Documents Needed to Open a Bank Account in Cyprus (2026)

For Revolut or Wise: just your passport and a selfie, nothing else. For a local Cypriot bank: passport, proof of address dated within three months, your home country tax ID, and proof of income. Non-residents and non-EU citizens need extra documents on top of that. This guide covers everything, for every bank, with a printable checklist at the end.

Table of Contents

• Revolut and Wise: what you actually need
• Core documents for local Cypriot banks
• Proof of income: what counts
• Documents for non-residents
• Additional documents for non-EU citizens
• Bank-by-bank requirements at a glance
• Tips that prevent a wasted trip
• Your printable checklist
• What to do if you don’t have everything yet
• Frequently asked questions

Revolut and Wise: What You Actually Need

Passport. Selfie. Done.

Revolut and Wise open fully online using nothing but a government-issued ID and a photo taken in the app. No proof of address. No bank statements. No employment contract. No branch visit. Open in 15 minutes from anywhere in the world.

This is the most important thing in this guide. If you’re moving to Cyprus soon and don’t have your documents sorted yet, open Revolut now. You’ll have a working EU IBAN before your flight lands. Tackle the local bank account once you’ve settled in and have your proof of address.

Open Revolut free: revolut.com/referral/

Core Documents for Local Cypriot Banks

Every traditional Cypriot bank will ask for these. No exceptions, no matter which branch or which account type.

1. Valid Passport (Original)

Bring the original. Not a photocopy, not a photo on your phone. Banks make their own copy at the counter. Some banks accept a national ID card for EU citizens, but a passport is always the safer choice.

Your passport must be valid. One expiring in the next three months may be rejected at some branches. Renew it before your appointment if it’s close.

2. Proof of Address (Dated Within 3 Months)

This is where most newcomers run into trouble. Banks want a document proving where you live, dated within the last three months, with your full name and full address on it.

Accepted for a Cyprus address:

• EAC electricity bill in your name (the gold standard)
• Water board bill in your name
• Internet or landline bill (mobile phone bills are not accepted)
• Official government letter to your Cyprus address
• Municipality tax notice
• MEU1 registration card (EU citizens who have registered residency in Cyprus)
• Yellow Slip or ARC (Alien Registration Certificate, for non-EU nationals)

Accepted for a foreign address (if you don’t have a Cyprus address yet):

• Utility bill from your home country
• Bank statement from your home country bank
• Official government letter (HMRC letter, tax assessment, etc.)

All of these must be within the last three months. A document from four months ago will be rejected.

If you’ve just arrived and have nothing with a Cyprus address yet, a signed and notarised letter from your landlord confirming your tenancy is accepted at some banks, particularly AstroBank and Ancoria Bank. See our full guide to getting proof of address in Cyprus if this is a problem.

3. Tax Identification Number (TIN)

Every bank is required by Central Bank of Cyprus rules to collect your tax identification number from your country of tax residence. This is part of the EU’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) framework and applies to every account opening.

• UK nationals: National Insurance (NI) number
• Irish nationals: PPS number
• US nationals: Social Security Number (SSN)
• All others: your national equivalent

If you’ve already registered with TAXISnet (Cyprus’s tax authority), bring your Cyprus TIN as well.

Proof of Income: What Counts

Cypriot banks must verify the source of your funds. This is a Know Your Customer (KYC) requirement that applies to every account opening in every EU country. It’s not personal. Come prepared.

Employed:

• Last 3 payslips (3 months minimum, 6 is better)
• Employment contract, full document not just the offer letter

Retired:

• Pension statement or pension award letter showing monthly amount
• Last 3 months of bank statements showing pension deposits arriving

Self-employed or freelance:

• Last year’s tax return or professionally prepared accounts
• 6 months of bank statements showing client payments
• Invoices or client contracts if your freelance history is short

Living off savings or investments:

• Investment account statements
• Property sale documents if funds came from a recent sale
• Bank statements showing the origin of the funds

Bring more than they ask for. Bringing 6 months of statements instead of 3 costs you nothing and eliminates the most common reason for a second appointment.

Documents for Non-Residents

All traditional Cypriot banks accept non-residents, but you’ll need to provide more context than a Cyprus resident would. Non-residents are applicants who don’t yet have a Cyprus address or residency registration.

In addition to the standard set:

• Foreign proof of address (utility bill or bank statement from your home country, within 3 months)
• Evidence of connection to Cyprus: an employment offer letter from a Cyprus company, a signed rental contract, property ownership documents, or a Cyprus business registration
• A reference letter from your Cyprus employer if you have one at this stage

Some banks ask non-residents to explain in writing why they want a Cyprus bank account. Keep it brief and factual. “I am relocating to Cyprus for employment with [company name] and require a local account” is enough.

For a full breakdown of what non-residents need at each bank, see our non-resident bank account guide.

Additional Documents for Non-EU Citizens

British nationals post-Brexit, Americans, Israelis, Ukrainians, and all other non-EU nationals need everything above, plus evidence of their legal status and connection to Cyprus.

Proof of legal status (bring whatever applies to you):

• Valid visa (work, student, or residence permit)
• Yellow Slip or Alien Registration Certificate (ARC) if already registered
• Employment permit from the Cyprus Civil Registry and Migration Department
• Confirmation letter for a pending residence permit application

Enhanced source of funds (6 to 12 months, not 3):

• Extended bank statements showing consistent income
• Employer reference letter on company letterhead
• For business owners: company incorporation documents and accounts

American nationals face an extra layer. US citizens are subject to FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), which requires foreign banks to report US-held accounts to the IRS. Some Cypriot banks decline Americans entirely to avoid the administrative burden. AstroBank and Ancoria Bank are the most accommodating. For the full picture on specific nationalities, see our guide for non-EU citizens.

Bank-by-Bank Requirements at a Glance

“Partial” means the bank accepts non-residents but requires additional documentation and applies closer scrutiny.

Tips That Prevent a Wasted Trip

Always bring originals. Banks photocopy your documents at the counter. Arriving with only photocopies gets your appointment rescheduled. This is the single most common mistake people make.

Book in advance. Don’t walk in cold. Call the branch or book through the bank’s website. Ask specifically for a slot with an English-speaking officer for new account openings. Most major branches in Limassol, Paphos, and Larnaca offer this.

Translate non-English documents. Any document not in English or Greek needs a certified translation before your appointment. English-language documents are accepted at all banks. Russian, Ukrainian, Hebrew, and other language documents need translation, sometimes by a Bar Association-certified translator.

Apostille documents if required. Official documents from outside the EU, particularly notarised ones, may need an Apostille stamp from the issuing country’s authority. Check with your specific branch before attending.

Bring a buffer. If they ask for 3 months of bank statements, bring 6. If they ask for 6, bring 12. The additional printing cost is nothing compared to a second branch visit.

Your Printable Checklist

Use this before your branch appointment.

Everyone (local bank):

• Original passport (valid, not expiring soon)
• Proof of address dated within 3 months
• Home country Tax Identification Number
• 6 months bank statements

Income evidence, bring what applies:

• Last 3 payslips
• Full employment contract
• Pension statement or award letter
• Self-employment accounts or most recent tax return
• Investment or savings statements

Non-residents, add:

• Foreign proof of address from home country
• Evidence of connection to Cyprus (rental contract, employment offer, property documents)

Non-EU citizens, add:

• Valid visa or residency permit
• Yellow Slip or ARC if you have one
• 6 to 12 months bank statements (not 3)
• Employer reference letter on company letterhead

What to Do If You Don’t Have Everything Yet

It happens. You’ve just arrived. Your utility bill is in the landlord’s name. Your employment contract is still being finalised. Your home country tax ID takes a week to retrieve.

Don’t wait for a local bank account. Open Revolut today. It needs nothing, takes 15 minutes, and gives you a working EU IBAN straight away. It handles salary, bill payments, rent transfers, and everyday spending without any of the documentation a local bank requires.

Then spend the next few weeks gathering what you need. Once you have an EAC electricity bill in your name, usually available four to six weeks after setting up your electricity account at eac.com.cy, you have the strongest proof of address available. Book the branch appointment then.

Rushing a local bank application with an incomplete document pack almost always sets you back further than waiting three more weeks with Revolut covering everything in the meantime.

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents do I need to open a bank account in Cyprus? For Revolut or Wise: just your passport and a selfie in the app. For a traditional Cypriot bank: your passport, proof of address dated within 3 months, your home country tax ID number, and proof of income or source of funds. Non-residents and non-EU citizens need additional documentation on top.

Is proof of address required for a Cyprus bank account? Not for Revolut or Wise, which need no proof of address at all. For traditional Cypriot banks, yes. A document showing your full name and address dated within the last 3 months is required. Foreign proof of address from your home country is accepted at all major banks if you don’t have a Cyprus address yet.

What counts as proof of address for a Cyprus bank account? An EAC electricity bill, water board bill, internet bill (not mobile), official government letter, or bank statement, all dated within 3 months. Your MEU1 card (EU citizens) or Yellow Slip (non-EU) is also accepted. Some banks accept a rental agreement or a notarised landlord letter for very recent arrivals without utility bills yet.

Do I need proof of income to open a Cyprus bank account? Yes, for all traditional Cypriot banks. They’re required by AML law to verify the source of your funds. Payslips, employment contract, pension statement, or self-employment accounts all work. Revolut and Wise need no proof of income.

How many months of bank statements do I need? Most local banks ask for 3 months. Bring 6. If you’re a non-EU citizen, bring 6 to 12. Banks use statements to verify income consistency and fund origins.

Can I open a Cyprus bank account without a Cyprus address? Yes. All traditional Cypriot banks accept foreign proof of address from your home country. You don’t need a Cyprus address to open an account. Revolut and Wise need no address at all.

Do I need to translate documents into Greek or English? Any document not in English or Greek needs a certified translation before your bank appointment. English-language documents are accepted at all banks without translation. Payslips or bank statements in Russian, Ukrainian, Hebrew, or other languages need translating first.

Compare all seven Cyprus banks

How to open a bank account in Cyprus: full guide

Proof of address in Cyprus: how to get it