Cyprus is moving to fast-track issuance of planning and building permits, minimising the waiting time to just 2-3 weeks.
As per a popular Cyprus Property News online magazine, Interior Minister Nicos Nouris said a project to fast-track building permits would be set-in-motion on October 1 to bring down the time needed to process an application from an average 18 months to just 10 or 20 days.
He said that with the fast-track process, those submitting their applications in writing will obtain their permit within 20 days while those who apply online can have the permit in their hands within 10 days.
The Interior Minister acknowledged that, “the current procedure for granting planning or building permits is exceedingly difficult and time consuming, whether it concerns a multi-million project or a simple residence”.
He said that at present, the majority are applications by ordinary citizens and concern about 62% of planning permits.
As of October 1, applications can be submitted to all district offices of the planning department, as well as the four main municipalities – Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos.
