Cyprus-Forum.com

[sam1967]

Hello everyone, do you remember me?
I appeal to anyone with a conscience, legal capacity, and humanity to listen to my story:
I have been residing in Cyprus since 2013 and married a Cypriot citizen in 2015. After years of legal residency and compliance with the laws, I obtained an unlimited residency permit in 2021 in accordance with European Union laws. On April 1st, I sent an email to the Immigration Department asking in good faith if there was an error in my indefinite residence permit, as it was printed as a temporary residence permit. The response came quickly, as an Immigration Department employee asked me to send her the apartment rental contract and recent invoices. She also asked me to send copies of my social security statement from 2021 to 2025, and she also asked me to send my wife's social security statement from 2021 to 2025. However, she did not answer my question and completely ignored it. On April 8th, I sent a copy of the apartment rental contract, explaining that I could not send my social security statement because I was unemployed, and that I could not send my wife's statement because she had recently separated from me due to my health condition. I received a response from them on April 11 stating that a letter had been sent to my postal address on April 10. On April 16, I received the letter and was shocked to learn that my residence permit had been revoked because I had been absent from the Republic of Cyprus for more than three months on September 9, 2017. This is a completely false claim, as I have not left Cyprus for a period exceeding the legally stipulated period since obtaining my residence permit. Indeed, since the beginning of my permanent residency in November 2013, I have only left Cyprus twice, once for 13 days and the second for only 4 days, a total of 17 days over more than 11 years. My departure on September 9, 2017, was to renew my passport. I returned to Cyprus on September 13, 2017, using my new passport, whose data was subsequently included in my residence permit issued on April 27, 2018, and subsequently in my long-term residence permit (unlimited residence permit) issued on September 16, 2021. Therefore, my entry and exit data were always up to date and recorded with the Immigration Department, which negates the possibility of an objective or technical error in linking my new passport data to the immigration system.
The cancellation letter described my residence permit as a "temporary permit" and then, in the same context, described it as a "temporary permit for unlimited residence." This description is contradictory and legally inaccurate, as the type of permit I hold is a Long-Term Residence Permit – Unlimited Duration, as officially documented on the card issued by the Immigration Department and dated September 16, 2021. This contradiction constitutes a fundamental violation of Article 14 of the Cypriot Ministerial Decision on Foreigners and Immigrants, which is essentially based on EU Directive 2003/109/EC, which stipulates the protection of long-term residence permit holders and their cancellation only under strict and specific conditions. This type of residence permit can only be cancelled under exceptional circumstances, most notably if the person is absent from the EU for more than 12 consecutive months or leaves Cyprus for more than 6 years if they hold this type of permit. However, I am currently facing an arbitrary attempt to revoke my residency permit, claiming that I have been absent from Cyprus for more than three months. This does not legally justify the revocation of this permit, even if it had occurred. This never happened.
I did not receive any prior notice or invitation to submit explanations or documents before the revocation decision was issued. This constitutes a violation of the principle of "right to defense" enshrined in EU law as well as Cypriot laws related to resident rights.
The letter revoking my indefinite residency permit was dated April 9, 2025, just one day after I sent the apartment rental contract. I noticed that the letter contained serious inconsistencies, including:
1. Describing the permit as "temporary and indefinite":
This description is logically and legally invalid.
According to European Directive 2003/109/EC, the Long-Term Residence Permit is permanent, not temporary.
There is no such thing as an "indefinite and temporary" permit in EU law, Cyprus, or any other sound legal system.
2. Relying on this description to justify its easy revocation:
The attempt to reduce it to the level of a temporary permit aims to bypass the legal protection of the Long-Term Residence Permit.
3. The stated reason for revocation: Absence from Cyprus for more than 3 months:
The alleged absence is false: I have left Cyprus only twice since 2013, the first time for 13 days, and the second time for 4 days (total: only 17 days over more than 11 years).
I returned to Cyprus after the second absence using the new passport whose data was subsequently included in the Long-Term Residence Permit.
4- 2. The letter did not mention any specific dates of absence:
They did not prove when the alleged absence occurred.
I was not provided with any document or evidence justifying the cancellation based on actual data.
I also observed signs of bad faith and the employee's behavior:
1. Using my email correspondence to gather documents against me without responding to my questions:
She deliberately ignored all my legal inquiries.
She did not explain the legal basis for the request for documents or the reason for the refusal, while gathering information that could be used against me.
2. Not informing me in advance of the existence of a formal cancellation procedure:
Although I later received the cancellation letter, I was not given any prior notice or opportunity to provide clarification before the decision was issued.
3. Attempting to obscure my legal status as an indefinite residence permit holder:
She did not mention in her correspondence that I enjoy protection rights under the indefinite residence permit under EU law.
I am a cancer patient who underwent a radical prostatectomy and lymph node removal in February 2020. I also suffer from serious lung disease and difficult psychological and humanitarian conditions, and I do not have the financial or physical ability to face this injustice alone.
I am seeking urgent assistance from:
A lawyer specializing in European residence law.
A human rights organization defending immigrants and residents.
Anyone who can help me file a legal appeal and regain my rights.
I am not asking for charity; I am demanding my legitimate rights guaranteed to me by European Union laws.
I ask that anyone who can help contact me directly.
Thank you to everyone who reads and shares these words.
Respectfully,

[Get Real!]

Your case is long and complex in a not so friendly to foreigners, country.

Add to that significant health issues you mention and I’m starting to wonder if it’s even worth fighting to stay in Cyprus!

At least in Jordan you’ll have some family for support and feel at home living under your culture.

Some fights are worth fighting for but some are clearly not.

You’ve got some tough decisions to make… are the runarounds and expense going to be worth it… only you can decide!

Surely your entry/exit passport stamps can prove how long you were absent from Cyprus during your holidays… did you not show them to your immigration case manager/officer?

--------------------------------------------

Here’s my experience in your country:

In early 1987 I stayed in Jordan for 3 days, back when King Hussein was alive and well.

From the airport I recall the insane taxi ride driving by the King’s palace with the huge crossing swords marking the grand entrance close to that large main roundabout.

At the hotel room in Amman I noticed the TV wasn’t working but I was eager to experience Arab TV programming so I spoke to a guy at the reception.

He replied… “Don’t worry; you’re leaving in 3 days anyway!”

I left the reception rather unhappy wondering how many times he said the same thing to other occupants of that room!

At the Amman shops I bought two pairs of jeans for only 2-3 dinars each, but later when I went home they literally fell apart after 2-3 washes and I threw them away.

There’s a lazy and uncaring attitude that this whole region suffers from!


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Tip: When you feel an injustice from a government department there’s always the Cyprus Ombudsman to file a complaint.

It’s a free service and most cases take about a month to resolve.

https://www.ombudsman.gov.cy/Ombudsman/ ... n/index_en

Go to this office and ask at the reception for a complaint form.

In Nicosia the office is about 100 meters west from the downtown bus station (Agalma).

In Greek it’s pronounced “Epitrobos Thikiseos”.

[sam1967]

Thank you for your concern, but your response makes me feel let down rather than hopeful.
It's true that my case is long and complicated, but that's not because I made a mistake or caused problems. It's because I've tried in every way possible to live with dignity in a country that is supposed to be part of the European Union and respects rights.
I'm not looking for pity, I'm looking for justice.
It's true that I'm sick and burdened with worries, but that doesn't make me give up or give up my legitimate rights. If everyone who faced injustice gave up, there would be no justice left in this world.
As for your suggestion to return to Jordan, it's easy in theory, but returning is not an option when everything you left behind there is gone, and when you've built your life here over more than ten years.
Some battles may be difficult... but they're still worth fighting, not just for me, but because remaining silent about injustice today means that others will be wronged tomorrow.

[Get Real!]

Thank you for your concern, but your response makes me feel let down rather than hopeful.
It's true that my case is long and complicated, but that's not because I made a mistake or caused problems. It's because I've tried in every way possible to live with dignity in a country that is supposed to be part of the European Union and respects rights.
I'm not looking for pity, I'm looking for justice.
It's true that I'm sick and burdened with worries, but that doesn't make me give up or give up my legitimate rights. If everyone who faced injustice gave up, there would be no justice left in this world.
As for your suggestion to return to Jordan, it's easy in theory, but returning is not an option when everything you left behind there is gone, and when you've built your life here over more than ten years.
Some battles may be difficult... but they're still worth fighting, not just for me, but because remaining silent about injustice today means that others will be wronged tomorrow.

Yeah, you could’ve typed all that whining… OR …you could’ve just said thanks for the Ombudsman tip!

It is after-all the best tip you’ll ever get.

Just go there first thing Monday morning and kick some arse!

[RichardB]

Sam1967

Firstly I sympathise with your health issues but these have nothing to do with your problem regarding your residency permit.

I don't understand why you found the need to question your residency 4 years after your card was issued. If you thought you had been given the wrong residency why did you not question this at the time of issue? Why "rock the boat"?

My residency is the same as yours and like you I have cyprus spouse visa, Temporary permit, unlimited residence, this is normal and is renewed after 10 years.

You posted a massive load of EU Regulations (gobbledegook) etc when your visa problem is probably quite an easy fix if you can prove you did not leave the country for more than 3 months.

As GR said go the ombudsman he has given you a link also the address.... But dont go Monday wait untill Wednesday as they are Closed untill then due to the Easter break.

Another alternative is to use one of the specialist immigration companies (it doesn't have to be a lawyer) to sort it out for you.

[sam1967]

Thank you for your comment and sympathy regarding my health. However, I would like to clarify and respond to several points you raised:
1. Health and Residency Are Interlinked: While you mentioned that my health has nothing to do with my residency status, in fact, they are closely related. My health conditions (including cancer, serious lung disease, and an untreated hernia) directly affect my ability to deal with administrative procedures, attend appointments, or even travel to request documents. These factors are relevant, especially when authorities impose unreasonable deadlines or requirements without considering the applicant’s medical situation.
2. Why I Questioned the Residency Now: I didn’t "rock the boat" out of choice. I was forced to question the legality of my residence permit only after my application for the Minimum Guaranteed Income (MGI) was rejected based on false grounds (alleged absence from Cyprus). During the appeal, I discovered that my permit was being misrepresented as “temporary unlimited” instead of what it legally is: Long-Term Residence – Unlimited Duration under EU Directive 2003/109/EC. I had never received clear documentation showing this misleading description until 2024, years after issuance. This is an administrative failure, not mine.
3. My Residency Is Not Like Yours: You mentioned having a Cyprus spouse visa, temporary permit, and unlimited residence, and that it’s normal. However, my permit is not the same as yours. I hold a Long-Term Residence permit granted in 2021, which is governed by specific EU laws and must not be revoked except under strict, legally defined circumstances. It is not a normal temporary residence renewed every 10 years—it carries stronger protection, especially for people who have resided legally for over 5 years and integrated into society, as I have since 2013.
4. The 3-Month Absence Rule: The authorities claim I was absent from Cyprus for more than 3 months, but I have not been out of the country for such a period without justification. Even so, the 3-month rule does not apply to holders of Long-Term Residence – Unlimited Duration under Article 9 and Article 12 of Directive 2003/109/EC unless the absence exceeds 12 consecutive months, and even then, it allows for exceptions such as serious illness—which I suffer from. The cancellation decision did not mention or respect these legal protections.
5. Why the Ombudsman: Yes, I am contacting the Ombudsman not simply to complain but because this case involves legal misrepresentation of my status, lack of fair procedure, and disregard of medical and humanitarian circumstances. I was not informed of the intent to revoke my status, nor given a chance to respond—this alone violates EU procedural rights.
6. Specialist Immigration Companies? I have no objection to using professionals, but as someone who is seriously ill, isolated, and financially incapable, **I seek help