Applying for a residence permit (also known as the yellow slip) is a process which is to be completed by every EU citizen living and working in Cyprus. It is renowned for being lengthy and fastidious, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be! And once you have managed to obtain it, the permit does not expire and is valid indefinitely.
Applying for a residence permit (also known as the yellow slip) is a process which is to be completed by every EU citizen living and working in Cyprus. The procedure is renowned for being lengthy and fastidious, and doesn’t necessarily have to be! And once you have managed to obtain it, the permit does not expire and is valid indefinitely.
Note: a residence permit is not required to begin working in Cyprus, an EU national may begin work before or while the residency paperwork is still in process however the employer and employee may be fined if application for the Registration Certificate is never made.
1. To arrange an appointment you will need to visit your local immigration office, and they will need to see your passport or ID card so don’t forget it. The receptionist will give you a list with ticked items that you need to take on the morning of your appointment. Appointments are usually made a week or two in advance but this depends on the time of year and the particular office, the working hours are listed from 8 am till 12 pm Monday to Friday but they usually open around 7.30 am and it is recommended to go as early as possible to ensure a place. Eltoma can carry out this process on your behalf.
They will also give you form MEU1A to fill in. This form is for multiple family members and is straightforward to fill in, it will also need to be signed and stamped by your current employer (if applicable).
2. Gather all the relevant documentation needed to complete the MEU1 form. It is advisable to make photocopies of everything you need. Take your original documents along to the appointment too as the person dealing with your application may request to see them.
There are different documents needed for self-employed, working employees, those in retirement etc, and the official website does not state that it is required to bring tenancy agreements or contracts of sale if a home has been bought in Cyprus. However, those who have gone through the residency process often say that they were asked to produce these documents when attending the appointment. Also they may ask to see your passport again. There are differing accounts on what happens at specific offices so we recommend having everything that they could possibly ask for on hand so that you don’t encounter any problems.
You might be wondering why a yellow slip is important. Aside from being a legality, you never know when it may come in handy. A yellow slip is needed to register to vote in municipal and EU Parliamentary elections. It is worth noting that the greater number of people on an electoral list, the more funding a municipality can get for services such as a local post office. You will also require it in order to get an EU Health Card. In theory at least, someone can be fined the sum of €2,539 as per the law (Law N7(I)/2007) for not possessing a yellow slip but after further investigation it seems that there have been no recorded cases of being fined to date.
The Residence Certificate (also known as the pink slip) is the form issued to the non-EU family members of EU citizens moving to Cyprus. With this type of form the application must be made within four months of the date of entry, the link for which is below and the procedure may vary. MEU2 form.
The application forms can also be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Interior or you may request for information here by emailing: migration@crmd.moi.gov.cy
Contact the offices by telephone:
Nicosia: 22802359
Limassol: 25805200
Larnaca: 24804242
Paphos: 26806200
Famagusta: 23803020
For more information, please contact us, we have local representatives that would be happy to answer your questions or provide further guidance.
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