Short-term rental in Cyprus: rules and advice for owners
What the law in Cyprus asks of owners who let their home on Airbnb or Booking, which cities are open or restricted, and our practical advice. Updated 12/10/2026.
Registration with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism
Cyprus requires any owner, beneficial occupier or business offering self-catering tourist accommodation, such as furnished flats, houses or villas let for short stays, to register with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism. The legal basis is the law regulating hotels and tourist accommodation, L. 9(I)/2020, as amended by L. 7(I)/2022. Applicants supply a tax identification number, meet minimum technical and operational specifications and hold fire and public liability insurance; the registration fee is €222 for three years. The number and the special mark assigned must appear on every platform and every advert.
National rules, local charges
Registration is handled at national level, and we have found no quota or cap on nights for this category. Local authorities come in through the overnight fees charged on stays, and through the ordinary building and planning rules that apply to the property.
Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos
All four cities on our list follow the same national registration, open to private individuals and companies alike. The differences lie in the property: its permits, the upkeep of common areas and the rules of the owners' association, which matter for insurance and for relations with neighbours.
Tax and ongoing compliance
Short-let revenue is subject to income tax and, where the thresholds are met, to VAT. Registration can be revoked for false information, cessation of activity, non-renewal or repeated breaches of the law, so insurance and renewals need to stay current. Since 20 May 2026 the EU short-term rental regulation also frames how platforms display registration numbers and share data with the authorities.
What we suggest
Gather the tax number, the insurance certificate and the property's permits before applying, and put the three-year renewal in the diary. Treat the registration number as a licence plate: without it the listing should not go live. If you own through a company, align the application with the entity that actually receives the income. Send us the details; we study every request and tell you honestly whether and how we can help.
Where it earns most: AirDNA markets
| Market | Avg nightly rate | Occupancy | Avg yearly revenue | Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protaras | €243 | 62% | €29,646 | registration |
| Aphrodite Hills | €277 | 54% | €27,994 | registration |
| Chlorakas | €128 | 70% | €26,005 | registration |
AirDNA 2026, markets with at least 150 active listings and more than $30,000 of yearly revenue per listing, converted at 1 EUR = 1.1567 USD. These are the strongest markets, not the national average, and not a promise.
Neighbouring countries
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Frequently asked questions
Is Airbnb legal in Cyprus?
Cyprus asks every short-let host to register with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and show the number on all listings, with no quota or night cap.
Can Hexuvium manage my property in Cyprus?
Send us your address and a short description. We check the national and local rules for your exact property in Cyprus, then tell you honestly whether and how we can help — free and without obligation.
Sources
- Coucounis Law — Regulation of self-catering accommodation (2023)
- Gov.cy Deputy Ministry of Tourism — Registration of self-service accommodations in the registry (consulté 2026-09-27 (page inaccessible, 403))
Thinking of renting out your home?
Tell us about your property: we study every request, check the local rules with you and tell you honestly whether and how we can help. Free and without obligation — Hexuvium, managing short-term rentals since 2015.
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