Permits & Citizenship
People of Cypriot origin or the foreign wives of Cypriot citizens are not regarded as foreigners.

Residence Permits
Residence permits are issued to the following providing that certain criteria are met.

Property Purchasers
Proof of foreign income to support oneself must be submitted. An annual income of CYP5.000 per person is usually considered satisfactory. Buying a property in Cyprus does not imply that a residence permit will be issued but if the Council of Ministers has given permission for the acquisition of a property an application for a residence permit may be looked upon more favourably.

Temporary Work and Residence Permits
The prospective local employer of a foreigner must submit an application for these permits, on the foreigner's behalf, to the Migration Officer together with a curriculum vita, contract of employment, copies of qualification certificates and details of work experience in the relative field. Once the permits have been issued the foreigner may enter Cyprus to take up his employment.

Immigrants
The Minister of the Interior may grant a permit only if the Immigration Control Board confirms that the applicant falls under one of the following categories and meets the necessary criteria.
(a) Farming. He possesses adequate land or a permit to acquire it and at least CYP250.000.
(b) Mining. He possesses a mining permit and at least CYP200.000.
(c) Trade. He has capital of at least CYP150.000,
(d) Retirement. He has a secure income of about CYP5.000 per person and he and hid dependants will not work.

Self-employed persons must possess academic or professional qualifications, which are in demand in Cyprus and do not crate competition to the local population.

Cypriot Citizenship
Such applications are not easily approved. However the following may submit a written application to the Migration Department.
(a) Foreigners married to persons of Cypriot origin for over five years.
(b) A foreigner who has lived in Cyprus for a concentrated ten years within a thirteen year period. However this may not be granted to IBC employees, athletes, football trainers etc if Cypriots' interests are threatened.