Permanent residence or university in Cyprus: do you have to choose?

Go to a Cypriot university and lose the family's permanent residence, or wait for citizenship? A lawyer's advice.

The situation

A family from Nizhny Novgorod — husband, wife and their 14-year-old son Arseny — received investment-based permanent residence in 2019.

The boy finished school in Cyprus and enrolled at the European University Cyprus in Nicosia. Now he is a student and must obtain a student visa, but this automatically means losing his permanent residence status. Is it possible to study at university and keep permanent residence?

The parents turned to WhiteWins for advice.

The request

The family plans to obtain Cyprus citizenship. Holders of investment-based permanent residence can apply after 5 years of living on the island. 3 years have already passed. In 2 more years Arseny could receive a passport, but because of his studies his period of residence in Cyprus as a permanent resident will be interrupted.

Will there be problems obtaining Cyprus citizenship? Perhaps he should give up university for now?

The family plans to obtain Cyprus citizenship. Holders of investment-based permanent residence can apply after 5 years of living on the island. 3 years have already passed. In 2 more years Arseny could receive a passport, but because of his studies his period of residence in Cyprus as a permanent resident will be interrupted.

The lawyer's advice:

Under Chapter 105 of the Aliens and Immigration Law, once a young person turns 18 and studies at a Cypriot university, they cannot keep investment-based permanent residence. He must obtain a student visa, issued for 1 year with the right to extend.

By losing permanent resident status, Arseny loses the right to a passport under the accelerated 5-year programme. To apply for citizenship he must now add 4 more years on a student visa to his 3 years as a permanent resident, making 7 years in total.

There is only one way to become a student and keep Cyprus permanent residence: go to study in another country. But time spent studying abroad does not count towards the Cyprus residence period required for citizenship. So the time to a passport grows even longer, since a university course lasts at least 4 years.

The Cyprus student visa has another advantage. Arseny will be able to start preparing for adult life: students are allowed to work as employees. During term time, part-time work of up to 20 hours a week is permitted, and during holidays they can work full time. Holders of investment-based permanent residence cannot legally work.

The result

Arseny's parents were reassured that losing permanent resident status is not a disaster for their son. He will become a citizen of Cyprus in any case, and switching from permanent residence to a student visa will not stand in the way.

Life is more varied than any law. Consult a specialist to decide how best to act in your situation.

Or message us in your preferred messenger

Ask an immigration lawyer:

By clicking the "Order the service" button, you consent to the processing of your personal data in accordance with the Privacy policy

Our lawyer will contact you within two hours

Other cases