Procedure for Citizenship through naturalization; herein referred to as the “NATURALIZATION”.
Financial Criteria:
Eligible persons who meet one of the following financial criteria may apply for the acquisition of the Cypriot Citizenship:
Privately-Owned Residence
Investments can be made:
Eligibility:
The following non-Cypriot natural persons who meet one of the set financial criteria, are eligible to apply for the acquisition of Cypriot Citizenship:
Other Terms and Conditions:
Duration of Keeping Investments
The applicant should have made the necessary investments during the 3 years preceding the date of the application and must retain the said investments for a period of at least 3 years as from the date of the naturalization.
Family Members:
The program applies to:
THE PROCEDURE
1. IMMIGRATION PERMIT FOR APPLICANT AND SPOUSE
To proceed with the application for European/Cypriot citizenship, it is important that we primarily receive all of the required documents, necessary for naturalization and denoted on the “Check List” document, for both the applicant and spouse.
These are:
SCHEME FOR NATURALISATION OF INVESTORS IN CYPRUS BY EXCEPTION on the basis of subsection (2) of section 111A of the Civil Registry Laws of 2002-2015 – Checklist of Investor’s Application Documents.
A. Direct Purchase of Freehold Units:
B. Financial Documents if investing in shares of a company
These documents are essential for obtaining the following:
1.1 IMMIGRATION PERMIT FOR FINANCIALLY DEPENDENT ADULT CHILDREN
It is noted that the financially dependent adult children of the investor that do not already hold a residence permit, need to submit separate Immigration Permit applications (above the age of eighteen and up to twenty-eight).
For the issuance of the Immigration Permit, the collection of biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) and signature is mandatory for the Financially dependent adult children. Thus, adults are required to appear in person at the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Cyprus. Moreover, they need to present an original travel document (passports).
1.1.1 Application Timeframes
1.2 IMMIGRATION PERMIT FOR MINORS (under the age of eighteen):
1.2.1 Two options:
a) 1ST Option: The minor children are not obliged to obtain a permanent residency card prior to the acquisition of the Cyprus passport since they are considered as dependent family members. The applicant/investor may not include the minor children in the application form for permanent residency.
b) 2nd Option: In case the applicant/investor wishes to issue a permanent residency card for his minor children, then, he will include them in the application form for permanent residency. The collection of biometric data though, is mandatory for the minors above 6 years old, who must visit Cyprus in order to obtain the immigration permit card. The minors under 6 years old will obtain the immigration permit card by only providing a passport size photo.
1.2.2 Timeline for minors to obtain CY passport:
The required documents for minors’ must be submitted upon the applicant acquire the naturalization certificates and Cy passports. Minors will obtain Cy passport between 1-3 days upon applicant receives the naturalization certificates and CY passport. The acquisition or not of the permanent residency card will not affect the acquisition of the Cyprus passport.
2. ISSUANCE OF IMMIGRATION PERMIT AND NATURALIZATION PROCESS
STEP 1: We will arrange a meeting at the Ministry of Interior in order to submit all the required documents for naturalization for the applicant and spouse. Upon examination of the documents, the Ministry of Interior will provide to us on the same day the “Confirmation of Submission of Application for Naturalization by Exception” and the receipt of payment for submitting the applications for naturalization.
STEP 2: You must arrange a trip to Cyprus for the applicant and the spouse for at least five working days. Upon your confirmation with the date of the trip, we will visit along with the applicant and spouse the Civil Registry and Migration Department in order to submit the “Confirmation of Submission of Application for Naturalization by Exception by the Ministry of Interior”, the application form MPI, copies of the criminal records (for applicant/spouse), marriage certificate and passports (for applicant/spouse).
After submitting the said documents, the Civil Registry and Migration Department will proceed to collect the biometric data for applicant and spouse.
For the issuance of the Immigration Permit the collection of biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) and signature is mandatory. Thus, applicant and spouse are required to appear in person at the Civil Registry and Migration Department.
Moreover, they need to present an original travel document (passports).
In five working days, they will receive the immigration permit (cards). In case that the applicant and spouse cannot stay in Cyprus to collect them, we can send them via DHL. (From our side, we try to get them in 2-3 working days).
With regards to the minor children as mentioned above, the applicant/investor has two options to acquire or not the minor’s children permanent residency card (PRc).
NOTE: If he wishes to acquire the PRc for his minor children, then, the minor children above 6 years old, are required to appear in person at the Civil Registry and Migration Department in order to collect their biometric data and obtain PRc.
Upon receiving the immigration permit (cards) in approximately 3 months the Ministry of Interior will approve the applications for naturalization by providing an approval letter. (From our side, we ALWAYS attempt on getting the approval letter before the 3-month period).
However, the applicant and his spouse will be able to issue a Cyprus (European) passport after the six months, from the day of acquiring the immigration permit card.
The timeline of six months cannot be avoided.
The applicant and the spouse must be a holder of a card for immigration permit for at least six months. Upon the six-month period, the applicant and his spouse may either visit our Cyprus Embassy (if it’s available) to collect their CY passports and sign before, through an officer, at the CY Embassy, the naturalization certificate.
The ID’s can be send via DHL or otherwise, the applicants must visit Cyprus to collect their CY passports and ID’s; applicants should also sign at the Cyprus Court the naturalization certificates.
3. Payment Breakdown per Citizenship application
Governmental Fees payable upon application for Naturalisation and prior to receiving the Cyprus Passports from the Immigration Department:
CYPRUS CITIZENSHIP PROCESSING FEES | ||
---|---|---|
APPLICANT | APPLICATION SUBMISSION FEES | CERTIFICATE INSURANCE FEE |
INVESTOR (main applicant) | €2,000 | €5,000 |
SPOUSE | €2,000 | €5,000 |
ADULT CHILD | €2,000 | €5,000 |
MINOR CHILD | €80 | – |
PARENTS OF THE MAIN APPLICANT | €2,000 (per person) | €5,000 |