Residence Permit in Cyprus for Belarusian Citizens with an Expired Passport

Belarusian citizens may submit applications for obtaining or renewing a residence permit in the Republic of Cyprus with an expired Belarusian passport. This procedure was officially confirmed by the Migration Department of the Republic of Cyprus on 26 August 2026. If the applicant meets the other requirements of their migration category, a residence permit may be issued or renewed on the basis of an expired passport.

A separate exception applies to children born in the Republic of Cyprus to two Belarusian citizens: to obtain a residence permit, the child’s passport or other travel document is not required if a birth certificate issued by the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus is provided.

What has changed for Belarusian citizens

Since September 2023, following the adoption of Decree No. 278 in Belarus, citizens of the country have been unable to obtain or renew a passport through Belarusian consular institutions abroad. The physical presence of the applicant in Belarus is required for the issuance or renewal of a passport.

This situation created a practical problem for Belarusian citizens who legally reside in the Republic of Cyprus: their passport could expire before their migration status or during the procedure for renewing their residence permit.

The Migration Department of the Republic of Cyprus officially confirmed a special procedure allowing such applicants to continue regularising their residence status.

Can a residence permit be renewed with an expired Belarusian passport

Yes. The Migration Department expressly states that applications from Belarusian citizens with expired passports continue to be accepted.

Provided that the other applicable migration requirements are met, a residence permit may be issued or renewed on the basis of an expired passport.

This means that the expiry of a Belarusian passport, by itself, is not an obstacle to obtaining or renewing a residence permit in the Republic of Cyprus.

Which residence permits are covered by the clarification

The official notice of the Migration Department does not list specific residence permit categories to which this decision applies. The authority uses general wording concerning the regularisation of the residence status of Belarusian citizens with expired passports.

At the same time, the applicant must still meet the other requirements of their specific migration category: requirements concerning the basis for residence, financial means, medical insurance, accommodation and other documents, if they are предусмотрены by the relevant procedure.

An expired passport replaces the requirement for a valid passport only to the extent expressly provided for by the special decision for Belarusian citizens. Other conditions for obtaining a residence permit are not cancelled.

What to do when applying for a residence permit

1. Prepare your expired Belarusian passport.
2. Collect the other documents required for your residence permit category.
3. Submit the application in accordance with the Migration Department procedure for your type of residence permit.
4. If necessary, refer to the official clarification of the Migration Department dated 26 August 2026.
5. Meet the other migration requirements applicable to your residence category.

The official clarification is published on the website of the Migration Department of the Republic of Cyprus.

What to do if a child was born in Cyprus and does not have a passport

A separate rule applies to families in which both parents are Belarusian citizens.

If the child was born in the Republic of Cyprus, a residence permit may be obtained without the child’s passport or other travel document. Instead, it is necessary to provide a birth certificate issued by the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus.

This exception is related to the fact that, following the changes to the Belarusian rules, parents cannot obtain a passport for the child through a Belarusian consulate abroad.

If the parents have different citizenships

If one of the parents is a citizen of another country, the Migration Department states that, as a rule, the child’s passport issued by the state of citizenship of that parent will be required.

In other words, the exception allowing only a Cypriot birth certificate to be used is primarily intended for children of two Belarusian citizens.

Can a new Belarusian passport be obtained in Cyprus

No. The special decision of the Republic of Cyprus does not change the procedure for issuing Belarusian passports.

According to the information cited by the Migration Department, following the adoption of Belarusian Decree No. 278 in September 2023, Belarusian citizens cannot obtain or renew a passport through their country’s consular institutions abroad.

The applicant’s physical presence in Belarus is required for the issuance or renewal of a Belarusian passport.

Can you travel with an expired passport

The decision of the Migration Department concerns obtaining and renewing the right of residence in the Republic of Cyprus. It does not mean that an expired Belarusian passport is automatically recognised as a valid travel document.

Before travelling, it is necessary to check separately the document requirements for:

• departure from the Republic of Cyprus;
• entry into another country;
• transit through third countries;
• return to the Republic of Cyprus.

Possession of a valid residence permit does not replace a passport when travelling internationally.

What exactly did the Cypriot authorities confirm on 26 August 2026

The official notice was published by the Ministry of Migration and International Protection of the Republic of Cyprus on 26 August 2026.

The decision was made on the basis of Article 9(1) of the Aliens and Immigration Law, Cap. 105, taking into account the practical difficulties faced by Belarusian citizens due to the inability to obtain or renew a passport at a consulate abroad.

An important detail in the authority’s wording is that applications with expired passports continue to be accepted. Therefore, 26 August 2026 should be regarded as the date of the official public clarification of the procedure, and not necessarily the date on which it was initially introduced.

What this decision does not cancel

• The requirements of the specific residence permit category are not cancelled.
• The obligation to provide the other mandatory documents is not cancelled.
• An expired passport does not become a new or renewed Belarusian passport.
• The decision does not confirm the right to travel with an expired passport.
• The Republic of Cyprus does not issue Belarusian passports in place of the Belarusian authorities.

Glossary

Residence Permit

Permission to reside in the Republic of Cyprus. The requirements depend on the basis for residence and the applicant’s specific migration category.

Migration Department

The migration authority of the Republic of Cyprus responsible for matters concerning the residence and migration status of foreign citizens.

Decree No. 278

A Belarusian regulatory act adopted in September 2023, after which Belarusian citizens lost the ability to obtain or renew passports through the country’s consular institutions abroad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for a Cyprus residence permit with an expired Belarusian passport?

Yes. The Migration Department of the Republic of Cyprus officially confirmed that such applications continue to be accepted.

Can an existing residence permit be renewed with an expired passport?

Yes. If the other requirements of the relevant migration category are met, a residence permit may be renewed on the basis of an expired Belarusian passport.

Do I need to obtain a new passport before renewing my residence permit?

For the special procedure of the Migration Department to apply, a new Belarusian passport is not required. You may provide an expired passport and the other documents required for your residence permit category.

Can a child obtain a residence permit without a passport?

Yes, if the child was born in the Republic of Cyprus and both parents are Belarusian citizens. In this case, the Migration Department allows a residence permit to be obtained on the basis of a Cypriot birth certificate without the child’s passport or other travel document.

What happens if one of the child’s parents is not a Belarusian citizen?

As a rule, the child’s passport issued by the state of citizenship of the other parent will be required.

Can I travel abroad with such a residence permit and an expired passport?

The official decision concerns residence status, not international travel. The possibility of departure, transit and return must be checked separately, taking into account the requirements for a valid travel document.

Can I obtain a new Belarusian passport in the Republic of Cyprus?

No. Belarusian consular institutions abroad do not issue or renew passports. The physical presence of the applicant in Belarus is required to obtain a new document.