To acquire Cyprus citizenship, there are three legal methods for foreigners: 

• naturalisation
• marriage to a Cypriot person
• having Cypriot origins

1. Naturalisation 

The naturalisation scheme based on years of residence has revised criteria specifying that an applicant must have 12 months lawful continuously stay in the Republic (up to 90 days absence allowed*), lawful stay of seven years (7x 365 days = 2555 days of stay**) in the Republic out of the 10 years before the 12 months, good character (police criminal record), sufficient knowledge of Greek, adequate understanding of the socio-political realities in the Republic, and adequate accommodation and financial means to support themselves and their families (contract of sale or rental, rental payment and utility receipts, proof of salary, employment contract, income tax statement, social security and bank account documentation), submission of the application.

The new citizenship rules for highly skilled personnel working in research and innovation are also known as the Cyprus Golden Knowledge Program. Highly skilled foreign workers can apply for citizenship after four or five years of residence if they pass a Greek language test and further must have:

– Twelve months of lawful stay in the Republic (up to 90 days’ absence allowed*) plus lawful stay of 3 years and a certificate B1 in the Greek language, OR, 12 months of lawful stay in the Republic (up to 90 days’ absence allowed*) plus lawful stay of 4 years and a certificate A2 in the Greek language. The examinations are conducted via the Ministry of Education. Good character (police criminal record) – Sufficient understanding of the socio-political realities in the Republic (at least 60% at the relevant examinations conducted by the Ministry of Education) – Adequate accommodation and stable and regular financial means to support themselves and their families (contract of sale or rental, rental payment and utility receipts, proof of salary, employment contract, income tax statement, social security and bank account documentation).

2. Marriage 

For citizenship by marriage, spouses of Cypriots who have been married for three years and resided in Cyprus for two years before the application date can obtain citizenship through marriage. Additionally, spouses of Cypriots living abroad are entitled to apply after completing at least three years of marriage. If the couple has completed five years of marriage and has at least one child, it is unnecessary to provide an explanation for the request of Cypriot citizenship.

3. Cypriot origins 

Cyprus citizenship by descent can be acquired through six different methods, which are based on the individual’s date of birth, age, and parentage. The relevant date for births is 16 August 1960, the day Cyprus gained independence from the UK. The required application form, supporting documents, and fee differ based on the specific case. In exceptional cases, individuals who have provided significant service to the Republic may be granted honorary citizenship for reasons of public interest. The terms and conditions for honorary citizenship are determined by the Council of Ministers.

Honorary citizenship

Exceptional individuals who have provided significant service to the Republic may be granted honorary citizenship in the public interest, subject to terms and conditions set by the Council of Ministers. Applications for citizenship may be submitted to the Civil Registry and Migration Department, district offices in cities, or at embassies/consulates abroad. The Citizenship Section of the Civil Registry and Migration Department will handle all applications. If you reside outside of Cyprus, you are required to make your application at the Cyprus Embassy in your country. After completing the application process, you are eligible to apply for an ID card and a passport.

Submission of application

The submission of citizenship applications can be done at the Civil Registry and Migration Department, the district offices in each city, or at embassies/consulates abroad. All applications will be processed by the Citizenship Section of the Civil Registry and Migration Department. If you are residing outside of Cyprus, you should submit your application at the Cyprus Embassy in your country. After completing the application process, you can proceed to apply for an ID card and a passport. Cyprus permits dual citizenship, allowing individuals to hold Cypriot citizenship alongside another country’s citizenship without any restrictions from the Cypriot government. 

Family members 

Family members including spouses, partners, and dependent adult children with disabilities, are also eligible to apply for citizenship. They are required to have resided in the country for at least seven calendar years within the previous eleven years. Additionally, they must have legally lived in Cyprus for one year before applying, with the allowance of being absent for up to 90 days in the previous year. They must also meet the language requirements.

Our law firm offers comprehensive assistance throughout the entire citizenship application process, including: 

✓ Providing guidance on necessary applications, documents, and eligibility

✓ Completing application forms to the best of our ability 

✓ Liaising with the relevant authorities before and after the application 

✓ Helping gather the required documents 

✓ Submitting properly the application 

✓ Keeping you updated on the application’s status and progress 

✓ Assisting with obtaining the passport and identity card

Feel free to reach out to us for a complimentary personal consultation to discover more about our competitively priced services.