Civil Registry and Migration Department: appointments, addresses and timelines

The Civil Registry and Migration Department in Cyprus (CRMD) is the name most people still use for the offices that issue residence permits, register EU citizens and handle naturalisation; it is also called the Cyprus immigration office or migration office. For years one office, the Civil Registry and Migration Department (CRMD) of the Ministry of Interior, handled both residence permits and civil records. The name is still widely used, and some official pages still mention it, but the work is now split:

• Migration Department, part of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection: entry permits, residence permits (pink slips), registration of EU citizens (yellow slips), permanent residence, long-term resident status, Blue Cards and digital nomad permits.
• Ministry of Interior, Civil Registry: passports and ID cards for Cypriots, and Cypriot citizenship by naturalisation.

If you are a foreigner applying to live in Cyprus, your office is the Migration Department or its district units.

If you live outside Nicosia district, you file at the Police Aliens and Immigration Unit of your district. The Nicosia central offices serve people from other districts only through an authorised representative whose office is in Nicosia.

Some applications are examined only at the Nicosia central offices, wherever you live:

• Immigration Permits (permanent residence, including Category F) and long-term resident status;
• companies of foreign interests, EU Blue Card, intra-corporate transfers and shipping companies;
• digital nomads and the start-up visa;
• entry permits for students and researchers;
• family reunification of non-EU nationals.

City guides with the local office, booking and documents: Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos.

Nicosia central offices. An appointment is needed only for Immigration Permits (categories A–F and Regulation 6(2) for investors), long-term resident status, renewal of the permanent residence card and the student service point. You request it by email to the addresses on the department's appointments page. Everything else, including other submissions, biometrics and collecting your card, is first come, first served.

District units. You email the unit of your district for an appointment at least one month before your permit or visa expires. Send one request per family with each person's name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, date of last arrival, alien registration number, permit expiry date and a local phone number. The reply comes within five working days.

Status by SMS. Send STATUS followed by your application number (it is on the fee receipt) to 1199. Each SMS costs €0.034.

Some permits can be renewed on gov.cy with a verified CY Login account, without a visit:

• remunerated employment and domestic work: from 60 to 30 days before expiry;
• staff of companies of foreign interests: from 90 to 30 days before expiry;
• long-term residents and family members of long-term residents and foreign-interest company staff: from 90 to 30 days before expiry.

From 1 January 2027 renewals in these categories with the same employer are accepted only online. The online service does not cover family members of Cypriot or EU citizens. Visitor permits (pink slips) and digital nomad permits are still renewed in person. See permit renewal help.

• Yellow Slip (MEU1): within one month; €20.
• Visitor permit (Pink Slip): usually within four months; €70 permit plus €70 first registration in the Aliens' Register.
• Digital nomad: 5–7 weeks; €70 plus €70.
• Companies of foreign interests: within one month; €70 entry and permit, €80 renewal, €70 first registration.
• Standard employment permit: within four months; €120 entry and permit, €130 renewal, €70 first registration.
• EU Blue Card: within 90 days.
• EU family member residence card (MEU2): within six months.
• Long-term resident status: 6–12 months; €30.
• Immigration Permit (Category F): no time stated; €500 per application plus €70 per person.

All times assume a complete file. An incomplete file is not accepted or takes longer.

Every document must be in Greek or English, or come with an official translation by a sworn translator or by the issuing country's authorities. Public documents from Hague Convention countries need an apostille; others need consular legalisation. Copies must be certified the same way as originals. Some EU documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, are exempt under EU Regulation 2016/1191.

• Going to Nicosia without a representative when you live in Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos or Famagusta.
• Booking a district appointment too late. Ask at least a month before your permit or visa expires.
• Bringing documents without apostille or translation. The file is turned away.
• Missing the online renewal window, which closes 30 days before expiry.
• Moving house without updating your address. Decisions are sent by post.

Most delays come from incomplete files and missed windows. We check your documents and prepare the file; a licensed advocate submits it, in Nicosia or in your district, where a representative is required, and we keep you updated on the dates. Start with Pink Slip help or Yellow Slip help. CyprusPermit is not a law firm or a government body.