THE GOVERNMENT will from next week accept residency applications from European and third-country nationals who have been on the island for longer than three months.
According to local press reports, The Department of Civil Registry and Migration has said that based on EU law regarding the free movement of people, foreigners living on the island must apply for residency if they have been living in Cyprus permanently for more than 12 weeks.
However, the application process involves them having to state the reasons why they want to remain on the island in addition to proving that they have sufficient funds or a work permit.
Upon receipt of applications, the authorities will issue applicants with a receipt in order to avoid possible deportation.
Director of the Department Anny Shakalli yesterday told the Mail that in a matter of days, Interior Minister Christos Patsalides will be holding a press conference where full details will be revealed.
Commenting on why applicants must submit financial details and work permits when EU law allows the free movement of people within member states, Shakalli said: “In situations regarding both EU and third-country nationals, proof must be shown that the individuals in question can support themselves and cannot be a burden on the state. An individual must have secured employment or show that he or she has adequate resources to study, for example. We therefore have these conditions in order to safeguard this principle.”
She added that the move was incorporated into national law back in February and is now to be implemented.
Meanwhile, the Department has also stated that it will shortly begin taking applications from third-country nationals who want to remain on the island for a period of five years, with an option to extend their stay after the period has expired.
Currently, there are 10,000 third-country nationals who have been in Cyprus for five years or longer and who are employed.
Most are from Sri Lanka and the Philippines and are employed as domestic assistants.
A significant number also work for offshore companies.
For those whose applications are approved, a special permit will be inserted into their passport which will clearly state that they are entitled to remain on the island.
Yesterday, a Serbian man living on the island for almost seven years contacted the Mail saying that the authorities have failed to renew his temporary residency papers without giving an explanation.
“During my legal stay in Cyprus, I have been married to a Cypriot for five-and-a-half years but when my lawyer recently went to renew my residency papers, which expire next month, he was told there was no reason to extend my visa,” the man said.
He added that the authorities were provided with bank statements, a bank guarantee and rental agreements, all of which are in good order.
“I’m being treated like a criminal for no reason as I’ve done nothing wrong,” he said.
