Who fills it in
Non-EU founders of an approved start-up (self-employed or hired by the company), and managers and support staff hired by it. The scheme approval comes first from the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy; MSUP2 is the permit step at the Migration Department.
What goes with it
- Copy of a passport valid for at least two years from the date of application
- Notification of Initial Approval (no older than six months if you apply from abroad, one month if you are already in Cyprus)
- Company certificates from the Registrar (incorporation, registered office, directors, shareholders), levy payment and company tax clearance; not needed for self-employment
- Hired employment: original contract with a gross monthly salary of at least €850, signed, plus two stamped copies
- Self-employment: proof of at least €10,000 a year for living expenses, such as a bank statement
- Original criminal record certificate from your country of origin or residence
- Blood tests for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C and a chest X-ray, from a Cyprus government hospital or certified by a specialist
- Ten-year bank letter of guarantee for repatriation costs (self-employed) or the employer's declaration to cover return costs (employees)
- Plan A health insurance, or GESY registration plus cover for repatriation of remains
- Title deed or rental contract
- Employer's liability insurance (not for self-employment)
- After arrival on an entry permit: the original entry permit (M70) and the passport page with your last entry
- Declaration of Mailing Address
Field by field
Type of application and purpose of permit
| On the form | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Type of application Είδος αίτησης | Mark X or √ in one box: registration, entry permit and residence/employment permit; entry permit and residence/employment permit; registration and residence/employment permit; residence/employment permit only; renewal; or renewal due to change of employer (managers and support staff only). A first permit with no ARC usually needs a box that includes registration. | Registration, issue of an entry permit and issue of a temporary residence and employment permit |
| Purpose of permit Σκοπός άδειας | Tick one: Founder – self-employment; Founder – hired employment; Manager; or Support staff. | Founder – Hired Employment |
| For official use Για υπηρεσιακή χρήση | The office checks whether you are a wanted or banned person. Leave blank. | — |
Part I – Particulars of the third-country national
| On the form | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Surname(s) Επώνυμο(α) | Your surname exactly as in your passport. | EXAMPLE |
| Name(s) Όνομα(τα) | All first names as in your passport. | ALEX |
| Maiden surname Οικογενειακό επώνυμο | Your surname at birth, if it has changed. Otherwise leave blank. | — |
| Country of usual residence Χώρα συνήθους διαμονής | The country where you normally live. | CANADA |
| Date and place of birth Ημερ. και τόπος γέννησης | Date (day/month/year), then city and country. | 05/05/1990, TORONTO, CANADA |
| Nationality Υπηκοότητα | Your nationality. | CANADIAN |
| Marital status Οικογενειακή κατάσταση | Tick Married, Single, Divorced, Separated or Widowed. | Single |
| In case of a polygamous marriage, number of marriages in force Σε περίπτωση πολυγαμικού γάμου, αριθμός γάμων που είναι σε ισχύ | Only for polygamous marriages. Otherwise leave blank. | — |
| Particulars of the travel document – No. Αρ. | Your passport number. | X0000006 |
| Place of issue Τόπος έκδοσης | Where the passport was issued. | OTTAWA |
| Date of expiry Ημερ. λήξης | Passport expiry date. The documents list asks for at least two years' validity. | 04/05/2031 |
| Particulars of the last entry in the Republic – Port of entry Λιμένας εισόδου | The airport or port where you last entered Cyprus. Leave blank if you are still abroad. | LARNACA AIRPORT |
| Date of entry Ημερ. εισόδου | The date of that entry. | 02/09/2026 |
| Sex Φύλο | Tick Female, Male or Other. | Male |
| Particulars of residence permit in the Republic – ARC ΔΕΑ | Only if you hold or held a Cyprus residence permit: your ARC number. | — |
| Residence status Καθεστώς διαμονής | The type of that permit, for example visitor. | — |
| Date of issue Ημερ. έκδοσης | When that permit was issued. | — |
| Date of expiry Ημερ. λήξης | When it expires or expired. | — |
| Home phone no. Τηλέφωνο οικίας | A Cyprus landline, if any. | — |
| Office phone no. Τηλέφωνο εργασίας | Work phone, if any. | +357 22 000000 |
| Mobile Κινητό | Your mobile number. | +357 99 000006 |
| Fax no. Αρ. Τηλεομοιότυπου | Fax, if any. Most people leave it blank. | — |
| E-mail Ηλ. Ταχ. | An email address you check. | alex.example@example.com |
| Street and street number (residence address in the Republic) Οδός και αριθμός | Street name and building number, plus flat number if any. | 1 EXAMPLE STREET, FLAT 2 |
| Area (residence address in the Republic) Περιοχή | The district or neighbourhood of the address. | EXAMPLE AREA |
| City (residence address in the Republic) Πόλη | Town or city. | NICOSIA |
| Postal code (residence address in the Republic) Ταχυδρομικός κώδικας | Postcode of the address. | 0000 |
| Street and street number (residence address abroad) Οδός και αριθμός | Street name and building number, plus flat number if any. | 10 SAMPLE AVENUE |
| Area (residence address abroad) Περιοχή | The district or neighbourhood of the address. | DOWNTOWN |
| City (residence address abroad) Πόλη | Town or city. | TORONTO |
| Postal code (residence address abroad) Ταχυδρομικός κώδικας | Postcode of the address. | A0A 0A0 |
| Country (residence address abroad) Χώρα | The country of your address abroad. | CANADA |
| Correspondence address in the Republic Διεύθυνση επικοινωνίας στη Δημοκρατία | Only if it differs from your residence address: street, area, city and postcode. The collection notice for your permit is sent to the address in Part I. | — |
| Kind of accommodation where you reside in the Republic Είδος καταλύματος | Tick privately owned house or apartment, rented house or apartment, or Other (please specify). | Rented house or apartment |
| Income – Interests from deposits, shares, rents Τόκοι καταθέσεων, μερίσματα, ενοίκια | Income other than your salary, one row each; name the bank, company or type of property. Leave empty if none. | SAVINGS DEPOSIT, EXAMPLE BANK |
| Country Χώρα | The country the income comes from. | CANADA |
| Amount (€) Ποσό (€) | The amount in euro; say whether monthly or yearly. | 3,000 per year |
Part II – Particulars of the third-country national's employment
| On the form | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Name of the business or the employer Όνομα Επιχείρησης ή Εργοδότη | The start-up's registered name. Self-employed founders write their own business name. | EXAMPLE INNOVATIONS LTD |
| Employer's reg. num. Αρ. Μητρώου Εργοδότη | The company's Social Insurance employer number. | 000000000 |
| Street and street number (address of employment) Οδός και αριθμός | Street name and building number, plus flat number if any. | 5 SAMPLE AVENUE |
| Area (address of employment) Περιοχή | The district or neighbourhood of the address. | EXAMPLE AREA |
| City (address of employment) Πόλη | Town or city. | NICOSIA |
| Postal code (address of employment) Ταχυδρομικός κώδικας | Postcode of the address. | 0000 |
| Office phone no. Τηλέφωνο εργασίας | The business phone. | +357 22 000001 |
| Mobile Κινητό | A mobile contact at the business. | +357 99 000007 |
| Fax no. Αρ. Τηλεομοιότυπου | Fax, if any. | — |
| E-mail Ηλ. Ταχ. | The business email. | hello@example.com |
| Sector of economic activity Τομέας οικονομικής δραστηριότητας | What the start-up does. | SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| Position offered to the third country national (where applicable) Θέση που έχει προσφερθεί στον υπήκοο τρίτης χώρας (όπου εφαρμόζεται) | Your role. | CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER |
| Duration of the contract of employment Διάρκεια συμβολαίου απασχόλησης | The contract term. | 2 YEARS |
| Gross monthly salary or income (€) Μεικτός μηνιαίος μισθός ή εισόδημα (€) | Gross monthly pay in euro. For a hired founder the documents list asks for at least €850 gross a month. | 3,000 |
Part III – Official declaration of the employer
| On the form | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I, the undersigned ..., representing the business/company ... Εγώ ο/η κάτωθι υπογεγραμμένος/η ..., εκπροσωπώντας την επιχείρηση/εταιρεία ... | The employer's representative writes their name and the company name. They declare that the company intends to employ you and that Parts I and II are correct. | ELENA SAMPLE, EXAMPLE INNOVATIONS LTD |
| Name and surname of the employer or representative Ονοματεπώνυμο Εργοδότη ή Εκπροσώπου | Printed name of the person signing. | ELENA SAMPLE |
| Signature / Date Υπογραφή / Ημερομηνία | Signature and date. | (signature) 15/09/2026 |
Part III – Official declaration of the third-country national (only if already in the Republic)
| On the form | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Name and surname of the third country national Ονοματεπώνυμο υπηκόου τρίτης χώρας | Fill in only if you are already in Cyprus. You declare that your details and documents are true and correct. | ALEX EXAMPLE |
| Signature / Date Υπογραφή / Ημερομηνία | Your signature and date. | (signature) 15/09/2026 |
Common mistakes
- Filing before the start-up has its Notification of Initial Approval, or after it is too old: six months from abroad, one month if you are already in Cyprus.
- Ticking 'renewal due to change of employer' as a founder. The form limits that box to managers and support staff.
- Missing the seven-day deadline to register in Nicosia after arriving on an entry permit.
- Changing from visitor status without first asking the department in writing, which the scheme page requires.
- A hired founder's contract below €850 gross a month, or not stamped, against the supporting documents list.
- Going to a district office. Start-up visa applications are filed only at the Migration Department in Nicosia.
Questions
Where can I download the MSUP2 form?
From the Migration Department's start-up visa forms page on gov.cy. The file is a Word (.doc) document dated 9 March 2026, listed with the supporting documents and a practical guide.
Is MSUP2 the start-up visa application itself?
No. The scheme application goes first to the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy. Once you have the Notification of Initial Approval, MSUP2 applies for the entry, residence and work permits at the Migration Department.
How much are the fees?
The department publishes €120 for an entry permit with a temporary residence permit, €130 for issuing or renewing a temporary residence permit, and €70 for first registration in the Aliens' Register.
How long does the Migration Department take?
The form says you are told the result in writing within three weeks of a complete application.
Sources
- Migration Department: start-up visa forms page, checked 23 October 2026
- Migration Department: form MSUP2, version 9 March 2026 (Word), checked 23 October 2026
- Migration Department: start-up visa supporting documents (Word), checked 23 October 2026
- Migration Department: Startup Visa (procedure and fees), checked 23 October 2026
- Migration Department: Declaration of Mailing Address (PDF), checked 23 October 2026
- Migration Department: application submission points and biometrics, checked 23 October 2026
- Migration Department: document ratification, checked 23 October 2026
Figures checked 23 October 2026. Rules change: we confirm them for your case before you act.