Cyprus launches online applications for residence permit renewal
The Civil Registry and Migration Department and the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy of Cyprus have launched a digital service for renewing residence permits. We explain who can already apply online
What has changed
The Civil Registry and Migration Department, together with the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy of Cyprus, has launched an electronic system for submitting applications to renew residence permits for third-country nationals.
Through the service you can submit an application and attach the required documents online, track the status of the application, pay the fee and choose a service office. Attendance in person remains mandatory for now only at the stages of signing documents and submitting biometric data.
Once fully rolled out, the system will cover 73% of renewal applications in the categories listed below and 25% of the total number of residence permit applications in Cyprus.
Who can already apply online
At this stage the service is available for renewing residence permits in the following categories:
- temporary residence for employees, including domestic staff;
- permits for employees of foreign companies;
- permits under the family reunification programme;
- long-term residence permits (for persons with long-term resident status).
Important: this concerns only the renewal of an already issued permit. First-time applications for a residence permit in these categories still have to be made offline, through a migration service office.
Online filing does not yet work in every case
The online format for submitting immigration applications in Cyprus appeared relatively recently, so in practice the system may still work unreliably, and individual procedures may not be available online.
If your immigration programme already provides for electronic filing, this does not always mean that the whole process can be completed remotely. Be prepared that you may be asked to provide documents in person, the old-fashioned way, at the relevant migration service office.
Before filing, we recommend checking the current procedure for your specific category of residence permit.
Renewing a residence permit in Cyprus?
We will advise you and show you how to do it correctly and without risk.
This material is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
