Publication
Acquisition of Cyprus Citizenship by Naturalization Based on Years of Residency: The New Criteria from 2024
Naturalization is the official administrative act, which a country confers citizenship upon individuals previously citizens of another or no country. Following naturalization, the person is provided with all the necessary public documents (identification card, passport, etc.) and is treated, legally, the same way as the rest of the country’s citizens, in both the their rights and obligations...
Eligible Applicants:
Applications for naturalizations are being submitted by foreigners who have completed eight, five or four years of legal residency in the Republic of Cyprus (depending on their residence status) before the application’s submission date, under the condition that the applicant during the last period of twelve months preceding the application’s submission date was residing continuously and legally in the Republic of Cyprus. Periods of absence that do not exceed a total of 90 days, during the last year, do not affect the requirement of continuity.
A. Submission based on 8 years of residence: foreigners (both EU and non-EU citizens) who hold a valid residence permit in Cyprus, should accumulate a total stay in the Republic of Cyprus of at least 7 years within the immediately preceding 10 years from the 12-month period that precedes the application. Applicants should hold a certificate of adequate knowledge of the Greek language of B1 level to be able to apply under this category.
B. Submission based on 5 years of residence: foreigners who are employed at companies registered with the Business Facilitation Unit - BFU (e.g. foreign interest companies, shipping companies, high-tech companies, etc.), with a minimum gross monthly salary of €2,500, and their family members, should accumulate a total stay in the Republic of Cyprus of at least 4 years within the immediately preceding 10 years from the 12-month period that precedes the application. Applicants should hold a certificate of adequate knowledge of the Greek language of A2 level to be able to apply under this category.
C. Submission based on 4 years of residence: foreigners who are employed at companies registered with the Business Facilitation Unit - BFU (e.g. foreign interest companies, shipping companies, high-tech companies, etc.), with a minimum gross monthly salary of €2,500, and their family members, should accumulate a total stay in the Republic of Cyprus of at least 3 years within the immediately preceding 10 years from the 12-month period that precedes the application. Applicants should hold a certificate of adequate knowledge of the Greek language of B1 level to be able to apply under this category.
How to Count the Years of Residence:
Depending on the applicant’s residence status, the period of eight, five or four years of legal residency should be fulfilled, with the last one being consecutive. With the exception of the last twelve months of consecutive residence, there are no restrictions as to the days of absence within the previous years, provided that the required number of days are fulfilled. For example:
-- If the applicant stayed in the country for a specific year for just 30 days: in this case only these 30 days will count from that year and the remaining days will be covered from previous years, within a 10-year span. -- If the applicant is applying based on 8 years of residence: the total number of days to be completed are of 2920 (365 days multiplied by 8 years), with the right of a 90-day “discount” for the last year. These 2920 days should be completed within an 11-year period preceding the application’s submission day.
Note: Regardless of the fact that a 90-day absence from the country is allowed, it is recommended to be absent only if necessary and for the least amount of days possible. Also, where applicable, it is advised to provide documentation justifying any absence occurring in the last 12 months, such as a confirmation from an employer of a business trip abroad.
Required Documentation:
-- Application form M127, fully completed and certified by a District Court of Cyprus (in 2 originals); -- Birth Certificate, of the applicant (original and copy); -- Marriage Certificate, of the applicant (original and copy), (if applicable); -- Divorce Certificate, of the applicant (original and copy), (if applicable); -- Certificate of Clean Criminal Record, of the applicant, issued by the Cyprus Police (original). The said document is valid for 6 months from the day of its issuance; -- Passport(s), of the applicant, showing the personal information, as well as all the stamps of arrival and departure from/to the Republic of Cyprus, during the last 11 years preceding the application’s submission date (original and copy); -- Statement of Residency, of the applicant, in the Republic of Cyprus (original); -- Latest valid Residence Permit, of the applicant, in the Republic of Cyprus (original and copy); -- Alien Book/ A.R.C., of the applicant (original and copy); -- Two consecutive publications in a daily newspaper, of the Republic of Cyprus, by which the applicant publishes the intention to apply for naturalization to acquire the Cyprus citizenship (original); -- Two passport size photos, of the applicant, certified by the Mukhtar of the parish, in which the applicant resides; -- Certificate of adequate knowledge of the Greek language of B1 level, except if applying based on 5 years of residence (see above) then the A2 level certificate is required; -- Certificate of sufficient knowledge of basic elements of the contemporary political and social reality of Cyprus, with a grade of equal or higher than 60%; -- To be of good character (see explanation below); -- Latest valid Rental Agreement, of the applicant duly certified by stamp duty, for a residential property in Cyprus (original and copy), accompanied by copies of recent utility bills for the property on the applicant’s name; or Title Deed for a residential property in Cyprus, on the applicant’s name (original and copy), in case the title deed has not been issued yet a copy of the certified sale agreement accompanied by the relevant deposition receipt from the land registry and payment confirmations would be sufficient; -- Documentation proving that the applicant possesses stable and adequate income, sufficient to maintain themselves and their family members. The term adequate income means a minimum amount of €24,000 annual income, increased by €5,000 for each dependent, except if applying based on 5 or 4 years of residence (see above) then €30,000 annual income should be shown, increased by €5,000 for each dependent. The amount and increase may vary from the number and type of dependents, as well as the applicant’s lifestyle. The documentation acceptable to prove the income is: employment agreement, payslips, statement of social insurance contributions, tax declarations, bank account statements, or any other document may prove the applicant’s income.
Certificate of Greek Language:
A certificate proving adequate knowledge of the Greek language is one of the requirements for submitting the application. If submitting based on 8 or 4 years of residence in Cyprus, exam level B1 will be necessary. In case of submission based on 5 years of residence in Cyprus, exam level A2 will be sufficient. A certificate of proof of knowledge of the Greek language is acceptable only from passing the Greek Proficiency Certification Exams conducted by the Greek Language Center of the Hellenic Republic. For further information on the said examination, please follow the link to the website of the Greek Language Center:
https://www.greek-language.gr/certification/node/2.html
Certificate of Sufficient Knowledge of Basic Elements of the Contemporary Political and Social Reality of Cyprus:
A certificate proving sufficient knowledge of basic elements of the contemporary political and social reality of Cyprus is another requirement for submitting the application. The Examinations Service organizes the aforementioned exam which forms part of the Certification of Greek Language Knowledge (level A2) that the candidates secure through the Greek language exams. For the certificate to be acceptable the grade should be equal or higher than 60%. For further information on the said examination, please follow the link to the website of the Examinations Service:
Definition of being of “Good Character”:
According to article 111B(1)(c) of the Civil Registry Law 141(I) of 2002, evidence tending to demonstrate good character, among other things, include the following:
i. They have not demonstrated by deeds or words a lack of respect for legality or contempt for the Republic of Cyprus; ii. They have not behaved in a manner that constitutes acceptance of the illegal administration in the areas not controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, do not hold any office related to it, and have neither illegally entered, caused damage to, nor intervened in immovable property located in those areas belonging to another lawful owner; iii. They have not engaged in any trade during any war conducted by the Republic of Cyprus, nor have they communicated with the enemy or engaged in operations or participated in any operations in a manner that has assisted the enemy; iv. They have not been convicted in the Republic of Cyprus or abroad to imprisonment for as serious criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment of 5 years or more or dishonorable offense, or one involving moral turpitude; v. They have not sought at the pan-European level by EUROPOL or at the international level by INTERPOL for serious criminal offense, which constitutes an offense in the Republic of Cyprus and carries penalty of imprisonment of 5 years or more, or for another serious offense or dishonorable offense, or one involving moral turpitude; vi. They have not been subject to sanctions and their name is not included in a sanctions list, in accordance with the Provision of Resolutions or Decisions of the Security Council of the United Nations (sanctions) and the Decisions and Regulations of the Council of the European Union (restrictive measures); vii. No criminal case is pending against them in the Republic of Cyprus or abroad for an offense punishable by imprisonment of 3 years or more; viii. They have not entered from an illegal point of entry or entered or stayed in the Republic of Cyprus in violation of any prohibition, condition, restriction or reservation, in accordance with the Republic’s current legislation; ix. They do not pose a risk to public order and public safety in the Republic of Cyprus;
It is understood that in the event of a foreigner’s conviction in another country, it is required that the conviction relates to a crime that constitutes an offense in the Republic of Cyprus and which, as provided above, carries a penalty of imprisonment.
Note: No documentation should be provided by the applicant as evidence of good character, however, any of the above may be a reason for rejection of the application for naturalization.
Document Ratification:
Language: All accompanying documents submitted with the application must be in the Greek or English language. Otherwise, they should be accompanied by an official translation into one of these languages from a sworn translator of the Republic of Cyprus, the Embassy/Consulate of the issuing country, or by a Governmental Department of the issuing country.
Apostille: All accompanying documents submitted with the application must be duly authenticated, by the apostille seal, in case the country has signed the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961. The Ministry of Justice and Public Order of the issuing country, is the central authority responsible for the implementation of the Hague Apostille Convention. Certification of the document should be arranged at the issuing country.
Diplomatic Certification: In case of public accompanying documents issued in countries that have not ratified the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961, these should bear diplomatic certification. This can be done in one of the following ways:
-- By a seal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country, as well as a seal from the Embassy/Consulate of the Republic of Cyprus in that country and after that a seal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cyprus; or -- By a seal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country, as well as a seal from the Embassy/Consulate of that country in the Republic of Cyprus and after that a seal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cyprus; or -- In case the issuing country has not signed the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961 and has not an Embassy/Consulate of the Republic of Cyprus, the documents should be certified by a seal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country and after that from the closest Embassy/Consulate which is accredited in the Republic of Cyprus.
Exceptions: Documents exempted from the obligation of any certification/authentication are governmental documents issued by Russia or Serbia, provided that they are properly signed and bear the official seal of the competent authority that issued them. Also, according to EU regulation 2016/1191, governmental documents issued within the EU, are exempted from authentication and apostille, provided that these are issued by public authorities of an EU Member State and are submitted to the public authorities of another EU Member State.
Timeframes:
To be eligible to apply based on 5 or 4 years of residence (see above), an adult foreigner must meet the following employment-related timeframes:
Employment Duration: The applicant must have been employed for at least 2 years before submitting the application. Employment Status at Submission: The applicant must be employed on the day of submission of the application. Employment Status at Examination: The applicant must also be employed on the day the application is examined.
All three criteria must be satisfied to ensure eligibility for the application.
Fees and Stamps:
For the certification of the application form by the District Court, the amount of €18 in stamps should be affixed. Upon submission of the application with the central offices of the Civil Registry and Migration Department, the amount of €500 is payable as application fees. Following review and approval of the application, an additional fee of €500 is payable to the Civil Registry and Migration Department, for the issuance of the naturalization certificate.
For applicants applying based on 5 or 4 years of residence (see above), they are eligible for an accelerated examination process. This expedited procedure will not exceed 8 months, and it requires an additional fee of €5,000.
In addition to the above, our law firm offers support with the preparation and authentication of documentation, as well as assistance in completing the required forms, all of which are subject to legal fees. For an accurate estimate, please contact one of our specialists for further details.
Cyprus Passport and ID Issuance:
Following acquisition of the Cypriot citizenship/issuance of the naturalization certificate, applications for issuance of a Cypriot passport and ID, may be submitted with the authorities.
We are able to assist you in obtaining the Cyprus citizenship through naturalization.
Contact us now for a free consultation.
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