To get a Cyprus passport, many applicants follow the naturalisation route. To qualify, a foreigner needs to live in the country for at least 8 out of the last 11 years before submitting the application.
It is also possible to obtain Cyprus citizenship by descent, marriage, or investment. The direct citizenship by investment program was closed in 2020. However, wealthy individuals can still become permanent residents by investing in real estate. They may later qualify for Cyprus citizenship by naturalisation.
There are three main ways to obtain Cyprus citizenship. Each has its conditions and timeline:
Cyprus also has a special naturalisation pathway for highly qualified employees. They may obtain citizenship after just 4 or 5 years of residence.
It is not possible to obtain Cyprus citizenship by investing in real estate. This option existed in the past under the Cyprus citizenship by investment program. However, the program was closed on November 1st, 2020 and is no longer available.
Investors may apply for permanent residence by purchasing real estate or other assets. Permanent residence allows one to live in Cyprus without time limits. Later, they may qualify for Cyprus citizenship by naturalisation under regular conditions.
There are four investment options to get Cyprus permanent residency. Each option requires a minimum of €300,000:
In the case of the residential real estate option, the applicant can buy up to two new dwellings, such as apartments or houses, with a combined market value of at least €300,000.
Residential properties can be purchased from two different development companies, as long as they meet the investment requirements.
However, the commercial property option does not allow the applicant to buy two types of real estate for an amount of €300,000. The applicant must invest in a single type of commercial real estate.
Once the investor obtains a permanent residence permit, they don’t have to renew it, as would be the case with a temporary residence permit. However, they need to visit the island every two years to maintain the status and renew their ID card every 10 years.
After eight years of permanent residence, one can apply for Cypriot citizenship. Before applying for naturalisation, it is necessary to live continuously in the country for at least 12 months.
To be eligible to obtain Cyprus permanent residency, the investor needs to fulfil several requirements:
The investor can also add their close family members to the application. That includes a spouse or a partner and children.
There are no requirements for a spouse and children under 18. However, children under 25 need to study in a university, be unmarried and dependent on the investor. Physically or mentally disadvantaged children can be of any age.
Cypriot citizenship can be obtained by individuals with Cypriot roots. If they were born in Cyprus or have at least one Cypriot parent, they automatically get citizenship by birth.
They can apply for a Consular Birth Certificate if they were born abroad:
Before August 16th 1960, Cyprus was part of the United Kingdom, and the island’s citizens held UK citizenship. But they can now apply for Cypriot citizenship if they were born before the said date and originate from Cyprus on the male side.
An individual may also apply if they were born before August 16th, 1960, and they are not citizens of the United Kingdom or its former colonies but originate from Cyprus on the male side.
Lastly, the application can be submitted by someone born on or after August 16th 1960, whose parents were not Cypriot citizens at the time of their birth but later obtained citizenship.
The list of documents for the Cypriot nationality application include:
| Type of citizenship | Residency period | Expenses | Main eligibility criteria |
| Citizenship after permanent residence by investment | 8 years | €300,000+ | €300,000 investment, proof of income |
| Citizenship by descent | Not required | €20—80+ | Individuals born abroad to a Cypriot parent |
| Citizenship by marriage | 2 years | €300+ | 3+ years of marriage, cohabitation |
| Citizenship by naturalisation | 8 years | €1,000+ | Legal residence, language proficiency |
| Citizenship for skilled professionals | 4—5 years | €1,000+ | Employment at Foreign Interest Company, €2,500+ monthly income, Greek language A2 or B1 |
A foreign spouse of a Cypriot citizen can obtain citizenship by marriage. The Cyprus citizenship requirements are to be married for three years and reside in Cyprus for two years before the application date.
A spouse of a Cypriot citizen living abroad may also apply. In this case, it is necessary to be married for at least three years and to provide a letter explaining why the foreign spouse requires Cypriot citizenship.
If a couple has lived abroad together for at least five years and has a child, they don’t need to explain why they apply for citizenship.
There is a fee of €300 for filing an application.
The required documents are:
Eight years of legal residence in Cyprus within the past 11 years are required for Cypriot citizenship by naturalisation. The applicant must also have lived legally and continuously in the country for 12 months before applying, with absences not exceeding 90 days in total.
Documents required to apply for Cypriot nationality are the following:
There is a fee of €500 for filing an application, with two stamps of €8.54 affixed to it. If the application is approved, an additional fee of €500 is paid for a naturalisation certificate.
In 2024, Cyprus introduced a fast‑track route to citizenship by naturalisation for highly qualified foreign professionals. The new rules allow eligible applicants to obtain a Cyprus passport after four or five years of legal residence, instead of the standard eight years.
Who qualifies. The fast-track path is open to skilled employees of companies registered in Cyprus as Foreign Interest Companies, FICs. These companies are active internationally and operate in sectors such as IT, finance, shipping, and professional services. Applicants must:
Language requirements. To apply after five years, qualified foreigners need to demonstrate A2 level proficiency in the Greek language. For those applying after four years, a B1 level is required.
Applicants must submit recognised language certificates. During the interview, authorities may also check their knowledge of Cypriot culture, society, and institutions.
Family members. Spouses, registered partners, and adult children can apply for Cyprus citizenship only after eight years of legal residence. The fast-track timeline applies only to the main applicant who meets the employment and income requirements.
Cyprus citizenship by naturalisation can be acquired after eight years of legal residency. The application process typically takes at least 9 months, followed by a wait of up to three years for approval from the Migration Service.
An investor prepares the necessary documents, contributes at least €300,000 to the country’s economy, and submits the application to the Civil Registry and Migration Department of Cyprus. The application is processed within six months.
After receiving approval, the investor and their family visit Cyprus within a year to submit biometrics and get permanent residence cards.
To become eligible for Cyprus citizenship, one needs to live in the country for at least 8 out of the last 11 years. The applicant cannot leave Cyprus during the 12 months before the application. Absences abroad not exceeding 90 days are not considered interruptions to legal residency.
An applicant collects the required documents and completes the necessary forms. All the documents are to be translated in Greek or English.
The application and documents are to be submitted at the Civil Registry and Migration Department. The applicant also pays a €500 submission fee.
After submitting the documents, the applicant will be called for an interview, usually 3—6 months after applying. The interview assesses the foreigner’s familiarity with the Cyprus language, history, and culture as part of the citizenship eligibility process.
The Migration Service typically reviews the application within 3 years.
After approval, the applicant needs to visit Cyprus to submit biometrics and take an Oath of Allegiance. Once completed, the naturalisation certificate is issued, and the passport can be obtained.
The immigration law of Cyprus doesn’t prohibit the country’s citizens from having dual citizenship. Therefore, a person can get a Cyprus passport without giving up their other passports.
However, the state of the first citizenship might have restrictions for dual citizenship. For example, Austria, China, India, and Saudi Arabia don’t allow citizens to hold several passports simultaneously. This means a citizen of such a country would need to renounce their first citizenship to obtain it in Cyprus.
Foreigners are considered tax residents in Cyprus if they spend more than 183 days per year in the country. Cyprus citizenship itself does not impose any tax obligations.
Tax residents in Cyprus pay taxes on their local and worldwide income at 20—35% rates, depending on the annual income. Individuals are exempt from the income tax if they earn less than €19,500 per year.
Non-tax residents are only taxed on income received from sources in Cyprus. Non‑residents are also exempt from taxes on capital gains, employment income, and VAT.
1. Visa-free travels. Cyprus citizens are allowed to travel to about 168 countries visa-free. The list of countries includes the EU states, the UK, Japan, Canada, and many others.
2. Residing in Cyprus without restrictions. Cypriot citizens can visit the country at any time and stay for as long as they wish without additional permits.
The cost of living in Cyprus is much more affordable than in most European countries and the USA. A single person needs €1,600—2,000 per month to cover basic expenses and rent. In the USA, the average monthly cost is $3,000, or €2,600. In the UK, it is €2,000—2,500, and in the Netherlands, it is €2,100–2,800.
3. Living, working, and studying in the EU. Cyprus citizens are allowed to stay in the EU countries for an unlimited period. Some states may require registration at the police station or a migration office, but this is merely a formality.
4. Inheritance of a passport. Children of Cyprus citizens obtain citizenship automatically by birth, or they can apply for citizenship by descent.
5. Right to vote. Cyprus citizens can participate in elections in their country and help shape the country’s future.
There are several ways to become a citizen of Cyprus. They are:
It is impossible to obtain Cyprus citizenship by investment, but you can obtain permanent residence and apply for citizenship after 8 years.
It is impossible to obtain Cyprus citizenship by investment, but you can obtain permanent residence by investing at least €300,000 in the country’s economy. Investors may apply for citizenship after 8 years of residence.
Foreigners are offered three paths to Cyprus citizenship: descent, marriage, and naturalisation. The first two are suitable only for a few applicants, while naturalisation is available to anyone who has legally resided in the country for at least 8 years.
The naturalisation term can be cut to 5 years for highly qualified individuals, employed by a Foreign Interest Company.
Cyprus allows its citizens to have dual citizenship, which means one does not need to renounce their first passport. However, some countries ban such opportunities, so we recommend checking whether your country of origin allows dual citizenship.
Yes, it does. Cyprus allows foreigners from other countries to become Cypriot citizens without renouncing their first passports.
The easiest way to obtain Cyprus permanent residency is by investing in the country’s economy.
Four investment options cost the exact minimum amount of money — €300,000:
No, you can’t obtain Cyprus citizenship by investment. However, there is the Cyprus Golden Visa program, under which you can get the country’s permanent residency.
Yes, the Cyprus passport is strong. It gives an opportunity to visit about 168 countries visa-free. That includes the EU countries, the UK, Japan, Canada, and many others.
One cannot obtain Cyprus citizenship by investment, as the program is no longer working. But instead, you can get Cyprus permanent residence. There are four investment options:
All of them require an investment of at least €300,000.
Yes, Cyprus allows dual citizenship with the USA. Individuals can hold both Cyprus and US citizenship without having to renounce either nationality.
