How long it takes to process a Pink Slip application

How long to wait for the Pink Slip card and what to do while it is being processed? Below is a brief overview of the timelines, the right to stay in the country, what to do if the card is taking a long time to issue, and practical tips to avoid delays.

• Pink Slip Card Issuance Timelines
• Right to Stay During Processing
• If the Card Takes a Very Long Time
• Practical Tips to Avoid Delays
• Assistance and Support

Pink Slip Card Issuance Timelines

The Pink Slip card is usually issued within 5–6 months from the date of application. The actual timeframe depends on the workload of the Immigration Department, the completeness of your document package, and the correctness of payments.

Right to Stay During Processing

After submitting your Pink Slip application, you are allowed to remain in the country until the residence permit is issued, even if your initial visa has already expired. The basis is the fact of the submitted application and the registration receipt/slip.

Practical tip: always carry with you the submission receipt and payment/appointment confirmation — this speeds up any checks and resolves questions when interacting with government authorities.

If the Card Takes a Very Long Time

There are cases of waiting up to 6–12 months. You will have a paper document from the Immigration Department (issued upon submission of the package) — legally it is equivalent to the plastic Pink Slip card during processing.

Important points for long waits:

• Check your application status through the communication channels provided during submission (email/phone) and keep all receipts.
• Traveling outside Cyprus during the waiting period can be risky: check with the immigration service which documents will be needed for re-entry before receiving the plastic card.
• Do not change your residential address without notification — update your details if necessary (this affects processing times).

Practical Tips to Avoid Delays

• Submit a complete and accurate package (translations, apostille, insurance policy, bank confirmations) — incomplete documents are the most common cause of delays.
• Check names and numbers in the application, receipts, and insurance policy — any typos lead to repeated requests.
• Keep scans of all documents and payments in one place (cloud/folder) — this speeds up responses to immigration service inquiries.
• Monitor your email (including “Spam”) — official letters often arrive at the email provided in the application.

Assistance and Support

Want to speed up the process and reduce the risk of refusals and repeated requests? We can help compile a correct package, check translations and payments, prepare confirmations, and accompany you to the immigration service.

For consultation: Telegram