Students

The mission of the International Students and Staff Office (ISSO) is to contribute to the University of Cyprus’s internationalization strategy by providing support and information to international students and staff – both academic and administrative. The ISSO holds responsibility for assisting mainly non-European students and staff (but also EU students/staff) with Entry and Residence Permit procedures, through active coordination with the Cyprus Migration Department and other competent authorities.

Additionally, ISSO serves as a point of reference, guiding individuals to appropriate resources and services related to academic life, employment, and living conditions at the University, in Nicosia, and Cyprus more broadly.

All non-EU students applying to the UCY are required to obtain a visa to enter the Republic of Cyprus. Provided that the application form as well as all the supporting documents and payments have been received, the University will submit the student’s application to the Migration Authorities for evaluation. 

Please ensure you read the following  instructions carefully, as they contain important information

2. The payment for the registration and the entry visa fees, for the amount of €140 should be made via JCC SMART, through the website  https://www.jccsmart.com/businesses/9356296. In case you have previously obtain the Alien Registration Certificate (ARC) in Cyprus then the amount to pay is €70. (Application will not be processed without this non-refundable fee).
3. Additional payment should be made (at the same website) for the payment of the verification of documents at the Ministry of foreign affairs in Cyprus (only applicable for citizens of countries which are not full members of the Hague Convention).
4. Duly certified copy of passport or other travel document (please check below the procedure relevant to the attestation), valid for:
   – at least the expected duration of studies,
   – at least two years.
5.   In case the third-country national is a minor, a parental authorization or an equivalent document for the intended stay.
6. Proof of financial ability to cover tuition fees and living expenses which can be in the form of:
   5. • Attested original Bank Statement showing at least €7000 available balance during the last month before the application process, or
      • Attested original confirmation letter from a Banking Institution of the country of residence, with validity of six months, indicating the student’s ability to cover €7000 towards tuition fees and living expenses or
        
      • Attested  original bank letter, with validity of six months, stating that the student’s sponsor has the ability to support €7000 towards the student’s tuition fees and living expenses. Sponsor may only be father or mother of the student. The letter must clearly state the relationship between sponsor and student, and must be accompanied by the student’s birth certificate.
        
        Important Information:
        • The amount is reduced to €5000 if the student is granted a 50% scholarship and above.
        • If the student is granted a full scholarship, then no proof of financial ability is required.
7. Duly certified confirmation letter of scholarship issued by the awarding institution (required only for students that have been awarded a scholarship). it is not required to be duly certified if it is issued in Cyprus.
8. Original and duly certified certificate of clear criminal record or Certificate of Good Conduct from the official authorities of the country of residence with official translation in Greek or English. Criminal record is considered valid for a six-month period.
9. Original and duly certified medical certificates attesting to good health, including blood tests (Hepatitis B and C, HIV and Syphilis) as well as a Chest X-Ray (testing for Tuberculosis). Medical examinations are considered valid for a four-month period.
10. Acceptance letter/e-mail from the University of Cyprus, stating that the student has been accepted to register to a programme of studies, including a description of the specific programme of studies and its duration.
11. A verification letter that the University will cover repatriation expenses (this letter will be issued by the ISSO).
12. For undergraduate students, duly certified original academic degrees of lower (high school) and higher secondary education.  For postgraduate students the original attested Bachelor Degree and attested University Transcripts. Both undergraduate and postgraduate students are required to have proficiency in English that can be demonstrated through the following certificates (based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) that is established by the Council of Europe):
    • For undergraduate students the lowest level B1-B2 (Intermediate English/Upper Intermediate English)
    • For postgraduate students the lowest level B2-C1 (Upper Intermediate English/Advanced English).
      
      Attestation of Documents (IMPORTANT):
      1. All the above documents must be officially translated to English and the translation must be attested. In cases where translations are necessary, these must be done by an approved translator and attested by the relevant authorities in the applicant´s country. It is preferable that the original document be attached to the attested translation and be officially bound together with the translator’s seal.
      
      Please note that the APOSTILLE stamp does not need to be translated.

                   2. The attestation process differs between countries that have signed the Hague Convention of 1961 (Apostille) and those that have not. 

 

• Students applying from countries that have signed the Hague Convention of 1961 (Apostille) must have the APOSTILLE stamp on the original documents (which will not be returned from the Migration Department). If any document doesn’t have the APOSTILLE stamp the application will be rejected. Double certification from the Ministry of Exterior and the Embassy/Consulate of Cyprus in the country will not be accepted for documents issued in the member states of the Hague Convention.
• It is important to underline that in case the academic degrees and the transcript are not original documents then true copies of the original must be submitted with the original stamp and signature of the issuing authority. Then they should be attested with the apostille stamp.

Students must have their documents attested by the designated, competent government authority which is authorized to affix the Apostille on their documents. The Ministry of Justice or Ministry of Foreign Affairs is usually the government body that issues the Apostille. 

• Students applying from countries that have NOT signed the Hague Convention of 1961 (Apostille) but have a Cyprus Representation in their home country or a designated Cyprus Representation in a nearby country, must have all their documents attested by:
  1. the responsible authority in the country where the documents have been issued (e.g. Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and
  2. the Cyprus Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in the same country.

In case the educational documents are not originals you must acquire the original stamp and signature of the issuing authority and then have them attested.

• Students applying from Russia and Serbia: Based on bilateral agreements between Cyprus and Russia and between Cyprus and Serbia, students from these countries are exempt from the above procedures, provided all their documents are officially signed and stamped by the issuing authority.

PLEASE ALSO CHECK THE CYPRUS MIGRATION DEPARTMENT’S WEBPAGE HERE REGARDING THE ATTESTATION OF DOCUMENTS.

All of the above required documents (originals and one duplicate) must be sent by post to the University of Cyprus to the following address, ONLY after we have confirmed through email that the documents have been correctly attested:

International Students and Staff Office

International Relations Service

University House “Anastasios G. Leventis”

UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS

1 Panepistimiou Avenue

2109 Aglantzia, Nicosia

P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus

As soon as the set of attested documents is received (one original and one duplicate) they will be forwarded to the Migration Department. When the entry permit visa (blue slip) is ready, it will be scanned and emailed to the student. 

This document is necessary for your Entry to the Republic. Please contact the Embassy of Cyprus in your country to confirm whether it’ s required to receive a verification stamp from them before you travel to Cyprus.

AT THE AIRPORT CONTROL

Non-EU students are required to show the following to the Immigration Authorities at Larnaca or Paphos Airport: 

1) Original Passport 

2) Copy of your Entry Visa (Blue Slip)  

3) The acceptance letter from the University 

4) €2000 in cash (this is not required if the student is granted a full scholarship or a 50% scholarship and above)

AFTER ARRIVAL IN THE REPUBLIC
Please note that within seven days of your arrival, you should complete all the necessary procedures in order to submit the application for issuing your Temporary Residence Permit Card (which takes 3-4 months to be issued).

Once you have all the documents ready, you can arrange a meeting with the ISSO, between 9:00-13:00 (Monday-Friday), by calling 22894050 or by email [email protected]  in order to give you the original Blue Slip (Visa) and to submit your residence permit card visa documents.