วันเสาร์ที่ 22 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2561

Permanent Residency and Home Buying in Cyprus

There is so much information flying around, some of which is incorrect, we hereby attempt to provide a comprehensive information on the subject:

A person from a non E.U. country can ask (not as of right) to obtain a permanent visa to stay in Cyprus if he acquires a house (apartment/house) of a cost of at least €300.000. Out of the amount of €300.000 he must prove that he has already paid the €200.000 (on application) and the rest from local (loan) funds or from abroad. The first €200.000 must come from abroad(as well as any loan repayment). This permanent residency visa may be withdrawn if the visa holder does not visit Cyprus for a period of 2 consequential years (he may visit Cyprus even for 1 day). Also the visa will be withdrawn if the applicant/visa holder becomes a permanent resident of another country (not his own). The visa holder, who has dependents (e.g. wife, under age children) who are covered by the visa, they must also visit Cyprus once every 2 years. In the event of the visa holder selling the property, the visa will be withdrawn. Periodic checks will be undertaken towards this direction. All documents submitted to the immigration department must be original and any copies must be so certified. The documents can be translated in Greek or English, must be done by the Ministry of Exterior of the country of origin or the Cypriot embassy in his country or the embassy of the foreign person in Cyprus. Applications may be undertaken by the applicant himself or his representative duly certified. Applications once approved bear a fee of €119.17 cents. The applicant's annual income must be not less than €30.000 plus €5.000 p.a. for each dependent who is covered by the visa. The ability to prove the income must come either from the income tax authorities of the country of origin, banks, where the applicant has money, contracts of rentals, share certificates etc. The €300.000 residence buying does not include VAT and/or transfer fees. The purchase of €300.000 does not refer to a single unit but to a number of units totaling €300.000, or a house of say €150.000 and other real estate such as garage, store, shop of total €150.000 - Information from the Immigration Department - Totally wrong since 3rd country nationals may not buy anything else other than a single residence. People who have real estate and meet the above criteria can apply now for the visa even if they bought the real estate some time ago. The visa applicant must deposit at least €30.000 in a local Cypriot bank for a period of at least 3 years. Any interest earned can be collected by the depositor but in no case its euro value will be less than €30.000 during this 3 year period. Dependents mean wife and children under 18 years old. Children with a higher age must apply separately and must comply with all the said requirements. The applications will be examined within the family circumstances in mind however. A visa holder cannot work in Cyprus other than through an offshore status. He is allowed however to become a shareholder of a Cypriot Co which operates in Cyprus, provided he does not work (with or without pay). Visa holders may not as of right travel to other E.U. countries without a visa from the country to be visited.

These details are very important with the increasing interest for the Cypriot permanent visa coming from various countries, but with particular interest from Chinese. According to information received, 600 Chinese have acquired property in Cyprus over the last 3 months and the application number is increasing. Care is needed however especially for the Chinese who, we understand, use "Visa Offices" in their own country from which they are charged ±€25.000/visa if the application is successful, plus €5.000 legal fee, plus 5%-10% sales commission etc. This is a con job to say the least, since the use of a local lawyer to submit an application บ้านมือสอง กรุงเทพ will not cost more than €2.500, let alone the rest

In addition, prospective new comers to Cyprus should carry out some basic due diligence with respect to titles, mortgages and the correct value. We understand that more or less an apartment/house independently of size, quality etc is duly sold at €300.000 to Chinese - a question raised by the Pafos Lands Office recently. This means that some unaware buyers have been had because the uniformity of value is not normal.

We will provide more information once we come to know and point out the misinformation which might be given by various services including, regrettably, the immigration department.


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