Secure your Cyprus student visa, travel, and settle in smoothly by following this guide. It provides concrete actions, timelines, and costs to help you navigate the process with confidence.
What You Achieve by Following This Guide
- Save Processing Time: Apply 60-90 days before your intake date, not 30.
- Avoid Visa Rejection: Submit all required documents, correctly attested, with valid evidence of funds.
- Settle Confidently: Apply for your temporary residence permit within 7 days of arriving in Cyprus.
Your Step-by-Step Visa Process
1. Get Your University Acceptance Letter
First, apply to a recognised university in Cyprus. Once you are accepted, the university will send you an official admission letter. This document is essential to begin your visa application.
2. Prepare and Attest Your Documents
Gather the following original documents. Ensure they are recent and valid.
- Passport: Must be valid for at least 2 years from your intended travel date.
- Photographs: Four recent passport-size photos with a white background.
- Police Clearance Certificate: Must be issued within the last 6 months.
- Medical Certificates: Get tests for Hepatitis B and C, HIV, and Syphilis, along with a chest X-ray. These certificates are valid for 4 months.
- Proof of Funds: A bank statement or a sponsor’s letter showing a balance of at least €7,000.
- Academic Documents: Your official transcripts and certificates.
- University Acceptance Letter: The official letter from your Cypriot university.
Next, you must get your documents attested. This is a critical step.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal: Get all academic and legal documents, including the Police Clearance Certificate, attested.
- Cyprus Embassy or Consulate: After the Nepalese ministry’s attestation, get the documents further attested by the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Cyprus.
3. Submit Your Visa Application Through the University
Your university in Cyprus submits the visa application on your behalf. You will need to send them your complete, attested document package. The university then files it with the Civil Registry and Migration Department of Cyprus.
The application fee is typically around €140.
4. Wait for Your Entry Permit (Blue Slip)
The Migration Department processes your application. This can take 2 to 3 months. Once approved, the university will receive your entry permit, often called the “Blue Slip,” and forward it to you.
What Good Looks Like:
- You apply 3 months before your program starts.
- You submit all attested documents at once.
- You receive your Blue Slip with enough time to prepare for travel.
5. Travel to Cyprus
When you arrive at the airport in Cyprus, an immigration officer will ask to see:
- Your original Passport.
- Your Entry Permit (Blue Slip).
- The University Acceptance Letter.
- Proof of funds, which should be at least €2,000 in cash. This requirement may be waived if your scholarship covers 50% or more of your tuition and living costs.
6. Apply for a Temporary Residence Permit
You must apply for a temporary residence permit within 7 days of your arrival.
- Register with the University: Complete your registration and pay your tuition fees.
- Visit the Migration Office: Go to the local district’s Migration Office or police station.
- Submit Documents: Provide your passport, Blue Slip, proof of health insurance, proof of address (like a rental agreement), and the university’s payment receipt.
- Pay the Fee: The fee for the residence permit is approximately €70.
Your residence permit is valid for 1 year. You must renew it at least one month before it expires.
Working While You Study
As a non-EU student, you can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during holidays. You can typically start working after residing in Cyprus for six months. Work is permitted in specific sectors like hospitality, retail, and agriculture. Your employment contract must be registered with the District Labour Office.
What to Do If Your Visa Is Rejected
If your application is rejected, the university will receive a letter explaining the reason. Common reasons include incomplete documentation or insufficient funds.
- Fix the Issue: Address the specific problem mentioned in the rejection letter.
- Reapply: You can reapply using the same admission letter.
- Appeal: If you believe the decision was unfair, you can appeal within the specified timeframe, usually 30 days. Contact your university’s international office for help with the appeal process.
Quick Action Checklist
- Apply to a university and get your acceptance letter.
- Collect, attest, and send your documents to the university.
- Submit your visa request 3 months before your program starts.
- Receive your Blue Slip and prepare at least €2,000 in cash for arrival.
- Arrive in Cyprus and apply for your residence permit within one week.
- Apply for part-time work after you become eligible.
What You Do Now
- Check your program’s start date and count back 3 months to set your application deadline.
- Book an appointment with Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for document attestation.
- Email your university’s international office to confirm the required documents and next steps after arrival.
- Arrange your finances to show the required €7,000 and have €2,000 ready for travel.
Following these steps will help you land in Cyprus ready to start your studies and life abroad. Let me know if you want help comparing universities or programs next.