The Cyprus retirement visa is the Category F permit, open to non-EU nationals only. You qualify with a secure income from abroad of at least EUR 9,568 a year, plus EUR 4,613 per dependant, and no work in Cyprus. You apply in Nicosia, and the permit is permanent from grant but lapses after two years' absence.
- Non-EU nationals only. Category F is for third-country nationals; EU, EEA and Swiss citizens rely on free movement instead.
- Income, not investment. You need at least EUR 9,568 a year from abroad, plus EUR 4,613 per dependant, from pensions, dividends, fixed deposit interest or rents.
- Permanent from grant. The right has unlimited validity, the card is replaced every ten years, and the Mirabello Golden Retirement Index rates the route Golden at 75.4 out of 100.
- One visit every two years. There is no minimum stay, but the permit lapses after two years' absence from Cyprus.
- Tax follows tax residence. Once you are a Cyprus tax resident, you may elect each year to pay 5% on the part of a foreign pension above EUR 5,000.
- One office, one fee. Applications go to the Migration Department in Nicosia with a EUR 500 fee, and no official processing time is published.
What is the Cyprus retirement visa?
The Cyprus retirement visa is the Category F immigration permit: permanent residence for non-EU nationals who have a secure income from abroad and will not work in Cyprus. Category F asks for no investment, deposit or property purchase. You prove an income of at least EUR 9,568 a year, and that income stays yours.
Category F rests on regulation 5(f) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations of 1972, made under the Aliens and Immigration Law (Cap. 105). The Immigration Control Committee examines each application and the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection decides. The grant is discretionary: regulation 6(5) gives no absolute right to a permit.
In the Mirabello Golden Retirement Index, Category F is the only route in Europe rated Golden, with 75.4 out of 100 and confidence grade B. A golden retirement visa is a residence permit, not citizenship, with no investment required. Our Cyprus Category F route page gives the full overview; this guide answers the practical questions.
Who qualifies for Cyprus Category F?
Cyprus Category F suits a non-EU national who lives on a secure annual income from abroad, does not intend to work or run a business in Cyprus, and can keep a home on the island, owned or rented. Your spouse and your children under 18 can be included as dependants, and each one adds to the income test.
- Nationality: third-country nationals only; EU, EEA and Swiss citizens rely on free movement instead.
- Income from abroad: secured and at your full and free disposal; pensions, dividends from shares, fixed deposit interest, rents and similar income all count.
- No work in Cyprus: you may not engage in any business, trade or profession in Cyprus while you hold the permit.
- A home in Cyprus: owned or rented; a rental agreement is accepted in place of a title of ownership.
- Dependants: your spouse and children under 18 (regulation 8); parents are not dependants.
The criteria offer no savings or deposit alternative to the income test, although income earned on capital, such as dividends or deposit interest, counts. If you live mainly on capital, compare the routes in our guide to a retirement visa without a pension. Whether remote work for a foreign employer fits the no-work condition is not yet officially confirmed, so we check it before you apply.
How much income do you need for the Cyprus retirement visa?
The Cyprus retirement visa requires a secure annual income from abroad of at least EUR 9,568 for the applicant, plus EUR 4,613 for each dependant, according to the Migration Department's Immigration Permits page (read 13 October 2026). A couple applying together therefore needs at least EUR 14,181 a year.
| Household | Minimum annual income | How it adds up |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant alone | EUR 9,568 | The applicant amount |
| Applicant and spouse | EUR 14,181 | EUR 9,568 plus EUR 4,613 |
| Applicant, spouse and one child under 18 | EUR 18,794 | EUR 9,568 plus twice EUR 4,613 |
| Applicant, spouse and two children under 18 | EUR 23,407 | EUR 9,568 plus three times EUR 4,613 |
The amounts are the former CY£5,600 and CY£2,700 converted to euro, set by administrative policy rather than written into the Regulations; the Greek version of the page gives EUR 9,568.17 and EUR 4,613.22. You submit original Cyprus bank account statements with the file, but no rule requires the income to be transferred to Cyprus or spent there.
Is Cyprus Category F permanent residence?
Cyprus Category F is permanent residence from the day it is granted: the right has unlimited validity for you and your adult dependants, so there is no renewal cycle. The residence card itself expires ten years after issue and is replaced, and the permits of minor dependants run until they reach 18.
Its renewal category is "never: permanent from grant", and other routes with the same feature are compared in our guide to retirement visas with permanent residency from day one.
Permanent residence is not citizenship. Category F gives you the right to live in Cyprus, not a Cypriot passport, and whether years on Category F count as legal residence towards naturalisation is not yet officially confirmed. Our guide to residency versus citizenship explains the difference.
How often must you visit Cyprus to keep Category F?
Cyprus Category F sets no minimum stay, but the permit ceases if you are absent from Cyprus for two years or acquire permanent residence in another country (regulation 6). In practice, a holder keeps the permit by returning to Cyprus at least once in every two-year period and by not taking permanent residence elsewhere.
A second rule applies at the start: if you live outside Cyprus when the permit is approved, you and your dependants must take up residence in Cyprus within one year of approval, or the permit ceases. How the loss rules apply to a holder who keeps a main home abroad is not documented, so we plan your travel pattern with you before you file. Our guide to residency without relocating compares the stay rules of other routes.
How is a foreign pension taxed if you retire to Cyprus?
A foreign pension is taxed in Cyprus only once you become a Cyprus tax resident, and Cyprus then taxes your worldwide income. A pension for services rendered outside Cyprus can be taxed at a flat 5% on the part above EUR 5,000 a year, by annual election, instead of at the normal rates of 0% to 35%.
The election is in section 20 of the Income Tax Law 118(I)/2002, as amended by Law 244(I)/2025. From 1 January 2026 the normal scale is 0% up to EUR 22,000, 20% to EUR 32,000, 25% to EUR 42,000, 30% to EUR 72,000 and 35% above. Whether the election lowers your bill depends on your whole income, so decide it each year with a tax adviser.
| Income | Treatment for a Cyprus tax resident |
|---|---|
| Foreign pension | 5% flat on the part above EUR 5,000 a year, by annual election, for services rendered outside Cyprus; otherwise the normal scale of 0% to 35% |
| Foreign dividends | Exempt from income tax; no special defence contribution (SDC) for non-domiciled residents |
| Foreign interest | No SDC for non-domiciled residents; the 2026 income tax treatment is not yet officially confirmed |
| Foreign rent | The normal scale of 0% to 35%; SDC on rent was abolished after tax year 2025 |
| Gains on securities and assets abroad | No Cyprus tax; the 20% capital gains tax applies only to Cyprus immovable property and shares in companies holding it |
| Wealth and inheritance | No wealth tax; estate duty was repealed for deaths from 1 January 2000 |
Non-domiciled status applies automatically, with no application, until you have been tax-resident in Cyprus for 17 of the last 20 years. Two points remain open: whether a purchased annuity qualifies for the 5% option, and how each double tax agreement allocates your pension, are not yet officially confirmed. The country that pays your pension may still tax it, as many state and government pensions remain taxable where they are paid. This is general information, not tax advice; see our Cyprus residency tax guide and our guide to countries that don't tax foreign pensions.
When do you become a Cyprus tax resident: 183 days or the 60-day rule?
You become a Cyprus tax resident by spending more than 183 days in Cyprus in a tax year, or by meeting every condition of the 60-day rule. Tax residence is a separate test from the permit: a Category F holder who meets neither test is taxed in Cyprus only on income from Cyprus, not on a foreign pension.
According to the Tax Department's page on tax residency and domicile, the 60-day rule requires all four conditions in the same tax year: at least 60 days in Cyprus; no more than 183 days in any other country; carrying on a business in Cyprus, or being employed or holding an office there; and keeping a permanent home in Cyprus, owned or rented.
The third condition sits uneasily with Category F, which bars business and employment in Cyprus. If you want Cyprus tax residence, plan on more than 183 days and ask a tax adviser before relying on the 60-day rule. See our guide to the Cyprus 60-day rule.
How do you apply for Category F with the Migration Department?
You apply for Category F to the Migration Department of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, which accepts applications only at its offices in Nicosia, in person or through an authorised representative. The fee is EUR 500 for everyone in the application, and incomplete files are not accepted, so the documents come first.
- Confirm eligibility. Check your nationality, the household income test and the no-work condition.
- Arrange a home in Cyprus. Buy or rent; a rental agreement is accepted in place of a title of ownership.
- Open a Cyprus bank account. Original Cyprus bank account statements are part of the file, with evidence of each source of income.
- Gather the original documents. You need original criminal record certificates for you and your spouse and, for applications from 1 September 2026, original medical test results for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and a TB chest X-ray. Forms and document lists are on the Immigration Permits forms page.
- File in Nicosia and pay the fee. EUR 500 covers everyone in the application, plus EUR 70 if an Aliens Registration Certificate is needed; a dependant added later costs EUR 50.
- Committee review and decision. The Immigration Control Committee examines the file and the Deputy Minister decides; the grant is discretionary.
- Settle and keep the permit. If you live abroad, take up residence within one year of approval, return at least once in every two-year period, and replace the card every ten years.
No official processing time is published for a standard Category F application, and the estimate on the Migration Department's investor page applies only to the separate investor policy, so we confirm the current timeline for your case. For a first answer at any hour, ask Mira, by Mirabello, which reads the same verified programme data as this guide.
Not sure whether your income and travel plans fit Category F? Mirabello Consultancy prepares the file, coordinates the filing in Nicosia through an authorised representative and plans your travel around the two-year rule. Book a free, confidential consultation.
How does Category F score in the Mirabello Golden Retirement Index?
Cyprus Category F scores 75.4 out of 100 in the Mirabello Golden Retirement Index, tier Golden, confidence grade B, scored from official sources on 11 October 2026 under methodology 1.1. The route takes full marks for durability and nearly full marks for presence, and loses most ground on processing, because no official processing time is published.
| Pillar | Points available | Category F |
|---|---|---|
| Tax on foreign income | 25 | 15.4 |
| Physical presence | 20 | 19 |
| Financial test | 15 | 11 |
| Durability | 12 | 12 |
| Processing | 8 | 2 |
| Healthcare | 5 | 3 |
| Family, work and travel | 5 | 4 |
| Permanent residence and citizenship | 10 | 9 |
| Total | 100 | 75.4 |
Category F meets the Golden rule of at least 70 points, a confidence grade of A or B and no fail on tax of foreign income, presence or renewal, with no reasons for caution recorded against it. Its tax score reflects the partial treatment described above, where some foreign income is taxed and some is not: a foreign pension stays within Cyprus tax once you are resident, while gains on securities abroad, and dividends for a non-domiciled resident, do not.
How does Cyprus Category F compare with other retirement routes?
Cyprus Category F is the only route in Europe rated Golden: every other European retirement route we score is Partial or not golden, while several Golden routes outside Europe are also permanent from grant. The right choice depends on where you want to spend your time, how your pension will be taxed and how often you can visit.
| Route | Tier and score | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus Category F | Golden, 75.4 | Never: permanent from grant |
| Greece financially independent person visa | Partial, 63 | One renewal, then permanent residence |
| San Marino pensioner residence | Partial, 60.5 | Never: permanent from grant |
| Panama Pensionado | Golden, 90 | Never: permanent from grant |
| Philippines SRRV | Golden, 77 | Never: permanent from grant |
| Uruguay residency for retirees | Golden, 75.9 | Never: permanent from grant |
Want the comparison run on your own pension and travel plans? Speak to a Mirabello specialist, or browse every route in our retirement and passive-income residency directory.
What do some guides get wrong about the Cyprus retirement visa?
Some guides confuse Category F with the Cyprus investor permit, or apply to retirees the tax rules written for people who work in Cyprus. Three claims come up most often, and each one is wrong for a Category F retiree.
- "You must buy property or invest." Category F needs only income from abroad and a home, which can be rented; the investment some guides quote belongs to Cyprus permanent residency by investment, a separate permit.
- "Cyprus does not tax a foreign pension." Cyprus taxes the worldwide income of its tax residents; a foreign pension is taxed at 5% above EUR 5,000 by election, or at the normal rates.
- "Sixty days a year makes you tax-resident." The 60-day rule also needs a business, employment or office in Cyprus and a permanent home there.
In summary
The Cyprus retirement visa is the only route in Europe rated Golden, and for a non-EU retiree with a secure income from abroad its terms are clear: Category F asks for EUR 9,568 a year plus EUR 4,613 per dependant, no investment and a home that can be rented, and it grants permanent residence from the start. In return you do not work in Cyprus, you return at least once in every two-year period, and you decide with an adviser whether you want Cyprus tax residence and the 5% pension election. Compare it with every other route in the Mirabello Golden Retirement Index, or read the full overview on our Cyprus Category F page.
Mirabello Consultancy checks your income, nationality, family and travel plans against the current official requirements before you apply, with Swiss precision and absolute discretion. Book your free consultation to find out whether Category F fits the way you plan to retire.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Can EU citizens apply for the Cyprus retirement visa?
No. Category F is for third-country nationals only. Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland do not need it, because free movement already gives them the right to live in Cyprus. For non-EU nationals, Category F grants permanent residence on a secure income from abroad of at least EUR 9,568 a year, plus EUR 4,613 per dependant, with no investment.
How much pension do I need to retire in Cyprus?
Category F requires a secure income from abroad of at least EUR 9,568 a year, plus EUR 4,613 for each dependant, so a couple needs EUR 14,181. The income does not have to be a pension: dividends, fixed deposit interest and rents also count. You submit original Cyprus bank statements, but no rule requires the income to be transferred to or spent in Cyprus.
Do I have to live in Cyprus full time with Category F?
No. Category F sets no minimum stay. The permit ceases after two years' absence from Cyprus or if you acquire permanent residence elsewhere, so return at least once in every two-year period. If you live abroad when the permit is approved, you must take up residence in Cyprus within one year. Spending more than 183 days a year in Cyprus makes you a tax resident there.
Is a foreign pension taxed at 5% in Cyprus?
It can be. A Cyprus tax resident may elect, each tax year, to pay a flat 5% on the part of a foreign pension above EUR 5,000, for a pension for services rendered outside Cyprus, instead of the normal scale of 0% to 35% (Income Tax Law, section 20). The election applies only once you are tax-resident, and the paying country may still tax the pension. This is general information, not tax advice.
Can I work in Cyprus on the retirement visa?
No. Category F is for people who will not engage in any business, trade or profession in Cyprus, and the condition applies for as long as you hold the permit. Whether remote work for a foreign employer fits that condition is not yet officially confirmed, so Mirabello Consultancy checks your situation before you apply rather than after.
How long does the Cyprus retirement visa take?
No official processing time is published for a standard Category F application, so we confirm the current timeline for your case before you plan a move. The estimate on the Migration Department's investor page applies only to the separate investor policy. Applications are accepted only at the Migration Department in Nicosia, in person or through an authorised representative, and incomplete files are not accepted.
Can my spouse and children join me on Category F?
Yes. Your spouse and children under 18 can be included as dependants (regulation 8), and each one adds EUR 4,613 a year to the income test. Parents are not dependants. Permits for minor dependants run until age 18, while you and your adult dependants hold a right of unlimited validity. A dependant added after the grant costs EUR 50.
Do I need to buy property for Cyprus Category F?
No. Category F requires no investment, deposit or property purchase. You need a home in Cyprus, but a rental agreement is accepted in place of a title of ownership. The investment some guides quote belongs to Cyprus permanent residency by investment, a separate permit with its own rules, and it plays no part in a Category F application.
Does Category F lead to Cypriot citizenship?
Category F gives permanent residence, not citizenship or a passport. Whether years spent on a Category F permit count as legal residence towards Cypriot naturalisation is not yet officially confirmed, so do not plan on a passport from this route alone. If citizenship matters to you, Mirabello Consultancy assesses your position against the current rules before you apply.
How do I start with Mirabello Consultancy?
Book a free, confidential consultation through our contact page. A specialist checks your nationality, income, family and travel plans against the Category F criteria, explains the tax questions to take to an adviser and, if Category F fits, prepares your file and coordinates the filing in Nicosia. If it does not, we show you the routes in the Mirabello Golden Retirement Index that do.
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