Yes. Since 6 February 2023 anyone advertising or renting self-catering accommodation in Cyprus must be registered with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and must display a registration number on every listing. Renting without one is a criminal offence.
What counts as “self-catering accommodation”
The law is broader than most owners expect. Under Law 34(I)/2019, as amended by Law 9(I)/2020, it covers a furnished villa, a house, or an entire apartment let as a whole unit — whether or not you consider it a tourism business. Letting one apartment on Airbnb a few weekends a year is in scope exactly as a portfolio of villas is.
Two things take you outside it: letting a room rather than the whole unit, and letting on a long-term tenancy. If you are letting the whole property short-term, you need to register.
What you need before you apply
Most delays happen here rather than at the Ministry. The application requires evidence that:
- the property was built in line with its building permit and planning permission
- it meets the technical specifications and minimum amenity standards for its category
- the owner is registered with the Cyprus Tax Department — routinely the step owners have skipped
- the property is insured against fire and public liability
How to register, step by step
- Gather the evidence above. Building permit, planning permission, tax registration, insurance certificate.
- Submit the application and solemn declaration to the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, through the gov.cy service for self-service accommodation establishments.
- Pay the registration fee for your category — villa, house or apartment.
- Wait for examination. The law provides for applications to be examined within two months.
- Receive your registration number and special label, then put the number on every listing — Airbnb, Booking.com, your own site, and any other advertising or transaction.
The Deputy Ministry’s Larnaca office can be reached on 24 658777.
What it costs and how long it lasts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Registration fee | €222 per unit, covering the full three-year term. |
| Validity | Three years |
| Renewal | Apply within the three months before your term expires |
| Processing | Examined within two months of application |
What happens if you don’t register
Enforcement has moved from warnings to action, driven in part by the hotel sector’s complaints about unequal treatment. Around 8,500 units are now on the register, up from 8,248 at the start of 2025 — which tells you how many owners are going through the process properly, and how much smaller the unregistered pool is getting.
What changed on 20 May 2026
This is the part most owners have not caught up with. EU Regulation 2024/1028 began to apply across the Union on 20 May 2026, and it changes enforcement from something that depends on inspection to something that runs on data.
- Platforms must display and verify registration numbers, and run random checks to identify illegal listings
- Authorities can require platforms to remove non-compliant listings
- Platforms share monthly data on guest stays and nights booked with the authorities, through a Single Digital Entry Point in each member state
The regulation operates on an opt-in basis — a member state is not obliged to apply it. But if it runs a registration scheme or asks platforms for data, it must do so through this framework. Cyprus has had a registration scheme since 2023, so Cypriot owners are firmly inside it.
Frequently asked questions
I only rent my apartment a few weeks a year. Do I still need to register?
Yes. The law applies to the act of advertising or letting self-catering accommodation, not to how often you do it or whether you regard it as a business. There is no minimum-nights exemption in the Cyprus framework.
I live abroad and rent out a property in Cyprus. Does this apply to me?
Yes. The obligation attaches to the property and to whoever advertises or lets it. Non-resident owners must also register with the Cyprus Tax Department, because income from immovable property in Cyprus is taxable in Cyprus regardless of where you live.
How long does registration take?
The law provides for applications to be examined within two months. In practice the timeline depends far more on how quickly you can produce the building permit, planning permission, tax registration and insurance evidence — that is where most of the delay sits.
Do I have to show the registration number on Airbnb and Booking.com?
Yes. The number must appear in every advertisement, promotion and transaction relating to the property. Since 20 May 2026 the platforms are also required to display and verify it, and to run random checks — so a missing or invalid number is now visible to the platform as well as to the authorities.
What happens if I rent without registering?
It is a criminal offence. On conviction the penalty is a fine of up to €5,000, imprisonment of up to one year, or both, plus up to €200 per day if the offence continues after conviction.
Does registering mean I have to pay tax on the income?
Registration and taxation are linked by design — proof of Tax Department registration is part of the application. Once registered you must declare the rental income and pay any tax arising. Since May 2026 platforms report your booked nights to the authorities monthly, so declared income and actual activity can be compared directly.
My registration is about to expire. When do I renew?
Registration lasts three years. Apply for renewal within the three months before your current term expires — do not let it lapse, because continuing to operate on an expired permit is treated the same way as never having registered.
Are the rules different in Larnaca, Limassol or Paphos?
The registration requirement is national and identical everywhere. What differs is the municipal overlay — Limassol applies the most restrictive local conditions, including restrictions in some residential-only neighbourhoods and gated complexes, and buildings may require written consent from the management committee. Always check the position for the specific building before you buy or commit.
We handle registration as part of managing your property
Urbanica manages more than 200 short-term rental units across Cyprus. If you would rather not deal with permits, renewals and platform compliance yourself, we do it as a matter of course — including for owners who lease their property to us on a fixed monthly rent.
This guide is general information about Cyprus short-term rental regulation and is not legal or tax advice. Rules change and individual circumstances differ — confirm your own position with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism or a qualified Cyprus lawyer before acting. Written by Constantinos Karakontis, President of the Cyprus Short Term Rental Association. Last reviewed 3 August 2026.