Self-Employed Visa in Cyprus

A self-employed visa for Cyprus, also searched as a freelance visa, freelancer visa, entrepreneur visa or start-up visa, is what non-EU nationals look for when they want to live in Cyprus and work for themselves; in Greek a self-employed person is an ελεύθερος επαγγελματίας. Cyprus has no single permit under that name. Depending on the plan, the routes are the Start-up Visa scheme for innovative businesses, a company of foreign interest that employs its own founder, or the digital nomad permit for work done for clients abroad. A business visa in the usual sense, a short trip for meetings, is something else and is not covered here.

Which route fits

• Start-up Visa. For founders, alone or in a small team, of an innovative business that is assessed and approved by the ministry in charge of research and innovation, with minimum capital and a minimum share of the company held by the founders.
• Your own company. A company registered with the Registrar of Companies that qualifies as a company of foreign interest can obtain residence and work permits for its staff, its founder included, through the Business Facilitation Unit; see business set-up.
• Clients abroad only. A freelancer whose clients are all outside Cyprus usually fits the digital nomad visa better.
• EU citizens need no permit: they obtain the yellow slip and register as self-employed with Social Insurance and the Tax Department.

How it works in Cyprus

For the start-up route, the business plan is evaluated first, then the company is set up, a bank account opened and the capital paid in, and the residence and employment permit is requested from the Migration Department. For the company route, the company is registered, meets the conditions for foreign-interest status and then applies for the permits. In both cases renewal depends on the business actually operating.

What to watch for

• The Start-up Visa conditions were changed recently, and the scheme runs for periods set by government decision; a lawyer confirms the version in force.
• Renewals look at results such as turnover, investment raised or staff hired.
• Working outside the approved activity, or for Cypriot clients on a digital nomad permit, puts the permit at risk.
• Tax registration, the tax identification code (TIC) and social insurance start once the business starts.

What a lawyer does

A lawyer compares the routes for the person's business, prepares the company documents and shareholder arrangements, assembles the permit application, files it and handles renewals and family members' permits.

Questions and answers

Is there a visa just for freelancers?

Not as such. Freelancers with foreign clients usually use the digital nomad permit; those who want local clients look at a company or the Start-up Visa.

Is a business visa the same thing?

No. A business visa is for short visits such as meetings and does not allow living or working in Cyprus.

Can my family join me?

As reported, family members of Start-up Visa holders can apply through family reunification; the conditions depend on the permit.