Navigating Family Reunification in Cyprus: The 2024 Guide for Foreign Employees

Family Reunification in Cyprus

General Overview and Requirements

Third-country nationals employed in companies of foreign interests as Directors or Key Personnel executives are eligible to bring their direct family members to Cyprus. In such cases, the spouse and minor children of the sponsor can legally enter and reside in Cyprus following the completion of the family reunification application process.

If a spouse secures employment in Cyprus, they can apply for an employment permit under the family reunification category, provided all legal requirements are met. Once approved, the initial permit is valid for one year from the date of issuance and can be renewed based on continued employment. For detailed information about the requirements for a Spouse Employment Permit, please refer to this article.

Requirements:

  • The marriage must have taken place at least one (1) year prior to the application. If the marriage is less than one year old, the spouse can initially be registered as a dependent visitor and apply under the family reunification program after completing one year of marriage.
  • Both the sponsor and spouse must be at least 21 years old.
  • The sponsor’s employment agreement with the foreign company must have a minimum duration of 18 months at the time of the family member’s application.
  • Only children under the age of 18-year-old can apply under the family reunification program.

Entry to Cyprus

The family members can enter the Republic with an entry permit, which is issued upon submission of the relevant application at the migration. Family members who are already legally residing in Cyprus (already entered Cyprus with a visa obtained from a Cyprus consular abroad) can also proceed with the application before the expiration of the visa.

Required Documents

Below you can find some of the required documents for family reunification application:

  • Marriage Certificate
  • Birth certificate of the child/children
  • Clean Criminal Record for the family member (not required for children under the age of 16)
  • Employment agreement of the sponsor
  • Original letter of bank guarantee issued from Cyprus bank, with validity of 10 years, covering possible repatriation. The amount of the guarantee depends on the country of origin of the applicants.

Other documents such as medical insurance, utility bill and school certificate will be required. For a comprehensive list tailored to your specific situation, please contact us directly.

Residence Permit Duration

Family members are usually granted a first residence permit of one year’s duration, or the residence permit will be issued with a duration up to the validity of the sponsor’s residence permit; however, the validity also depends on the expiration of the passport. The permit is renewable and cannot be valid beyond the date of expiry of the sponsor’s permit.

It is important to note that holders of this permit must not remain outside Cyprus for more than 90 consecutive days as this may effect in automatic cancellation of their permit.

Applications for family reunification are submitted to the Migration Department in Nicosia, regardless of the residence address of the applicant. The sponsor him/herself or a legal representative can handle the process.

We are here to assist you with every step of your application. From gathering the necessary documentation to ensuring compliance with specific requirements, our team will provide personalized support to streamline your application. Feel free to contact us at Tel: +357 22 252 774 or Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram: +357 99 988 319, marketing@altuscitadel.com.

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