Procedure to grant or renew a residence permit to victims of trafficking in human beings
The residence permits described below are granted by virtue of the Law on Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Human Beings and Exploitation of Persons and the Protection of Victims, Law 60(I)/20014 (articles 53 and 55).

Α. Residence permit for the purpose of reflection

• The residence permit for reflection, is granted to third country nationals, who are presumed or recognized trafficking victims, allowing them to recover and escape the influence of the perpetrators of the offences so that they can take an informed decision as to whether to cooperate with the competent authorities.For trafficking victims who are EU nationals, a Registration Certificate of limited validity is issued.
• In order to grant a residence permit or issue a Registration Certificate for reflection purposes to a person, the Department must firstly be informed in writing by the Police.
• The Department invites the person concerned to submit application MTE2 (or application MEU1 for EU nationals) at the central offices of the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia.
• No fee is charged for the submission of the application.
• The application must be accompanied by a valid travel document (or other identification document in certain special cases) of the person concerned. Should that not be the case, the application is not accepted.
• When submitting the application, the person is obliged to give biometric data (photograph and fingerprints) and specimen of his/her signature, by demonstrating the receipt and the valid travel document (or other identification document). For persons below the age of six (6) at the time of submitting the application, only a photograph is taken.
• In case the application is approved, the person will be notified in writing to receive the residence permit.
• In case the application is rejected, the person will receive a letter stating the reasons of rejection.

Examination time
The application examination time is about one week.

Validity period of the residence permit / Registration Certificate
The residence permit / Registration Certificate is valid for one (1) month (or two months if the person is a minor) and can be renewed only if the prosecuting authorities deem this necessary.

Access to the labour market
Access to the labour market is prohibited for the holder of this type of residence permit.

B. Residence permit during the criminal procedure

• The residence permit is granted only to recognized trafficking victims, to assist in the police investigations or the judicial proceedings, and only after the Department is duly notified by the Police. For trafficking victims who are EU nationals, a Registration Certificate of limited validity is issued.
• In order to grant a residence permit or issue a Registration Certificate to a person, the Department must firstly be informed in writing by the Police.
• The Department invites the person concerned to submit application MTE2 (or application MEU1 for EU nationals) at the central offices of the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia.
• No fee is charged for the submission of the application.
• The application must be accompanied by a valid travel document (or other identification document in certain special cases) of the person concerned. Should that not be the case, the application is not accepted.
• When submitting the application, the person is obliged to give biometric data (photograph and fingerprints) and specimen of his/her signature, by demonstrating the receipt and the valid travel document (or other identification document). For persons below the age of six (6) at the time of submitting the application, only a photograph is taken.
• In case the application is approved, the person will be notified in writing to receive the residence permit.
• In case the application is rejected, the person will receive a letter stating the reasons of rejection.

Examination period of MΤΕ2
The application examination time is about one (1) week.

Validity period of the residence permit / Registration Certificate
The residence permit / Registration Certificate is valid for one (1) year and can be renewed only if the prosecuting authorities deem this necessary.

Access to the labour market
Holders of this type of residence permit have free access to the labour market.