Cyprus starts granting residency to Belarusians with expired passports
Belarusian citizens with expired passports can now obtain and renew residence permits in Cyprus, the office of Cyprus’s deputy migration minister told RFE/RL’s Belarusian service, Radio Svaboda. The decision by Cypriot authorities took effect in May 2026.
Cyprus has begun granting residency permits to Belarusian citizens with expired passports, according to the office of Cyprus’s deputy migration minister. This decision, which took effect in May 2026, allows Belarusian children born on the island to their parents who cannot obtain Belarusian passports to receive a residence permit based on a Cypriot birth certificate, provided both parents are Belarusian citizens.
However, the deputy minister’s office could not confirm if time spent in Cyprus with an expired permit would count toward the residency requirement for Cypriot citizenship, directing journalists to the Interior Ministry for clarification. International travel remains an issue, as a Cypriot residence permit does not replace a passport and does not address the problem of leaving the country for Belarusians with expired passports.
The situation worsened in September 2023 when Belarusian embassies and consulates ceased issuing new passports and renewing old ones, forcing citizens to travel to Belarus for document renewal, causing complications for those living abroad, such as Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who faced difficulties opening a bank account due to her expired passport.
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