Brexit Implications for UK Nationals Residing in Cyprus & UK nationals moving to Cyprus after Brexit
Background
On the 31 January 2020, the UK withdrew from the EU and the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, which is legally binding for all Member States, was applied on 1 February 2020. The Withdrawal Agreement allows a transition period from 1 February 2020 until 31 December 2020.
Status for UK Citizens in Cyprus or Wishing to Move to Cyprus
The implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement means that:
- UK nationals and their family members who, have been continuously resident in Cyprus for five years, by 31 December 2020, will be eligible for permanent residence.
UK nationals and their family members, who are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement (UK nationals and their family members who have already exercised, or will exercise their free movement rights in Cyprus before 1 January 2021), will be able to continue living in Cyprus with the same access to work, study, benefits and public services that they have enjoyed up to the end of 2020, subject to the specific provisions provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement.
2. UK nationals and their family members that are already residing in Cyprus, or who arrive by 31 December 2020, but will not have been continuously resident in Cyprus for five years, will be eligible for temporary residence. This will enable them to stay in Cyprus for five years, and then they will be entitled to apply for permanent residence.
3. UK nationals who want to relocate to Cyprus after the 31 December 2020, the end of the transition period and whose rights do not fall within the scope of the Withdrawal Agreement, will need to meet Cyprus immigration rules for third country nationals.
Documentation and Procedures
UK nationals and their family members will not need to replace their pre-existing residence documents: MEU1, MEU2, MEU3, in order to obtain the new residence document that will be issued from 1 January 2021. After the transition period, UK nationals and their family members who are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, will have the right to receive, if they choose to, a new residence document which will include a statement that it has been issued in accordance with the Withdrawal Agreement.
Moving to Cyprus after Brexit
The Cyprus visa for UK citizens is the application process followed since Brexit. The applicant needs a visa to stay more than 90 days in any 180 days.
To get the visa, a UK citizen must apply through VFS Global Across the UK because the High Commission of Cyprus in the UK has outsourced the visas.
Residence Permits in Cyprus after Brexit
There are several available “visas” or residence permits, some permanent:
- The Cyprus pink slip. You must renew the pink slip annually. Under this permit, a person is allowed to live in Cyprus as a visitor (without the right to work). Also, his family members, spouse, and children (under 18 years old) can get the pink slip as dependants. The whole family applies at the same time; each family member files a separate application form and gets his temporary residence card.
- The Cyprus investor visa (Permanent Residence through Investment) is available to applicants buying property of EUR 300,000 and above and having an annual income of EUR 50,000 and above.
- The Category F permanent residence permit is available to individuals with an annual income of about EUR 15,000 for a family of two.
Category F ispopular withpensioners and retirees. Both the investor visa and the Category F permit are permanent.
Other categories:
There are also visas for individuals who enter the Republic to be employed in a company of foreign interests or who are married to or will be married to a Cypriot citizen / EU citizen in Cyprus.
Other Countries in the EU
Arrangements regarding the status of UK citizens living in EU countries, varies on a country by country basis. For countries other than Cyprus, please seek professional advice or speak to Dixcart regarding the precise status in Malta and Portugal: advice@dixcart.com.
Additional Information
Dixcart can assist with residence applications in for UK nationals.
For more information, please contact the Dixcart office in Cyprus: advice.cyprus@dixcart.com, or get in touch with your usual Dixcart contact.
