Cyprus to offer online visa applications in China as of 20/4

The government of Cyprus will start accepting online applications for visas from Chinese visitors and potential investors by the end of the month, in an effort to attract them to the island and provide long-term residency or even citizenship.

With the property sector seeming as the most promising to exit the recession of the past years, as Cyprus was bailed out by international creditors and has just exited its ‘economic adjustment’ programme, property sales of at least EUR 330,000 will secure Chinese investors a local ‘residency’ permit. Furthermore, for the more adventurous, an investment in cash, bonds or property or in an ongoing business to the tune of EUR 2.5 mln, will automatically entitle the investors the right to citizenship.

In an announcement, the Embassy of Cyprus in Beijing announced the signature of an agreement with TLScontact on March 29, concerning the opening of Visa Application Centres (VACs) in China.

As of April 8, the webpage (provisional version) of the Visa Application Centre of Beijing (https://cy.tlscontact.com/cn/BJS) is expected to be available, while it is expected to be fully operational from May 4. The VAC of Beijing is expected to start operating on April 20.

During the period from April 8 to May 4, applicants from all over China may contact the TLScontact’s call centre (calls from China: 021 60168632, calls from overseas: +86 021 60168633) to arrange an appointment for the submission of their visa applications.

As of May 5, all appointments will be made electronically, through the webpage https://cy.tlscontact.com/cn/BJS .

The VAC Beijing will be open daily (Monday to Friday) from 8.30 a.m. until 12 noon (local time) and will observe the official holidays of Cyprus and the PR China.

Applicants from all over China, as well as the other countries of accreditation of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus, are encouraged to choose the Visa Application Center of Beijing for the submission of their visa applications.

More information is expected to be available from April 8, the embassy announcement concluded.