Cyprus citizenship: passport benefits and expenses for obtaining

Cyprus citizenship by naturalisation can be obtained by foreigners who have lived in the country for a long time. Requirements for the minimum length of stay are set out in the Civil Registry Law, Article 111.

An applicant must:

1. Have lived in Cyprus for most of the time in the last seven years: four years for those who live continuously in the country or are civil servants of Cyprus, and seven years for international students, the self-employed, and those who come to Cyprus to work.

2. Have continuously lived in Cyprus for one year prior to applying.

3. Wait for the application to be reviewed — the procedure may take up to 2 years.

In total, obtaining second citizenship in Cyprus takes five years or more.

Cyprus’s permanent residence by investment program simplifies the path to citizenship: while the status does not affect the main timeline, it reduces the number of bureaucratic procedures. Unlike a temporary residence permit, permanent residence by investment is valid for life. The card does not need to be renewed every year. There is a €500 fee when applying for citizenship by naturalisation.

Cyprus permanent residence by investment: terms and benefits

A foreign spouse of a Cypriot citizen can obtain citizenship three years after marriage. The applicant must live in the country for two years before applying. A €300 fee is required for submitting documents.

Individuals with Cypriot roots can apply for citizenship by descent.

Children under 18 can apply for citizenship if at least one of their parents obtained a Cyprus passport by naturalisation or marriage. In this case, parents fill out the Registration of Minors Type M126 form and pay an €80 state fee.

An adult foreigner may apply for a Cyprus passport in two cases:

1. They must be born outside the country after August 16th, 1960, with their father being a Cypriot citizen at the time of birth.

2. They must be born after June 11th, 1999, to a mother with Cyprus citizenship.

To obtain a passport by descent, foreigners apply for a consular birth certificate. State fees are €20.

European Union citizens' rights were granted to all Cypriots in 2004. For example, Cyprus passport holders can live up to 90 days in any EU country, get officially married or be employed without a special permit.

Travelling to 178 countries without a visa. 138 do not require a visa at all, 34 issue visas on arrival (VOA), and 6 states issue an electronic travel authorisation (eTA).

An optimal tax system for individuals and legal entities: rates are lower than in other EU countries. Individuals pay income tax on a progressive scale of 20 to 35%. For comparison, this rate can reach 48% in Portugal and 60% in France. Companies pay a 12,5% corporate tax, while it exceeds 17% in other countries.

Access to European banking services: local and foreign banks, such as Alpha Bank, Eurobank, Societe Generale, and National Bank of Greece, operate in Cyprus. All Cypriot banks in the country follow EU rules.

Foreigners with Cyprus second citizenship use banking services on an equal basis with residents: not only can they open accounts, but they also take out mortgages. The average mortgage rate is 2,3%, but it can be reduced for those who buy a home in a modern, energy-efficient residential complex.

European education. Citizens of Cyprus attend local public schools and most university programs free of charge. School graduates can enrol in a university in any EU country and on more favourable terms than third-country citizens. The competition for admission and tuition fees will be lower.

Public healthcare is free of charge: the services are provided to Cypriot citizens registered in the national Social Insurance Scheme.

Holders of the Cyprus passport also receive a European Health Insurance Card. It gives them the right to receive medical services in other EU countries, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Cyprus citizenship is inherited, even if the second passport was issued for investment. Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of investors will receive Cyprus citizenship by birth.

Cyprus recognises dual citizenship: a foreigner can hold two passports simultaneously if not prohibited by the country’s laws of first citizenship.

The Cyprus passport cannot be obtained by investment, but high-net-worth foreigners who invest in the country’s economy can get permanent residence. After five years of living in the country, they are eligible to apply for citizenship.

The cost of obtaining Cyprus permanent residence by investment starts at €300,000: a foreigner chooses to buy real estate, shares of Cypriot companies or securities.

Most investors prefer to buy residential properties in Cyprus; it is the most popular option. Applicants purchase one or two properties worth at least €300,000 from a developer, as the program does not allow them to buy resale residential properties.

Apartments and villas in Cyprus can be used for personal accommodation or rented out.

As additional expenses, an investor pays:

• 19% of the property value as VAT;

• 1% of the real estate value for legal support of the transaction;

• administrative and registration fees, including for submitting an application and issuing a permanent residence card;

• €500 — a registration fee for applying for citizenship by naturalisation.

When buying a property worth €395,000, the total cost of obtaining Cyprus citizenship through permanent residence by investment will be at least €474,000.

Investors need to hold their properties as long as their permanent residence is valid. If they proceed to obtain citizenship by naturalisation, they will be allowed to sell the properties and buy other real estate.

Regardless of the obtainment method, the Cyprus citizenship applicant must provide the following:

• a completed application form;

• original passports, with translated and certified copies;

• Cyprus residence permit and permanent residence certificate copies;

• a criminal record certificate;

• proof of financial viability;

• a state duty payment recipe.

The list of additional documents depends on the reason for obtaining the passport. Applicants for citizenship by naturalisation must confirm the registration address in Cyprus by providing a contract of sale, a rental agreement, or utility bills. A Greek language knowledge certificate is also required.

When applying for citizenship by marriage, a document package is needed containing a marriage certificate, an application for cohabitation and the Cypriot spouse’s written consent to apply.

Cypriot identity card is the primary document that Cyprus citizens over 12 use. An ID contains basic information about its owner: name, date of birth, nationality, and a unique identification number.

With an ID card, one can travel around the EU without a passport.

For trips abroad, Cypriot citizens receive a passport: Cypriots get a burgundy-coloured travel document, and foreign aliens receive a green one.

The validity periods of an ID card and a passport are ten years for citizens over 18 and five years for children. An application is submitted six months before the expiration date to renew the documents. The issuance fee is:

• ID cards — €30 for adults, €20 for children;

• passports — €70 for adults, €45 for children.

Cyprus citizenship: all ways to get a passport

The processing time is 10 days, but an accelerated procedure allows getting the documents in two days. In this case, the state duty fee for citizens over 18 increases to €120.

Applications for obtaining or renewing documents are submitted to the Cyprus Department of Civil Registry and Migration (CRMD) and to district administrations, citizen service centres, and post offices.

For an accelerated issuance of passports, an application is submitted strictly to the Civil Registry and Migration Department of Nicosia.

1. Cyprus citizenship is obtained by naturalisation, descent or marriage. The path to a second passport takes 3 to 8 years, depending on the method.

2. Cyprus citizenship cannot be obtained by investment: the citizenship program was closed in 2020.

3. Wealthy foreigners get Cyprus permanent residence by investing €300,000 or more: the status does not influence the period of obtaining a passport. Still, it reduces the number of bureaucratic procedures on the way to citizenship. Permanent residence is valid for life and does not need to be renewed.

4. A foreigner with a Cyprus passport also becomes a citizen of the European Union, meaning they can live up to 90 days in any EU country, get married or employed and use medical services there without a special permit.

5. The Cypriot ID card is a basic identity document; a passport is required only for travelling abroad. Citizens over 18 must renew their passports every 10 years, and children renew theirs every 5 years.