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Meta title: Cyprus Student Visa: Entry Permit and Residence Permit
Meta description: Cyprus student visa: university-filed entry permit, documents, $79 (€70) fees, 7-day registration, residence permit renewal, work rules and notes for Russians.
Last modified: 2026-09-30

# Cyprus Student Visa: Entry Permit, Documents and Residence Permit

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For non-EU students, the Cyprus "student visa" is an entry permit (form M70) issued by the Migration Department on an application submitted by your university. You do not visit a consulate: the university files in Cyprus, and once the permit is issued you travel with it and your passport without a separate visa. A complete application is examined within one month, and the fee is $79 (€70). Within 7 days of arrival you must register in the Aliens Register and apply for a temporary residence permit, renewed every year. Cyprus does not yet fully apply the Schengen rules, so Cypriot permits are valid in Cyprus only.

| At a glance | Details |
| --- | --- |
| What you get | an entry permit (M70), then a temporary student residence permit |
| Who applies | the university, which must be registered with the Cyprus Ministry of Education |
| Who decides | the Migration Department together with the Ministry of Education |
| Processing | entry permit within 1 month, residence permit within 3 months for complete files |
| Government fees | $79 (€70), or $160 (€140) with an alien registration certificate; $79 (€70) first registration, $62 (€55) per renewal |
| English | at least IELTS 5.0, TOEFL iBT 71 or PTE Academic 58 |
| Advance tuition payment | at least $3,410 (€3,000) before filing |
| Work | up to 20 hours a week in term, 38 in breaks |
| After graduation | up to 12 months to seek work, for master's graduates and above |

The passenger terminal of Larnaca International Airport. Photo: FromNicosia / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Facade_outside_Larnaca_International_Airport_Republic_of_CYPRUS_5.jpg), [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0).

## How student entry works {#section-1}

The rules for non-EU students come from EU Directive 2016/801 and Cypriot Law 7(I)/2019.

1. The university admits you to a full-time programme and collects your documents and advance payment.
2. The university applies to the Migration Department for your entry permit; the Migration Department and the Ministry of Education examine it, within a month if complete.
3. You receive the entry permit (M70) and fly to Cyprus. The Government of Cyprus lists holders of entry permits issued by the Migration Department among those who do not need a visa.
4. Within 7 days of arrival you register in the Aliens Register, apply for a temporary residence permit and give fingerprints and a photo.
5. The residence permit is issued for up to one year and renewed annually until you finish.

Two limits matter. You cannot apply while in Cyprus on a tourist visa, and the institution must be registered with the Ministry of Education, with a programme leading to a qualification recognised in the Republic of Cyprus.

## Notes for Russian and other CIS citizens {#section-2}

The procedure is the same as for any non-EU citizen, and the university obtains the entry permit in Cyprus, so no consulate or visa centre visit is needed for it. Visa centres and consulates handle short-stay visas, for example for visiting parents. From 6 July 2026 the Embassy of Cyprus in Moscow and the consulates general in St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Krasnodar accept such applications through BLS International centres as well, with a $6 (€5) service fee excluding VAT. Short-stay visas for Russian citizens follow EU-wide rules: the EU–Russia visa facilitation agreement was fully suspended in 2022, and Commission Decision C(2025) 7552 of 6 November 2025 restricted multiple-entry short-stay visas for Russian nationals residing and applying in Russia. Neither measure governs the student entry permit.

Cyprus has not yet fully joined the Schengen area; the Government of Cyprus states that its visas and residence permits are valid only in Cyprus. Non-EU students need a Schengen visa to travel on to Schengen countries. Citizens of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia and other non-EU countries use the same document set; certification and payment routes differ. If you pay from Russia, see [how to pay for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia).

## Documents before arrival {#section-3}

The Migration Department list for a first entry permit:

- a passport valid for the whole stay or at least two years from the application date;
- for minors, parental authorisation for the stay (relevant to school leavers under 18);
- a bank certificate from your home country confirming you can cover living, study and repatriation costs, with a statement, or a scholarship certificate;
- an original police clearance certificate from your country of origin (or residence);
- original tests for hepatitis B and C, HIV and syphilis, and a chest X-ray report for tuberculosis;
- the acceptance letter for a specific programme;
- a bank undertaking covering repatriation costs, from you or the university;
- academic certificates, including your English certificate.

The Ministry of Education adds a receipt for an advance tuition payment of at least $3,410 (€3,000). Universities set validity windows: at UNIC, police certificates and bank letters are valid for 6 months, medical tests for 4 months and bank statements for one month. EUC accepts medical certificates only from public hospitals. Documents from Hague Convention countries such as Russia and Kazakhstan are apostilled, and translations into English or Greek must be certified.

## How much money you need to show {#section-4}

The government document list asks for proof that you can cover tuition, living and repatriation but does not name a fixed amount. Universities set the bar: UNIC asks for a sponsor's statement showing at least the first year's tuition; Frederick asks for at least $7,950 (€7,000) in the sponsor's account plus a bank letter, and at least $1,140 (€1,000) in a Cypriot account after arrival. European University Cyprus also names $7,950 (€7,000), wants a statement showing the last two months of transactions and expects at least $2,270 (€2,000) in cash for personal expenses on arrival. Since several universities use the same threshold, plan for at least $7,950 (€7,000) unless your university names another amount. Sponsors are usually parents or close relatives; UNIC requires a court affidavit for other sponsors. For the full budget see the [cost of studying in Cyprus](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-cyprus).

## After arrival {#section-5}

Applications go to Migration Department submission offices, usually through your university's international office. For the temporary residence permit you need:

- repeat tests for hepatitis B and C, HIV and syphilis and a TB chest X-ray from a Cypriot hospital, stamped by a doctor;
- a copy of the passport page with your latest entry stamp;
- health insurance covering inpatient and outpatient care and repatriation of remains (Plan A);
- the original entry permit (M70);
- a rental agreement or title deed;
- a Cypriot bank certificate showing you transferred sufficient funds to a personal account;
- fee receipts, biometrics and signature.

If approved, you receive a collection notice; if refused, a letter with reasons. While the application is pending, the stamped fee receipt lets you leave and re-enter; once the permit is issued you re-enter with it and your passport, provided you have not been away for more than three months.

## Keeping and renewing the permit {#section-6}

Each year you renew with new insurance, a Cypriot bank certificate, a rental agreement, the bank undertaking for repatriation and a transcript. The permit is revoked or not renewed if you fail to complete a foundation course, do not attend regularly (universities must report absences above 30%), or exceed the programme length by more than 50%. You can change programme or institution by applying for renewal with a transfer form; the Ministry of Education reviews the academic side, and if it does not recommend the change, the renewal is refused. Transfers that look like an attempt to avoid progress rules are not approved.

## Working on a student permit {#section-7}

- Up to 20 hours a week during studies and 38 hours a week during breaks.
- Only in occupations and sectors listed in the Labour Minister's order published in the Official Gazette.
- Your contract, with your timetable attached, must first be approved by the District Labour Office.
- Occasional domestic work in private households is allowed if every employer, date, hour and payment is recorded on a special form.

## After graduation {#section-8}

Graduates with a level 7 qualification (master's) or higher can obtain a residence permit for up to 12 months to seek work or set up a business matching their level of study. Bachelor's graduates are not eligible; see [master's in Cyprus](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-cyprus).

## Common mistakes {#section-9}

- Arriving as a tourist and applying in Cyprus, which is not allowed.
- Getting certificates and tests too early; they expire quickly.
- Showing funds without a bank letter and statement, or below the university's threshold.
- Missing the 7-day registration deadline.
- Assuming a Cypriot permit allows travel in the Schengen area.
- Missing classes: absences above 30% can cost you the permit.
- Working without an approved contract or beyond the permitted hours.

## How StudyU helps {#section-10}

Preparing and checking the entry permit file, certification and translations, timing of certificates and tests, and renewal guidance are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The Migration Department and the Ministry of Education issue the permits, and the university files the application. See [applying to Cypriot universities](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-cypriot-universities) or the [study in Cyprus](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-cyprus) overview.

## FAQ {#faq}

### Do I need a visa to study in Cyprus?

Not a separate consular visa. Your university obtains an entry permit (M70), and the Government of Cyprus exempts its holders from the visa requirement. You fly in with the permit and passport and apply for a residence permit within 7 days.

### How long does a Cyprus student visa take?

The Migration Department examines a complete entry permit application within one month and a residence permit application within three months; incomplete files take longer. With certificates and apostilles, plan two to three months for the whole stage.

### How much does a Cyprus student visa cost?

The government charges $79 (€70) for the entry and residence permit, or $160 (€140) if an alien registration certificate is issued at the same time, $79 (€70) for first registration and $62 (€55) per renewal. Universities add their own processing fee, $170 (€150) at UNIC.

### How much money do I need to show?

There is no fixed state amount in the general list; you must show you can cover tuition, living and repatriation. UNIC asks for at least the first year's tuition in the sponsor's account, Frederick and EUC for at least $7,950 (€7,000), in addition to the $3,410 (€3,000) minimum advance tuition payment.

### Can I work on a Cyprus student permit?

Yes, up to 20 hours a week during studies and 38 in breaks, in sectors listed by the Labour Minister, once the District Labour Office has approved your contract.

### Can I travel around Europe with a Cyprus student permit?

Not freely. Cyprus does not yet fully apply the Schengen rules, and its visas and permits are valid only in Cyprus. Non-EU students need a Schengen visa for Schengen countries.

### Can I stay in Cyprus after graduation?

Master's graduates and above can get a residence permit for up to 12 months to seek work or start a business. Bachelor's graduates cannot; they stay only with a work permit or by continuing their studies.

## Sources {#section-12}

- [Cyprus Migration Department: students — procedure, processing, fees, work, post-study stay](https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/students/), checked 29 September 2026
- [Migration Department: student forms and document list](https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/students-2/) ([DOCX](https://www.gov.cy/app/uploads/sites/174/2025/12/LIST-SUPPORTING-DOCUMENTS-STUDENTS_MEDU2.docx))
- [Government of Cyprus: visas, exemptions, validity in Cyprus only](https://www.gov.cy/en/information/visas/)
- [Cyprus Department of Higher Education: documents and advance payment](https://www.highereducation.ac.cy/en/spoudes-cyprus/apaitoumena-engrafa), [English](https://www.highereducation.ac.cy/en/spoudes-cyprus/gnosi-anglikis-glossa), [progress rules](https://www.highereducation.ac.cy/en/spoudes-cyprus/adeia-paramonis), [absences](https://www.highereducation.ac.cy/en/spoudes-cyprus/epitrepomenes-apousies)
- [Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Moscow: BLS International announcement, 6 July 2026 (PDF)](https://www.gov.cy/app/uploads/sites/96/2026/07/%CE%95%CE%9D%CE%91%CE%A1%CE%9E%CE%97-%CE%A3%CE%A5%CE%9D%CE%95%CE%A1%CE%93%CE%91%CE%A3%CE%99%CE%91%CE%A3-%CE%9C%CE%95-BLS-LAUNCH-OF-COOPERATION-WITH-BLS-%D0%9D%D0%90%D0%A7%D0%90%D0%9B%D0%9E-%D0%A1%D0%9E%D0%A2%D0%A0%D0%A3%D0%94%D0%9D%D0%98%D0%A7%D0%95%D0%A1%D0%A2%D0%92%D0%90-%D0%A1-%D0%92%D0%98%D0%97%D0%9E%D0%92%D0%AB%D0%9C%D0%98-%D0%A6%D0%95%D0%9D%D0%A2%D0%A0%D0%90%D0%9C%D0%98-BLS.pdf)
- [European Commission: Decision C(2025) 7552 on multiple-entry visas for Russian nationals](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/commission-implementing-decision-establishing-rules-issuing-multiple-entry-visas-russian-nationals_en)
- [University of Nicosia: visa documents and validity](https://www.unic.ac.cy/nicosia/study-at-unic/visa-information/)
- [Frederick University: proof of funds and visa process](https://www.frederick.ac.cy/admissions-guide)
- [European University Cyprus: visa documents and proof of funds](https://euc.ac.cy/en/admissions/how-to-apply/visa-requirements/)
- [Council Decision (EU) 2022/1500 fully suspending the EU–Russia visa facilitation agreement](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/2022/1500/oj)
- ECB rate of 29.09.2026: €1 = $1.1355. Rounding step: $1 below $100, otherwise $10.

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step. [Apply](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Master's Degrees in Cyprus: English-Taught Programmes, 2026/27 Fees and Staying After Graduation](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-cyprus)
- [Applying to Cypriot Universities: Requirements, Documents and Deadlines for School Leavers](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-cypriot-universities)
- [Cost of Studying in Cyprus in 2026/27: Tuition, Fees and Living Costs](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-cyprus)
- [How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia)
- [Studying in Cyprus for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-cyprus)
- [Bachelor's Degrees in Cyprus: English-Taught Programmes, Fees by Subject and What Comes Next](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-bachelors-in-cyprus)

Updated: September 2026