Hungary
Hungarian guest investor programme
Hungary's guest investor programme grants a 10-year residence permit for investments starting at EUR 250,000, renewable for another 10 years.
News · Cyprus
Cyprus: technically ready to join Schengen, a political decision is needed
Speaking in Luxembourg on 1 October 2026, ahead of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council, Deputy Migration Minister Nicholas Ioannides said Cyprus is technically ready for full Schengen membership and that a political agreement is now needed.
Summary
In brief
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According to Ioannides, Cyprus has implemented all of the Commission's recommendations.
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Accession requires a political agreement among member states; no date has been announced.
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Cyprus will seek the support of partner countries in the coming months.
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The government has signalled that the investor residence scheme will be tightened before Schengen entry; no details have been published yet.
Background
What happened
On 1 October 2026, ahead of the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Ioannides stated: "From a technical point of view, Cyprus is ready to become a full member of the Schengen area. It is now necessary to reach an agreement at the political level." He added that all of the Commission's recommendations are considered implemented and that Cyprus will seek the support of partner countries in the coming months.
A week earlier, on 24 September, the deputy minister told the House audit committee that the country will tighten its investor residence scheme ahead of the planned Schengen entry and is reviewing around 12,000 permits issued since 2013. The details, timetable and any new investment amounts of the tightening have not been made public since.
For you
What it means for you
- Accession date open: the technical conditions are met but there is no political decision yet, so it is too early to plan on Schengen benefits linked to a Cypriot permit.
- Changing conditions: if you are considering Cypriot investor residence, expect the conditions to become stricter before accession.
- Comparison: if it matters to you now that your investor residence is in a Schengen country, we will compare the programmes available today with you when you request a quote, including the Hungarian guest investor programme.
Programmes
Related programmes
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- Malta
Malta Startup Residence Programme
The Malta Startup Residence Programme is for people who found an innovative company in Malta or move one there, investing at least EUR 25,000.
Sources
Sources
Last checked:
- Cyprus Mail: Cyprus ‘technically ready’ for Schengen – 2 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Cyprus Business News: Cyprus technically ready for Schengen, political agreement now needed – 2 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Cyprus Mail: Cyprus to tighten golden visa scheme ahead of Schengen entry – 24 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)