Your role in the company
A genuine qualifying role, relevant academic qualifications or at least two years of relevant experience, and an employment contract of at least two years are required.
FIC · COMPANY FORMATION
Your company, your residence plan
Our route starts with establishing your own Cyprus company and a €200,000 paid-in capital contribution. After FIC registration, the company supports your application for temporary residence and work permission in a qualifying skilled role.
Company capital contribution
€200,000Actual funding for company establishment and FIC eligibilityMinimum gross salary
€2,500per month for your qualifying company roleResidence status
The application is for temporary residence and work permission. A permit may be issued for up to three years, depending on the contract, and renewed while the conditions continue to be met.
Operating budget
Budget separately for premises, payroll, social contributions, accounting, insurance and professional fees. The company capital contribution is not the total cost of the residence arrangement.
COMPANY & OPERATIONS
Establish and fund your FIC
Plan your ownership structure, business activity and funding together. Company incorporation, FIC registration and your personal work permit are separate stages, each with its own requirements.
Incorporation and ownership
Set up your Cyprus company and document its shareholders and ultimate beneficial owners. The ownership structure must meet the FIC registration criteria, with the third-country majority-ownership category assessed for this founder route.
Paid-in company funding
Transfer at least €200,000 from abroad into the company’s account with an eligible licensed credit institution. Keep the remittance and balance evidence required for the FIC application; the qualifying investment must have been made within the preceding six months and remain in place at submission.
Premises and registration
Arrange business premises separate from a residence, prepare the business profile and your proposed skilled role, then apply to the Business Support Center (BSC) for FIC registration.
The official €200,000 criterion concerns an actual initial investment for business operations. Our service uses paid-in company funding; merely recording nominal or authorised share capital is insufficient. Plan for the policy’s 30% Cypriot/EU staffing requirement over five years; the ratio for new hires is reviewed after 2 January 2027, with individual assessment where unmet.
YOUR FAMILY
Family & ongoing residence
Plan company operations, your family’s applications and actual residence together. Dependants follow their own eligibility and permit conditions.
Family applications
A qualifying spouse and minor children may apply under family-reunification rules. Marriage, age, custody, resources and documentation must be checked.
Spousal employment rights
Qualifying spouses or civil partners may access salaried employment subject to single-permit conditions. This is not a general right to self-employment.
Company and residence maintenance
Keep company operations, your qualifying role, payroll and permit documentation current. Review changes in the business, prolonged absences and a child reaching 18 in advance.
Official family rules (Greek) · Permit and renewal procedures
CONATUS MOBILITY
From company formation to residence
We coordinate your €200,000 company-funding route, FIC registration, personal permit and family arrangements. Our written agreement defines the service scope.
01 · Establish and fund
Assess the ownership structure, business plan and your role; coordinate incorporation, account-opening documentation and capital-contribution evidence.
02 · Register and apply
Prepare FIC registration, your qualifying employment contract, and the entry, work-residence and family applications.
03 · Operate and maintain
Track company compliance, payroll, permit renewals and family milestones, alongside residence records, language preparation and future naturalisation eligibility.
RESIDENCE & CITIZENSHIP
From your FIC company to citizenship
Founders working in a qualifying skilled role in their own FIC may be assessed under Article 111B(2). Company ownership and funding alone do not meet the residence, language or employment conditions.
B1 Greek
3 + 1 years3 years of prior residence + the final continuous 12 monthsA2 Greek
4 + 1 years4 years of prior residence + the final continuous 12 monthsThese are residence requirements for applying—normally a total of 4 or 5 years—not a guaranteed citizenship date. The prior 3 or 4 years must fall within the 10 years preceding the final 12-month period.
Residence and absences
The final 12 months must be lawful and continuous; total absences of up to 90 days do not interrupt this period. For the preceding qualifying period, absences of up to 90 days per year are disregarded under the special rule. Keep complete travel and residence records.
Employment and other conditions
At least two years of employment with a qualifying company are required before applying; qualifying highly skilled employment must also exist at submission and examination. Greek certification, the Cyprus civic-knowledge test (at least 60%), good character, suitable accommodation, stable resources and an intention to reside in Cyprus also apply.
Family and examination
Eligible family members must independently meet the residence and language requirements. The optional accelerated examination carries a €5,000 fee and an official maximum examination period of eight months; it does not waive eligibility or guarantee approval.
QUESTIONS & CLARITY
Common questions
Understand the company, funding and residence requirements together.
Is €200,000 only a registered-capital figure?
Our company-formation route requires actual paid-in funding. FIC registration examines the initial investment and its supporting evidence; nominal share-capital registration alone does not satisfy that requirement.
Does forming the company automatically secure residence?
Company incorporation and FIC registration are followed by a separate personal application. Your role, qualifications or experience, salary and employment contract must meet the skilled-employment conditions. The resulting permit is temporary residence and work permission.
Do I have to buy a home?
This route uses capital contributed to your own company. It does not require a €300,000 home purchase, but suitable personal accommodation and separate business premises are still needed.
Can I obtain citizenship after three years?
The B1 route requires three years of prior qualifying residence plus the final continuous 12 months; the A2 route requires four years plus the final 12 months. Employment, language and other conditions also apply.
How long does the work-permit application take?
The published examination target is one month for a complete application. Company registration, entry arrangements, missing documents and family applications have separate steps; an end-to-end completion date is not guaranteed.
Let’s start with your plans.
Discuss your company formation, capital contribution and family residence plans with us.
Policy sources
Reviewed 23 September 2026. Based on the published official conditions linked below; individual eligibility and decisions are assessed by the authorities.
Conatus Mobility is an independent consultancy, not a government body. This page is not individual legal, tax or investment advice. Approval, timing and returns are not guaranteed. Illustrations present destinations, not properties offered for investment or official endorsements.