Cyprus Citizenship

Conditions for Obtaining Cyprus Citizenship

✅ By Descent

• Applicants born abroad after August 16, 1960, with a Cypriot father at the time of their birth, or born abroad after June 11, 1999, with a Cypriot mother at the time of their birth, may be eligible.

✅ By Marriage to a Cypriot Citizen

Cyprus law provides two main routes to obtain citizenship through marriage:

1. Spouses residing in Cyprus: Foreign spouses of Cypriot citizens living on the island can apply for Cypriot citizenship after three years of marriage and two years of residence in Cyprus at the time of application. This pathway offers a relatively straightforward and fast track to citizenship for spouses living in Cyprus.
2. Spouses residing abroad: For spouses of Cypriot citizens residing outside Cyprus, citizenship can be applied for after three years of marriage. However, the couple must provide substantial reasons for their request if married for less than five years and having at least one common child.

The processing time for this type of application is approximately 1-2 years.

✅ By Permanent Residence in Cyprus – Naturalization:

The naturalization process for Cyprus citizenship is based on the amount of time spent on the island. Applicants can apply after living in Cyprus for either 5 or 7 years, depending on their residency status.

• Cases requiring 7 years of residency include foreigners with permits for study, self-employment, sports, coaching, employment with Cypriot or foreign employers, and their adult spouses, children, or dependents.
• The residency requirement can be reduced to 5 years for applicants who are either parents of Cypriot citizens or holders of the “Golden Visa.”

Important Note: In early June 2023, a bill was introduced in the Cyprus Parliament regarding a simplified procedure for granting Cypriot citizenship. This new procedure will be available to highly skilled professionals from third countries working for Cypriot or international businesses in Cyprus who have resided on the island for only three or four years, instead of the standard seven-year naturalization period. However, proficiency in the Greek language at the A2 or B1 level will be a mandatory requirement. This innovation will offer additional opportunities for talented professionals wishing to become Cypriot citizens in a shorter timeframe.

✅ Residence in Cyprus 4-5 years:

On November 30, 2023, the “Law on Granting Citizenship to Highly Qualified Foreign Specialists in an Expedited Procedure” was approved in Cyprus.

This new procedure is available to highly paid third country professionals working for Cypriot companies or international business companies in Cyprus and who have lived in Cyprus not the standard seven years required in the normal naturalization procedure, but only four or five years. However, a prerequisite is knowledge of the Greek language at level A2 or B1. This innovation will open up additional opportunities for talented professionals and specialists who wish to become citizens of Cyprus in a shorter period of time.

Read more: Naturalization process for highly qualified professionals – https://investment-cyprus.com/cyprus-simplifies-naturalization-process-for-highly-qualified-professionals/

Key Criteria for Naturalization in Cyprus

To qualify for Cyprus citizenship through naturalization, a candidate must meet the following criteria:

1. Valid Residence Permit (Permanent Residence) in Cyprus: The applicant must hold a valid residence permit in Cyprus.
2. Continuous Residence in Cyprus: The candidate must have continuously resided in Cyprus for the last 12 months immediately preceding the submission of the citizenship application.
3. Timely Payment of Taxes: The applicant must provide evidence of timely tax payments in Cyprus.
4. Clean Criminal Record: The candidate must submit evidence of having no criminal convictions, administrative fines, or ongoing legal proceedings to demonstrate their good character.
5. Proficiency in the Greek Language: Proficiency in the Greek language is a requirement for naturalization as a Cypriot citizen.

We provide a full range of legal services related to this process, including consultations, document preparation, and assistance at every stage.

Feel free to contact us, and we would be delighted to welcome you to our office in Larnaca!