The Civil Registry and Migration Department announces that, as from 19/01/2016, third country nationals (TCNs) who are legally residing in Cyprus and wish to travel outside Cyprus while their application for a temporary residence permit is still pending, can re-enter the Republic, following the procedures below:

1. Where a TCN has left Cyprus and the residence permit has not been issued on the date of his/her arrival, he/she can re-enter the Republic using the original receipt of application for a temporary residence permit (Γ.Λ 301 or Γ.Λ 301B) (See related samples below), provided that he/she hasn’t stayed abroad for more than three months. It is noted that Third Country applicants for whom no such receipt is issued (applications with zero fees) are required to obtain a re-entry visa.

2. The same arrangements apply for TCNs who have submitted an application for a Residence Card as a family member of a citizen of the European Union, with the only exception that applications will not be rejected if the TCN stays abroad for more than three months.

3. It is noted that these procedures can apply only for applications for obtaining a temporary residence permit or residence card. At the same time, it is clarified that the above procedures do not apply for applicants who applied for the acquisition of an Immigration Permit or for the acquisition of long-term resident status in the Republic. Those applicants must also have a pending request for obtaining a temporary residence permit, in order to be allowed to use the above procedures for entry.