Digital nomads, as the term implies, are people who work remotely from anywhere in the world, using digital technology to perform their job.
This location-independent, technology-enabled lifestyle has been on the rise during the last couple of years, with more and more people embracing it as their new reality.
This trend has led several governments around the world to take action to fit the new reality in their legislative framework, by introducing digital nomad visa schemes in order to attract digital workers.
The Government of the Republic of Cyprus recently announced a specific visa programme, with several incentives for people who would like to take advantage of all the benefits of living on the island, while working for companies who operate outside the country. The programme aims to contribute to the transformation of the business ecosystem and the economic development of the country, by attracting talented individuals and entrepreneurs.
It is a new type of residence permit, for people who wish to live only in Cyprus but work for companies operating abroad, given especially the rapid rise of “remote working” policies adopted by a number of companies worldwide.
The beneficiaries for the digital nomad visa are third country (non-EU or non-EEA) nationals who:
It should be noted that there is an initial limit of 500 applications.
Individuals granted with a Digital Nomad residence permit will benefit from:
Within three months from his/her arrival to Cyprus, the applicant must submit an application to the Civil Registry and Migration Department, along with the required documents. The applicant can enter Cyprus with the use of a tourist visa (if applicable).
If the applicant is residing in Cyprus under a different status, he/she can submit an application to the Civil Registry and Migration Department, to obtain the digital nomad visa, provided that the relevant prerequisites are met.
The time of examination of the application is approximately 5-7 weeks from the date of its submission to the Civil Registry and Migration Department.