On 19 December 2023, the Cyprus Parliament passed an amending legislation to the Civil Registry Law of 2002 (Law no. 141(I)/2002, as amended from time to time) (the “Law”), introducing significant changes to the requirements for obtaining Cypriot citizenship by way of naturalisation. In addition to the already existing condition of having to prove a legal and continuous residence in the Republic of Cyprus (“Cyprus”) for a specified number of years, the newly-introduced requirements – further amended more recently on 31 May 2024 – now include the need for the adequate proficiency of the Greek language and the adequate knowledge of the political and social landscape of the country.
The main naturalisation requirements are set out below:
1. In order for any person to be eligible to apply for Cypriot citizenship by way of naturalisation, they shall need to satisfy the following criteria cumulatively:
(a) Legal and continuous residence in Cyprus for 12 months immediately preceding the date of the application. Periods of absence that do not exceed a total of 90 days do not interrupt the stated time period;
(b) During the immediately preceding 10 years from the aforementioned 12-month period, to have legally resided in Cyprus for cumulative periods of time not less than 7 years
(c) Be of good character;
(d) Adequate knowledge of the Greek language at level B1, evidenced by a written and oral examination. Holders of a Greek-language secondary school diploma or Greek-language academic degree are exempt from this requirement;
(e) Adequate knowledge of basic elements of the modern political and social reality of Cyprus
(f) Adequate suitable accommodation and stable and regular financial resources; and
(g) Intention to reside in Cyprus.
2. For highly qualified third country nationals who already reside in Cyprus and are employed by Cypriot companies of foreign interests, the following facilitations have been approved:
(a) Provided that such person has an adequate knowledge of the Greek language at level A2 or B1 or holds a Greek-language secondary school diploma or Greek-language academic degree, the cumulative periods of time during the immediately preceding 10 years from the aforementioned 12-month period (pursuant to point 1(b) above) must be not less than 4 years for persons with a knowledge of Greek at level A2 or 3 years for persons with a knowledge of Greek at level B1 or persons who hold a Greek-language secondary school diploma or Greek-language academic degree.
(b) Spouses or civil partners of such person or their dependent adult children with disabilities, who also apply for Cypriot citizenship, may apply simultaneously with this person, provided they satisfy the requirements in point 1(a) and 1(b) above, as the latter is amended by point 2(a). Periods of absence that do not exceed a total of 90 days per year are not deemed as absence for the purposes of calculating the total period of stay.
(c) The applications submitted pursuant to this point 2 will be examined through an expedited examination procedure not exceeding eight (8) months, following the payment of a fee.
All applications for citizenship by way of naturalisation, which were submitted before the new amendments came into effect, will be examined on the basis of the criteria applicable on the date of submission.