- Visiting the country once every 2 years is sufficient
- It is a pathway to citizenship
How Many Years Does It Take to Get Citizenship in Cyprus?
Can an international student get PR in Cyprus? Yes. International students can get a PR if they stay for 5 years. The PR is the pathway to citizenship. You can get citizenship in the country after 7 years of stay. You must have continuously stayed in the country for the last 12 months before applying. However, if you are a skilled worker you can apply after just 5 years of stay in the country. Cyprus offers dual citizenship. To apply for citizenship, you need to meet additional requirements like the Greek language requirement, a clear character assessment and must know the country, and its culture.
FAQs
The difficulty level is moderate. Cyprus offers post-study work visa for 12 months. Thereafter, you can apply for a work and residence permit that is renewable. However, your study time is not counted, and getting a work permit as a foreigner is not considered easy.
Yes. You can choose to invest in the country and get an immigration permit directly after meeting the requirements. Otherwise, you can choose to stay in the country for 5 years as a long-term worker and apply for a long-term residence permit which acts as a PR.
Yes. You are allowed to work. However, you can only work part-time for up to 20 hours a week. You must ensure that your work does not interfere with your studies.
Yes. You can stay in Cyprus after completing your studies. You are given 12 months to search for employment in the country after graduation.
We hope you now have the answer to your question-Can an international student get PR in Cyprus? Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or visit our visa page for more such articles. You can also connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!
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