Both tax a resident on worldwide income. Cyprus's lowest cited income floor is $911 a month, against $2,741 in Spain on a route that bars paid work. Cyprus naturalises after 7 years of residence, and Spain naturalises after 10 years of residence.
Cyprus sources verified 2026-09-11. Spain sources verified 2026-07-12.
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| CyprusSources verified 2026-09-11 | SpainSources verified 2026-07-12 |
|---|---|
| Personal income tax | |
| WorldwideIndividual Income Tax Return (Tax Department, Gov.cy) | WorldwideLey 35/2006 (LIRPF), Articulos 1 y 2 (BOE consolidated text) |
| Lowest cited income floor, a month | |
$911 Passive income (rentista)Immigration Permits, categories A to F (Migration Department, Gov.cy) | $2,741 Passive income (rentista)Bars paid work, remote includedNon-working Residency Visa, Embassy of Spain in Washington (exteriores.gob.es) |
| Lowest cited investment route | |
$342,540 InvestorImmigration Permits for Investors, Regulation 6(2) (Migration Department, Gov.cy) | Not in this dossier yet |
| Citizenship | |
Residence first7 yrs | Residence first10 yrs |
| Your current passport | |
| Kept on naturalisationRenunciation of Citizenship / Nationality (Ministry of Interior, Gov.cy) | Given up on naturalisationCodigo Civil, Articulo 23 (BOE consolidated text) |
| EU access and English | |
| EU accessEnglish widely spoken | EU accessEnglish not widespread |
* OmniFlag's own assessment, not a figure from a statute.
The full comparison, in words
Cyprus and Spain differ on the three things a mover weighs first: what each taxes, the cheapest cited way in, and how long citizenship takes. On tax, both tax a resident on worldwide income. On entry, Cyprus's lowest cited income floor is $911 a month on its passive income (rentista) route. Spain's lowest cited income floor is $2,741 a month on its passive income (rentista) route, and the route bars paid work, remote work included. On citizenship, Cyprus naturalises after 7 years of residence, and Spain naturalises after 10 years of residence. The table below sets every cited figure side by side, and each dossier carries the full detail.
Common questions
Does Cyprus or Spain tax foreign income?
Cyprus: Worldwide income for a tax resident. A non-resident declares only Cyprus-source income. Spain: Worldwide income, including a pension from another country, subject to the applicable treaty.
When do Cyprus and Spain treat you as tax resident?
Cyprus: 183-day rule, more than 183 days in a calendar year. 60-day rule, At least 60 days, no more than 183 days in any other country, plus a home and a business or job in Cyprus. Spain: Day count, More than 183 days in Spain during a calendar year. Economic interests, The main base of your economic interests in Spain, whatever the day count. A tax residency test runs separately from the permit that lets you live there, so holding one does not settle the other.
What is the cheapest cited way to live in Cyprus or Spain?
Cyprus's lowest cited income floor is $911 a month on its passive income (rentista) route. Spain's lowest cited income floor is $2,741 a month on its passive income (rentista) route, and the route bars paid work, remote work included.
Which grants citizenship sooner, Cyprus or Spain?
Cyprus naturalises after 7 years of residence. Spain naturalises after 10 years of residence. Cyprus lets you keep your current passport. Spain asks you to give your current passport up.
Read each dossier in full
Mediterranean
Cyprus
Non-domiciled tax status, residency you can plan around, and permit routes for retirees, investors, and remote workers.
- Non-dom exemption
- 17 of 20 yrs
- Residency test
- 60 days
Southern Europe
Spain
Residence for income earned abroad, a flat-rate tax window for new arrivals, and a defined route to a passport.
- Beckham rate
- 24%
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