RESIDENCY DOCUMENTATION - RELEVANT ONLY FOR THOSE ON YELLOW SLIPS [ie NOT the biometric residency cards]
As mentioned previously, the current MEU3 issued as a yellow slip does not carry any expiry date. Under EU legislation, an expiry date should be shown. The British High Commission have been advised that those who have a yellow slip will need to upgrade this to a biometric residency by April 2026.
You will recall that prior to Brexit when everyone was encouraged to formalise their residency, mention was made of a 'fast-track' process at a later date to allow people to upgrade their yellow slip to a biometric card. Work is still underway with the Cyprus Government to try and facilitate this. The deadline of April 2026 may help focus their minds on the issue!
On a separate but related issue, from late 2023, it is expected that UK citizens wishing to travel into Europe will need an ETIAS visa waiver.
1 If you have a biometric residency card, you will not need to apply for this as you will be able to travel into Europe with your biometric residency card, along with your passport.
2 If you are on a yellow slip you will need to apply for an ETIAS to travel into Europe.
However
1 Currently, a price of €7 for a 3 year ETIAS per person has been quoted. You will be able to apply for this online, print at home, and the procedure appears straight-forward - but the ETIAS system will not be launched until late 2023, possibly November. So, if you are travelling into Europe before November 2023, you do not need to worry about this until any trip post November 2023.
2 As against, an upgrade [on current prices so could increase] to a biometric card of €30pp - and once you have this it will be renewable every 10 years [against the yellow slip which currently has no expiry date, although April 2026 has been set as a deadline for conversion to biometric]
So, unless you have an urgent requirement for a biometric residency, it is suggested that in view of the lengthy delays at Paphos Immigration, you wait for further information about a possible fast-track system to upgrade your yellow slip to a biometric residency.
If anyone does have an urgent need to upgrade to a biometric residency, it is understood that appointments are available at Limassol Immigration within a short period of time, as opposed to Paphos which is around 3-4 months minimum.
Information regarding the ETIAS system will be provided once a release date for this is launched.
