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Updated: April 02, 2024
In 2024 there are three legal ways in which a foreigner can get Cypriot citizenship:
The Cyprus Citizenship by Investment Program, the fourth option for obtaining a passport, was abolished on November 1, 2020. Investors interested in obtaining Cypriot citizenship must go through the residency by investment path, which involves buying real estate and residing on the island as permanent residents for five years.
In short, to become a Cyprus citizen, you must be married to a Cypriot citizen for at least 3 years, or have Cyprus roots, or live in Cyprus for 7 years (2555 days) with a temporary residence permit or 5 years (1825 days) as a permanent resident.
Below is a detailed description of each application type and required documents.
Since 19 December 2023, there have been revised criteria for naturalisation based on years of residence. These criteria specify that an applicant must have:
*Level B1 means you can handle everyday communication situations on your own.
On November 30th, 2023, an amendment to the Civil Registry Law was passed. The amendment allows highly skilled foreign workers to obtain Cypriot citizenship after residing in Cyprus for a shorter period, specifically 4 to 5 years (depending on their knowledge of the Greek language).
Read more about Cyprus citizenship legislation updates in 2023.
The applicant must prepare a complete list of entries and departures from Cyprus (based on passport stamps), confirming the above required days of stay. Each family member has to file a separate application and pay the required fee.
As of April 2024, the application processing is estimated to take 2-3 years. The new law specifies that applications for highly skilled foreign workers must be processed within eight months.
Application submission – €500
Plus, on approval – €500
Male applicants who acquire Cyprus citizenship by naturalisation (years of residence) are obliged for military service. This obligation is as follows:
If you have not been given any military documents upon acquiring citizenship, contact the military office in the district where you applied for citizenship. They will give you your army number and relevant documents.
Military conscription happens every July (the first ten days) at the nearest military camp. Your nearest military office will explain the details, so contact them when you acquire citizenship. The address for each district is available at http://www.army.gov.cy/el/contact.
Spouses of Cypriots who have been married for 3 years and resided in Cyprus for 2 years before the application date can obtain Cyprus citizenship through marriage.
Also, spouses of Cypriots living abroad are entitled to apply when they have completed at least three years of marriage. In this case, the couple must explain why Cypriot citizenship is requested. If the couple has completed five years of marriage and has at least one child, it is unnecessary to provide the above explanation.
Government fees for submission – €300
Application processing time is about 1-2 years
Cyprus citizenship by descent can be obtained in one of six ways, which relate to the date of birth, age, i.e. whether the applicant is a minor or an adult, and parentage, i.e. which parent is Cypriot. The relevant date concerning births is 16 August 1960, when Cyprus gained independence from the UK. The application form, accompanying documents, and fee vary depending on the case.
The six ways are the following:
Male individuals between 18 and 45 who acquire Cypriot citizenship must carry out a 14-month military service if either of their parents is of Cypriot origin.
If they or their parents have lived abroad for more than 10 years, they will do a reduced military service as follows:
Conscription and recruitment are for July each year (the first ten days). Enlisting is an obligation, so contact your local military office as soon as you get citizenship.
For the M126 only
Government fees
Government Fees for M123 - €50 and one stamp of €8,54.
The above applications can be submitted to the Civil Registry and Migration Department, the district offices in each city, or at embassies/consulates abroad. The Citizenship Section of the Civil Registry and Migration Department will process all the applications.
If you live outside of Cyprus, you should apply at the Cyprus Embassy in your country.
Upon completing the application process, you may apply for an ID card and a passport.
Please note that:
The documents with (*) are required to be translated into English or Greek and bear the «APOSTILLE» Stamp OR be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country that will issue them and also by the Cyprus Embassy of that Country and the Ministry of Foreign affairs in Cyprus.
The Press and Information Office, a Consular Authority of the issuing country, or a governmental department/service of the issuing country should translate the documents.
Cyprus citizenship by investment program is no longer available for applications in 2024 because it was suspended in 2020. Please check our Cyprus residency by investment program page for the alternative way to get citizenship in 5 years.
Cyprus allows dual citizenship, meaning individuals can hold Cypriot citizenship alongside another country's citizenship without any restrictions from the Cypriot government.
At our law firm, we provide comprehensive support for all stages of your citizenship application process:
Contact us for a free personal consultation and learn about our competitive fee services.
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