CyprusBusiness and self-employment

Cyprus self-employed visa: immigration permit Categories A to D

Immigration permit for self-employed persons (Categories A to D)

In short

Non-EU nationals who want to work for themselves in the Republic of Cyprus need an immigration permit, which is a form of permanent residence permit. The Civil Registry and Migration Department decides after hearing the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Commerce, and applicants must fit one of four categories, three of which require a fixed amount of unencumbered capital ranging from EUR 256,000 to EUR 427,000.

checked 24 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Permanent, unless it lapses under the conditions below.
Validity
Lapses if you do not settle within 1 year, do not start the activity, or live abroad for 2 years or more.
Funds required
€256,000Unencumbered capital for Category C (business); EUR 342,000 for Category B (mining) and EUR 427,000 for Category A (agriculture or livestock farming); Category D needs adequate funds.
Work
Self-employment in the approved activity; changes allowed if the legal conditions are met.
Path to permanent residence
The immigration permit is itself a permanent residence permit.
Where to apply
Application directly to the CRMD.

The four categories

Category A covers self-employment in agriculture or livestock farming and requires unencumbered capital of EUR 427,000. Category B covers self-employment in mining, with capital of EUR 342,000. Category C covers running a business as a self-employed person and requires EUR 256,000 of unencumbered capital in the business sector.

Category D is for people who will practise a profession or science on their own account. No fixed capital is set, but you need adequate funds, and there must be demand in Cyprus for additional members of that profession or science.

Proving the capital

The capital must be unencumbered, meaning it is free of loans, pledges or other charges, and it must match your category: EUR 427,000, EUR 342,000 or EUR 256,000. Because the CRMD also weighs the currency imported into Cyprus and the jobs created, a credible business plan and bank evidence of funds transferred or available for the Cypriot business carry weight.

For Category D the test is adequacy of funds for practising the profession together with evidence that the profession is in demand.

How the CRMD assesses the application

You submit the application directly to the Civil Registry and Migration Department, which seeks the opinion of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. The CRMD checks that the planned business will not harm the economy and looks at the type of activity, the general conditions on the labour market, the jobs the business will create and the amount of currency brought into Cyprus.

Neither a fee nor a processing time is published for this permit on the EU Immigration Portal page for Cyprus, so applicants confirm them with the CRMD before filing.

  1. Decide which category (A, B, C or D) fits your activity.
  2. Secure the unencumbered capital required for that category.
  3. Prepare a business description showing the activity, jobs created and funds imported.
  4. Submit the application directly to the CRMD and confirm the current fee.
  5. Wait while the CRMD consults the Ministries of Labour and Commerce.
  6. After approval, take up residence within one year and start the activity.

Keeping the permit

The immigration permit is permanent. It lapses if you do not take up residence in Cyprus within one year of the grant, if you do not start the professional activity, or if you live outside Cyprus for two years or longer.

You may change activity if you meet the legal conditions for the new one, and change status if all conditions are met. After five years of legal and continuous stay you are also entitled to apply for the long-term residence permit, showing stable means, health insurance and that residence was not obtained by fraud.

Appeals

Decisions on the work and residence permit can be challenged before the Administrative Court.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

  • Valid passport.

Money

  • Proof of unencumbered capital for your category (EUR 427,000, 342,000 or 256,000) or adequate funds for Category D.
  • Evidence of currency to be imported into Cyprus.

Work

  • Description of the planned business or profession, its activities and the jobs it will create.

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Study

  • For Category D: professional qualifications and proof of demand for the profession.

Frequently asked questions

How much capital do I need to be self-employed in Cyprus?

EUR 256,000 for a business (Category C), EUR 342,000 for mining (Category B) and EUR 427,000 for agriculture or livestock farming (Category A). Category D professionals need adequate funds.

Is the self-employed immigration permit permanent?

Yes. It is a type of permanent residence permit, but it lapses if you do not settle within a year, do not start working or live abroad for two years or more.

Which authorities are involved?

The CRMD decides, after seeking the opinion of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.

Can I change my activity later?

Yes, if you meet all requirements of the relevant legal provisions for the new activity.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Cyprus

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: For the duration of the full-time programme, through yearly permits.
  • Researcher visa Maximum stay: For the term of the hosting agreement, through renewable permits.
  • Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: 6 months, renewable once for the length of the training agreement.

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: Up to 4 years in most jobs; no maximum for farming, domestic work, specialty cooks, priests and tourist representatives.
  • Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: No limit on the total period of residence; renewable permits.
  • Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Up to 3 years for managers and specialists; 1 year for trainee employees.
  • Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: Up to 4 months, extendable by a further 4 months, according to the EU Immigration Portal.

Family

Residence

Protection

Cyprus visa guide