Citizenship

1. Legal and continuous residence for twelve (12) months immediately before the date of application submission. Periods of absence not exceeding a total of 90 days annually do not interrupt the mentioned time period.
2. During the immediately preceding 10 years from the 12-month period, the applicant must have a legal residence for cumulative periods not less than:

2.1. seven (7) years in total, or,

2.2. five (5) years, if they are a parent or child of a Cypriot citizen, or,

2.3. four (4) years or three (3) years, if they are high-skilled employees*, in a specific type of companies, such as:

• • • • Companies of foreign interests operating in Cyprus, operating in fully equipped independent offices in Cyprus.
      • Cypriot shipping.
      • Cypriot hi-tech/innovation companies with products related to the aerospace industry, computers, IT, technology and communication, pharmaceuticals, biomedical equipment, research and development equipment, electrical machinery, chemicals, non-electrical machinery.
      • Cypriot Pharmaceutical companies or Cypriot companies active in the fields of biogenetics and biotechnology.
      • Registered Companies in the Register of Foreign Companies of the Civil Registry and Migration Department.
      • International Institutions of Higher Institution accredited by the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education.

*High-Skilled Employees are:

A. Individuals holding temporary residence permits for the purpose of employment in companies of foreign interests, provided they hold the position of Director or Specialist or Key personnel.

B. Individuals, regardless of their residence status, who receive €2500 as minimum gross monthly salary, hold a university degree or an equivalent qualification, or certificates of experience in a corresponding employment position for a duration of two (2) years.

3. Good character.

4. Sufficient knowledge of the Greek language at the:

• B1 level, for Applicant as described in point 2.1. above,
• B1 level, for Applicant as described in 2.2. above,
• A2 level, for Applicant who has a legal residence for cumulative periods not less than four (4) years as high-skilled employees as described in point 2.3. above,
• B1 level, for Applicant who has a legal residence for cumulative periods not less than three (3) years as high-skilled employees as described in point 2.3. above.

5. Sufficient knowledge of the basic elements of the contemporary political and social reality of Cyprus.

6. Suitable accommodation and stable and regular financial resources, sufficient for the maintenance of themselves and their family members.

7. Intention to reside in the Republic.

1. Application Form signed and certified before the Court Registrar.
2. Identification Documents:Valid Passport, Original Birth Certificate and Valid Residence Permit.
3. Residence/Travelling Status: Copies of Passport Pages with Arrival and Departure Stamps and Detailed Record of Arrivals and Departures to and from Cyprus.
4. Original Clear Criminal Record Certificate.
5. Family Status:Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate.
6. Residential Status: Title Deed, Sales or Rent Agreement, Utilities, Payment Receipts.
7. Education Status: A Certificate of Success in a Greek language, as applicable, or a certificate from the School of Modern Greek of the University of Cyprus, or a high school diploma from a recognized Secondary Education Institution whose main language of instruction is Greek, or an academic degree in a program whose language of instruction is Greek, as applicable and, a Certificate of Basic Elements of the Contemporary Political and Social Reality of Cyprus of greater than 60% success grade.
8. Publications: Copies of announcements from two (2) consecutive publications in a daily newspaper, notifying the submission of the citizenship naturalization application.
9. Financial and Employment Status: Proof of financial resources, such as Payroll Evidence, Employment Contract, Social Insurance, Income Tax, Bank Accounts, or any other evidence that can prove the Applicant’s income.
10. *High-Skilled Employees Status: A Certificate, either from the Company Facilitation Unit or from the Department of Population and Immigration of Cyprus, confirming that the company they are and/or were employed meets the criteria of the companies described in point 2.3. of the Criteria above, and, proof that they have been employed to the described company for a period of at least two years prior to the submission of the citizenship application.
11. Two recent passport-sized Photographs, certified by the Community Chairman.
12. Payment Receipts for Citizenship Application fees.

*High Skilled Employees and their family members have the right to request for accelerated examination of the application, not exceeding eight (8) months, with the relevant payment of further €5,000.

13. Biometrics Data (Photographs and Fingerprints) and Signature will be collected by the Immigration Department.

* Supporting Documentation issued by competent authorities in countries, other than Cyprus, will need to be officially translated (if needed) and also usually duly certified, depending on which is the issuing country.

** The above consist a brief, not exhaustive, list of the main documentation requested by the Migration Department for the obtaining of a citizenship. The Migration Department might request further supplementary supporting documentation, which will correspondent to each Applicant’s specific personal circumstances.