Cypriot citizenship by naturalisation

What changed on 19 December 2023

On this date, the Civil Registry Law with its 2023 amendments entered into force. Under it, an adult intending to apply for Cypriot citizenship by naturalisation must meet all seven conditions simultaneously.

First: lawful and uninterrupted residence for 12 months immediately preceding the date of application. Absences totalling no more than 90 days do not break this period.

Second — within the 10 years immediately preceding those 12 months, lawful residence totalling at least 7 years.

Third — good conduct. Fourth — sufficient knowledge of Greek at B1 level. Fifth — sufficient knowledge of the fundamentals of Cyprus’s modern political and social reality. Sixth — adequate housing and stable, regular financial resources sufficient to support yourself and your family members. Seventh — the intention to reside in the Republic.

• 12 months of lawful continuous residence before filing
• At least 7 years of lawful residence in the preceding 10
• Greek at B1 level and an exam on Cypriot civics
• Housing, a stable income, and the intention to live in Cyprus

How the years are counted: where the 2,920 days come from

This route is commonly summed up in a single figure — ’2,920 days over 11 years.’ The arithmetic checks out: one year before filing plus seven years in total makes eight years, roughly 2,920 days, within an eleven-year window. But that one figure conceals two conditions that are responsible for most failed applications.

First: the last 12 months are counted differently from the other years. They must be continuous, and permitted absences are capped at a total of 90 days for the entire year. Three one-month trips already exceed that.

Second: the seven years are counted in aggregate, but only years of lawful residence, and only within the ten years preceding that year. Time spent in Cyprus without legal status does not count, and years falling outside the ten-year window simply drop out of the calculation.

This gives a simple planning rule: count backwards from your intended application date — first check the continuous year with its absence limits, then go back ten years from its start and add up the periods of lawful residence within them.

Greek at B1 and an exam on Cypriot civics

Language proficiency is confirmed by certificate only. A certificate of successful completion of Greek at B1 level on the Common European Framework of Reference is accepted — issued following exams held by the Greek Language Centre of the Hellenic Republic through the examination service of the Cyprus Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the University of Cyprus.

Two categories are exempt from the requirement: holders of a certificate from a recognised secondary school where the main language of instruction is Greek, and holders of an academic degree from a programme taught in Greek.

Knowledge of the fundamentals of Cyprus’s contemporary political and social reality is confirmed by a certificate showing a score of at least 60% on an exam administered by the examination service of the Ministry of Education. Certificates from the July 2023 and February 2024 exams are accepted for submission; if the July 2023 certificate does not show a score, the exact result can be requested directly from the examination service.

Proof of housing and income — a property ownership document, a purchase agreement with payment receipts, or a rental agreement with receipts for rent and utilities; for income — payslips, employment contract, social security contribution statement, income tax return, bank statements or any other evidence of income.

• B1 — certificate from the Centre for the Greek Language or the University of Cyprus
• Exemption — school or university with instruction in Greek
• An exam on Cyprus civic knowledge — a pass mark of at least 60%
• Housing and income — with contracts, receipts, and bank statements

Fast-track route for highly skilled professionals

Article 111B(2) of the law establishes special conditions for those living in Cyprus for the purpose of highly skilled employment with companies designated by Council of Ministers Decision No. 92.018 of 15 October 2021 on the strategy for attracting companies, and for their family members.

There are six types of such companies: foreign-interest companies operating in Cyprus from their own separate offices in suitable premises, separate from residential and other office space; Cypriot shipping companies; Cypriot high-technology and innovation companies — aerospace, computing, IT, technology and communications, pharmaceuticals, biomedical equipment, research equipment, electrical and non-electrical machinery, chemicals; Cypriot pharmaceutical, biogenetics and biotechnology companies; companies already listed in the Register of Foreign Companies with the Civil Registry and Migration Department; international universities accredited by the Cypriot Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education.

A highly skilled worker is defined as belonging to one of two groups. The first includes holders of a temporary residence permit to work at a company of foreign interest in the categories of director, specialist, or key personnel. The second applies regardless of residence status to those earning at least 2,500 euros gross per month and holding a university degree, an equivalent qualification, or documented two years of experience in the relevant role — for example, through tax returns. The second group requires a certificate from the Business Facilitation Unit or the Civil Registry and Migration Department confirming that the company meets the criteria of the relevant decision.

The time requirements here are different. The same 12 months of lawful continuous residence before applying apply, with a 90-day absence limit. However, the cumulative period covering the preceding 10 years is not 7 years but 4 years with Greek at A2 level, or 3 years at B1. Absences totalling no more than 90 days per year are not counted as absences.

Two additional conditions. On the day of filing and on the day of assessment, the applicant must be employed by an eligible company. They must also have worked for a company listed in the Council of Ministers decision for at least two years before filing.

Finally, there is the option to speed up processing itself: highly qualified workers and their family members may apply for expedited review of no more than 8 months by paying €5,000.

Family on the fast-track route

Family members of a highly skilled worker may apply together with them or after them — provided they themselves meet the residence and language requirements.

The law names two categories of family member. A spouse or partner — as of the time the worker submitted their own application; a spouse means a party to a marriage recognised by the state, and a partner means within the meaning of the civil partnership act. And an adult dependent child with a disability that prevents them from working and taking legal action.

There is an important detail in the wording: the spouse or partner’s status is assessed as of the date the employee submits their own application. A marriage entered into after that date does not fit within this framework.

• Filed together with the employee or after them
• Meet the residency and language requirements themselves
• Spouse or partner — as of the employee’s application date
• A dependent adult child with a disability

Submission and fees

The application is submitted on form M127 at district administration offices, accompanied by documents according to the established list, duly certified and translated.

One formality that cannot be bypassed: the application must be signed in the presence of the registrar. Submitting a pre-signed form is not possible.

Fees: €500 at application and two €8.54 revenue stamps on the application itself. If approved, a further €500 for the issuance of the naturalisation certificate. For highly skilled applicants who opt for expedited processing, an additional €5,000 applies.

Frequently asked questions

Verified September 13, 2026. The thresholds and amounts are tied to indicators that are reviewed annually — check the official source for your country before filing.