Under the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK nationals and their family members who have exercised their right under the EU law to move and reside freely in the Republic, before the withdrawal date and/or until the end of the transitional period, have the right of residence, work and free movement and also have the possibility to continue reside in the Republic as before.
The Republic of Cyprus has chosen the Declaratory system based on Article 18 (4) of the Withdrawal Agreement, where the eligible UK nationals and their family members who are also UK nationals are entitled to retain their previous residence permits as EU Citizens and can use them as means of proof of their right to reside in the Republic. Additionally, they have the right if they wish to secure the new residence permit to be issued as of 1.1.2021.
Residence documents held by UK Nationals and their dependent family members already held and issued, now can be retained as means of proof for residence in the Republic and can be voluntary replaced with the new document.
The Third Country Nationals, dependent family member of the Beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement, are entitled to use their previous rights as family Members of a Union citizen who are not citizens of a Member-State, until their expiration and it is required for them to apply for the new Residence document under the withdrawal Agreement.
The Withdrawal Agreement applies to:
- UK nationals and their family members who have already exercised or will exercise their right to reside in Cyprus in accordance with Union law, before the end of the transition period and continue to reside in Cyprus thereafter.
- UK nationals and their family members who at the end of the transition period were not residing in Cyprus but had previously resided in Cyprus without acquiring permanent residence right, provided that after the end of the transition period they will still maintain continuity of residence as defined in current free movement rules.
- UK nationals and their family members who at the end of the transition period were not residing in Cyprus but had previously resided in Cyprus and had acquired permanent residence right, provided that their absence did not exceed a period of five consecutive years.
- Family members who were residing overseas until 31 December 2020 and wishes to join a UK national covered by the Agreement after this date, given that the relationship existed at or before that date and it continues to exist when the person wishes to come to Cyprus.
The beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement and their family members have the right to reside in the Republic for a period exceeding three months if they entered to the Republic before the end of the transition period.
For further information in regards to the residence documents of the beneficiaries under the Withdrawal Agreement and the application process, you can contact our firm
