Cyprus Startup Visa: Your Gateway to Building a Business in the EU

Cyprus is not only a beautiful island with more than 320 days of sunshine a year, but also one of the safest environments in Europe. In recent years, it has become a rising hub for startups and innovation. To support this momentum, the government introduced the Cyprus Startup Visa Scheme.

This program makes it easier for talented entrepreneurs from outside the EU and EEA to bring their ideas to Cyprus, build innovative businesses, and scale internationally.

What is the Cyprus Startup Visa?

The Cyprus Startup Visa Scheme is open until December 2026 with a cap of 150 visas. It allows entrepreneurs from third countries (non-EU/EEA) to enter, reside, and work in Cyprus to establish, operate, or develop a startup with high growth potential.

The scheme applies both to:

• Single founders

• Teams of up to five people

It supports both the creation of a new innovative startup in Cyprus or the relocation of an already established one. Applicants may transfer an existing startup to Cyprus or create a branch of their business locally.

Who Can Apply for the Cyprus Startup Visa?

The program has two main categories:

• Individual Startup Visa Scheme: Open to non-EU nationals who will act as the sole founder of an innovative startup.

• Team Startup Visa Scheme: Open to teams of up to five non-EU nationals, consisting of either all founders or at least one founder plus senior executives.

In both cases, 25% of the company’s shares must be owned by one or more applicants.

To qualify, the startup must be considered innovative. This means:

• It is an unlisted small enterprise within five years of registration.

• It has not distributed profits or been formed through a merger.

• It develops new or disruptive products, services, or processes, often technology-based.

The scheme includes two categories:

• Category A - Pre-Revenue Stage Startups: Businesses that have not yet generated revenue, but can prove innovation and growth potential through a solid business plan.

• Category B - Post-Revenue Startups: Businesses with revenue of at least €1 million (based on audited financial accounts) and research and development costs of at least 10% of total operating costs in one of the previous three years.

Benefits of the Cyprus Startup Visa

Holders of a Cyprus Startup Visa enjoy several advantages:

• Residence and work rights for three years, with the option to renew.

• Family members gain full residency rights and access to the labour market.

• Founders and senior executives may work within the Cyprus-registered company.

• Eligibility to obtain a Certificate of Innovative Company, making the business more attractive to investors through tax incentives.

Why Cyprus is Attractive for Startups

Cyprus offers a competitive environment for entrepreneurs:

• One of the lowest corporate tax rates in the EU at 12.5%.

• No withholding tax on dividends or royalties.

• Access to a highly educated workforce.

• Competitive cost of living compared to other EU hubs.

• An IP Box regime, reducing corporate tax to as low as 2.5% for qualifying intellectual property income.

• Streamlined company registration procedures. Read more about registering a company in Cyprus.

Momentum of the Startup Ecosystem in Cyprus

According to a 2025 press release from the Cyprus Research & Innovation Foundation (RIF), Cyprus recorded the largest rise worldwide in the 2024 StartupBlink Ecosystem Index. The country climbed nine positions, becoming the fastest-growing startup ecosystem in the European Union.

Key highlights include:

• 4th globally among countries with populations under 2 million.

• 6th globally for the number of startup exits valued above US$1 billion.

• 9th globally in number of investors per capita.

• Five times more startups compared to 2020.

• The only country with under 2 million people to have four cities ranked in the global startup index.

• 39th globally in the FinTech sector.

• 25th globally in the gaming sector.

How We Can Help - Cyprus Startup Visa

At GEORGE LIASIDES LLC, we provide legal and corporate support for entrepreneurs seeking to establish or relocate their businesses under the Cyprus Startup Visa Scheme.

Our services include:

• End-to-end legal and administrative support.

• Guidance for compliance and company registration.

• Structuring your startup strategically for growth and investor appeal.

Contact us today to begin your journey and build your startup in Cyprus—the gateway to the European Union.