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Updated: November 01, 2023
Interest in Cypriot citizenship has increased significantly as non-EU citizens use Cyprus as a base for business activities and family life. Also, because of Brexit, many Cypriot origin individuals are applying for Cyprus Passport based on that.
There are four legal ways in which a foreigner can get Cypriot citizenship:
In short, to become a Cyprus citizen, you must:
Below is a detailed description of each application type and required documents.
Cyprus citizenship can be obtained by foreigners who have completed a total of 7 years of legal residence in Cyprus (2555 days of staying in Cyprus) before the application date. The applicant must have resided continuously in Cyprus through the last 1 year before applying. In cases of applicants who are children or parents of Cypriot citizens, the time required is 5 years rather than 7.
The same 5 years period requirement applies to holders of permanent residency status or successful applicants of the Cyprus residency by investment program.
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 October 2023, the application processing is estimated to take 2-3 years.
Application submission – €500
Plus, on approval – €500
Spouses of Cypriots who have been married for 3 years and have resided in Cyprus for 2 years prior to the application date can obtain 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 military service if their parents (or one of their parents) are of Cypriot origin. The duration of the service is 14 months.
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. Enlisting is an obligation, so contact your local military office as soon as you get citizenship.
Government Fees for M123 - €50
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 do the translation.
The government of Cyprus, as part of its policies to attract foreign investment, has established the Cyprus Investment Programme.
Cyprus citizenship by investment program is no longer available for applications in 2023 because it was suspended in 2020. Please check our Cyprus residency by investment program page for the alternative way to get Cypriot 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.
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