Queues at the Migration Department’s district counters will soon be history for thousands of foreign residents. From 1 January 2027, Cyprus will accept several categories of residence-permit renewals only through its gov.cy portal, the Interior Ministry confirmed on Thursday. The move affects domestic workers, employees of foreign-interest companies, holders of long-term resident status and family-reunification permits linked to them. Applicants will need a verified CY Login account — the state’s two-factor e-ID — before the system will allow them to upload forms, contracts and insurance certificates. The ministry says the shift will shorten processing times and free staff to focus on first-time applications and compliance checks. Employers stand to gain from fewer lost working hours, while assignees can renew from anywhere with an internet connection. Yet the digital leap is not friction-free. Migrant-rights groups note that many domestic workers lack laptops or Greek-language skills and could be locked out unless help-desks and translated guides appear quickly. Biometric data will still have to be captured in person, raising questions about how appointments will be scheduled once counter services shrink. Corporate mobility managers should act now: audit which staff will hit renewal windows after 1 January, ensure they create CY Login accounts early and budget time for account verification at Citizens’ Service Centres. For larger employers a short internal webinar could spare staff — and HR teams — a last-minute scramble.
Source: KNEWS
