Acquisition of immovable property by foreigners (i.e EU citizens who are not permanent residents of Cyprus and non -EU citizens)

Under the Acquisition of Immovable Property (Aliens) Law, Cap. 109, a foreigner wishing to acquire immovable property requires the prior permission of the Council of Ministers.

Normally permission is granted to bona fide foreigners to acquire a flat or a house or a piece of land not exceeding three donums (about 4000 m2) for the erection of one house for use as a residence only by the purchaser and his family.

The application must be submitted after the contract of sale is signed and although it takes about 6-8 months to be issued the purchaser can take possession of his property without restriction and live in it or rent it out as he is the legal owner of the property according to the law.

The applications should be accompanied with the following supporting documents:

• Survey plan
• Copy of the title of ownership
• Copy of the building permit for the erection of the house/block of flats or for the residential development of estates. If separate titles of ownership have been issued for the flats of the block or if the house is mentioned on the title of ownership, applicants need not submit a copy of the building permit. For plots under division, applicants must submit a copy of the division permit.
• Copy of the contract of sale.
• Sectional view of the building or the flat.
• Area in square metres of the plot which is to be acquired.
• Documents proving the financial situation of the applicants.
• Copies of the applicants' passports and those of their spouses'
• Copy of residence permit and work permit of the applicants in Cyprus.
• Application COMM 145, completed clearly and in full. (Click here to Download Application Form)
• If the applicant is a company or a shareholder in an offshore company, it is necessary to submit the certificates of registration, of shareholders and of the registered offices of the Company.
• If the applicant is a Company, a copy of the company's Articles of Association must be submitted and written information must be furnished on the company's activities in Cyprus and the staff it employs, both Cypriots and foreigners with the social insurance numbers.