Cyprus long-term resident status after five years

Am I reading this correctly that in the next few years it is proposed that long term residents must be able pass a language test to a specific level of competence

@dvb123 Hi~ Regarding the documents, it requests rental agreement with utility bills/telephone bills,  how many bills do I have to provide? Does it request all 5 years bills, or the most recent one month bill will work? Thanks.

When we got our PR we had to provide 5 years of bills or bank statements

@Toon yes Toon the language requirement seems to be mandatory for third country nationals if they want to get the permanent residency permit after five years.

This permit seems to give the right to work while category F fast track only gives permanent residency without right to work and has no language requirement.

@liqian

This is the list of documents from the official immigration department website.

LIST OF DOCUMENTS FOR ACQUISITION OF THE STATUS OF LONG TERM RESIDENT

1. Passport valid at least for two years and copies of the pages which show the stamps of arrivals and departures from the Republic

2. Valid Residence Permit in the Republic

3. Stamped (by Stamps Commissioner) contract of employment.  In case of self-employment, a written statement of self-employment is required with description of the intended job and declaration of the expected

4. Certificates of academic and vocational qualifications, confirmation of previous experience and vocational/professional permits/licenses, officially translated

5. Income tax returns for the last five years and tax clearance certificate

6. Statement of social insurance contributions for the last five years

7. V.A.T. returns for the last five years and tax clearance certificate (for employment in self-owned companies or self-employment) 

8. Bank accounts statements

9. Certificates of income and income declaration from sources other than employment, if necessary

10. Title of ownership or contract of sale and proof of payment or rental agreement accompanied by utility bills (telephone, electricity, water)

11. Certificate of Criminal Record

12. Health Insurance Policy Certificate

13. Certificate of knowledge of the Greek language (level A2) for foreigners and basic elements of Cyprus contemporary political and social reality

@Toon Hi~ Thanks for your reply~ So without bills, the bank statement can work as well? Since I have no bills (all bills are paid by my landlord and not under my name). I do have rental agreement.

Yes. ... you may need every rental agreement for the 5 years luckily we did...

They want to see that you spend money on a regular basis not just holidaying 

    Am I reading this correctly that in the next few years it is proposed that long term residents must be able pass a language test to a specific level of competence
   

    -@Toon

There might be different rules for Brits in place pre Brexit, might be worth checking it out. For those moving after Brexit, the rules are different. I know that was the case in a few countries including Austria.

@Toon Hi~ thanks for your reply. Usually how do you contact the Immigration Unit, since they don't answer the phone, and no reply to emails either. Is it better to apply by Immigration agent in this case? Thanks~

    @Toon Hi~ thanks for your reply. Usually how do you contact the Immigration Unit, since they don't answer the phone, and no reply to emails either. Is it better to apply by Immigration agent in this case? Thanks~
   

    -@liqian201503

I would drop by the office, why waste money on an agent?

Is the long-term residency another name for permanent residency?

@liqian201503

As sim has suggested go to the office they never answer phones or emails ... 

So, am I reading these posts correctly?

There's no benefit in applying for PR for a retired TCN with an S1 and they could continue renewing their TR permit each year and won't need the Greek language certification or any health insurance and will still be fully covered by GSEY?

Anything I am missing as a benefit for a TPN who holds PR?

Jim

@shotokan101 From my understanding a permanent residency permit is beneficial for somebody who wants to work for a Cyprus employer or actively work for their own business in a general manager or a specialist capacity.  Other than the hassle of renewing temporary residence permit every year, PR is not technically required for a retiree.

There is a clause that requires you apply for PR at the appropriate time and failure to do so can render one liable to a €2500 fine.

Having said that this was in place even before all the changes  but i have not heard or read of anyone being fined

@dvb123

FYI permanent residents under the 6.2 investment program are excluded from applying for the long-term resident status which effectively makes that my children will never be able to work unless they naturalize or give up the PR stutus for a work permit.

The biggest barrier to naturalization is the B1 proficiency in Greek Language.

@dvb123

Agreed! But if the government want to introduce new rules they can, but it should be from a point forward when introduced. What they have done is retrospectively introduced it to all previous 6.2 Investors who agreed on the old rules. This is a big problem for us who wanted to apply last year and this year after completing our 5 years' worth of days and now suddenly have to do 8 years' worth of days and a language test. Effectively the government can just change any agreement or contract with anyone without regard to the consequences to the people lives who have met all the requirements under the old rules.

@tabbs

HI The answer is NO! PR and long-term residency are two separate statuses. Basics are that long-term residency is 5 year renewable and PR is for life if if you at least visit the Island every two years. Long-term residency also give you the right to work where PR does not necessarily especially if you obtained PR through the 6.2 investment scheme.

@Francois Carstens

I think most 6.2 investment scheme dependent children will study Greek language in school or college or university and hopefully pass B1 level which is a high standard for an adult. A2 standard like Portugal is more doable.

@Toon

Morning, big boy. Was at the Immigration yesterday to pick up the Biometric Card. Took a toal of 35 days to get it but then again, you know about who I know. I spoke to the lady in Greek so there was no problem but understood from her that we should have a working knowledge of the language. As to how far they impose this on the old timers I dont know.Anyways, all done and dusted for me. can travel Europe at ease. Charles.

@SimCityAT

Have NEVER used an Agent. Always go there by myself for anything I have wanted and behold have always got it. Yesterday, walked in collected my Biometric card, took all of 5 mins. (35 days from application) Had a nice chat with the lady (know her) and then onwards.

@charles533

Nobody needs a working knowledge of greek for Residency my friend.....well not yet anyway .. For citizenship yes ... Why she said that I have no idea ...however.it is a good idea for residents to learn something to help integrate and local Cypriots do appreciate it and you can have fun with it

I am in somewhat of a quandary with regards the pink slip visa and then a yellow slip visa

Here is why

I am contemplating getting a pink slip visa next year BUT

At the same time I am trying to obtain an Irish Passport as I have just confirmed I had an Irish Grandmother and am awaiting her birth certificate and the other birth and death and marriage certificates so that I get myself registered ---  waiting time for this is a year plus I understand

So in all likelihood  I could be in Cyprus on a pink slip visa for over 6 months before I managed  to obtain an Irish Passport ---- THEN  I would presumably be better off to go for a yellow slip visa

Can this be done ?

Or would I be better off waiting for the Irish Passport to arrive and then land in Cyprus , rent an apartment , open a Cyprus Bank account , go to the local immigration office and show them my passport and ask for a yellow slip visa. ?

Presumably I could do this myself , and would then need some tax advice/see a lawyer to become a tax resident.

Have I got the order of things correct ?

My main concern at the moment is making sure I stay a non domicile

thanks

Gordon

You can and would be non domicile for the first 17 years...after that... not..

Just reference residency I've got a current residency card for 10 years what's the process for renewal do you need to go through the full process again ?

@jonathonkennard

Is it 6.2 category F fast track ?

Article 18 (4) of agreement 2019/c 384

Ukw3

Consider the possibility of being refused acceptance of an S1 for Gesy if you go down the Irish passport route - as you are registered in Cyprus as Irish citizen and thus the U.K. has no obligation to pay under the Cyprus/UK nhs agreement

A friend in Portugal under a similar arrangement has found this out to his cost and now facing an large medical hospitalisation bill for treatment

@telf

Wow didn't know.that..is it peculiar to Portugal

The DWP/NHS seeks information about your immigration status from the country requesting payment (S1 verification check)

An immigration status check is being made as NHS-funded hospital treatment is only free of charge to people who are ordinarily resident in the UK or have exemptions (S1)

Plus:

If you receive *both a pension from the country you now live in and your UK State Pension, you cannot get an S1 form. This is because the country you live in will be responsible for your healthcare.

(*how the withdrawal agreement impacts this I am trying to find out)

Many thanks telf

I had not considered the S1 aspect

And it seems to be a major consideration

Unless Labour stop it of course which seems a distinct possibility

On a yellow slip with an Irish passport can one obtain a route to GESY ?

telf

Active member

Today 12:32:16

#29

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Consider the possibility of being refused acceptance of an S1 for Gesy if you go down the Irish passport route - as you are registered in Cyprus as Irish citizen and thus the U.K. has no obligation to pay under the Cyprus/UK nhs agreement

A friend in Portugal under a similar arrangement has found this out to his cost and now facing an large medical hospitalisation bill for treatment

Mmmm

Just asked Mr Google and

AI Overview

Yes, if you are living in Cyprus with a yellow slip and an Irish passport, you can obtain GESY (the General Healthcare System) as the yellow slip confirms your legal residency in Cyprus, which is a requirement for accessing GESY healthcare benefits; essentially, holding a yellow slip as an EU citizen allows you to register with GESY like a Cypriot citizen would.

Key points to remember:

Yellow Slip meaning: The yellow slip is a registration certificate for EU citizens living in Cyprus, granting them the right to reside and access services like GESY.

Eligibility for GESY: As an EU citizen with a yellow slip, you are eligible to register with GESY and access healthcare services in Cyprus.

Registration process: You will need to provide your yellow slip when registering with GESY.

So is what Google says correct ?

No i don't think it's 100% correct. You can get GESY on acquiring 5 yrs legitimate residency

OR

GESY access is available to those citizens who are legitimately resident in Cyprus,and work and pay into the GHS system via social contributions. You cannot currently pay voluntary contribution.

OR

You are legitimately resident.and have a form of healthcare entitlement from your homeland that is valid here in Cyprus ..

That would normally be the form S1 from UK for a UK Citizen who is a pensioner in receipt of a state pension...combined with the white medical card as yiu need both to register . That may well include Northern ireland. . Not sure about Eire

I say this as upto 2020 when we were both EU nationals had yellow slips since 2014 got PR yellow slips in 2019 and had to maintain healthcare cover privately until my wife got her pension in 2018 and thus I got an S1 and white medical card on the back of hers ...as her husband...

Caveat .    Things change

Note .. it only requires one state  pensioned person in a married couple to have the form S1 as the other non pensioned person can get their S1 entitlement and white medical card on the back of the pensioned person ..but when the non pensioned person gets their own pension they must then apply for their own s1 and their own white medical card if you don't have both GESY cannot be accessed

How does the spouse who is not of UK state pension age get the white card on the back of their partner?

@phildraper

Simple...pensioner with S1 gets in touch with DWP and ask for spouses S1 then once you've got that it's a trip to the Citizen Service Centre with both your documents to apply for spouses name to be added to the white medical card.

That's what we did

telf and Toon

So if I get an Irish Passport and then come to Cyprus and apply for a 5 year yellow slip for myself and my Civil partner

I would have to take out private Health Insurance for both of us for 5 years

Then I could apply for permanent residence and likewise my civil partner along with asking/applying for us both to get onto GESY

Is that correct ?

Can anyone recommend some Health Insurance providers that cover over 75's please.

And presumably this could be arranged very soon after getting the yellow slip

Should i still ask for S1's for both of us ?   or wait till I get the Yellow Slip and then get the S1's which I guess would be valid for the first year but not after

We have got Global NHS cards for both of us so I guess we would be OK till we got a Yelloew slip ?

Get your S1s for both of you as soon as you have a Cyprus address as they will only issue them when you.are able to give a Cyprus address.

Your S1s are valid for life or at least until its changed and I doubt that's going to happen anytime soon

As an Irish passport holder and thus an  EU national a yellow slip never had an expiry date..unless that has changed????maybe the more recent ones do.... But once you've had your yellow slip or Indeed an annually renewed pink slip for 5 years the holders are obligated to apply for permanent residency with proof of 5 years residency by way of bills and or bank statements to prove day to day living spend/expense here.

Bear in mind thousands upon thousands of EU nationals are here on an meu1 without ever applying for permanent residency.. it's a pretty safe bet that there are very few checks made on EU nationals right to stay.. .TCNs definitely do get checked

I would say get your irish passport asap as it makes sense and it makes life and residency so much easier