Cyprus passport, Citizenship

Applications for Citizenship to the Republic of Cyprus due to marriage with a Cypriot Citizen can be obtained once the following criteria have been met:

• Foreign Spouses are required to have completed 3 years of marriage and been resident in the Republic for at least 2 years prior to the date of application;
• Overseas Spouses who have completed 3 years of marriage are required to submit additional information in the form of a letter explaining their reasons why they are requesting Citizenship to the Republic of Cyprus;
• If the couple have been married for 5 years and have at least 1 child then they are not required to submit additional information.

The application form M125 for registration of the applicant to the Republic of Cyprus as a Citizen through marriage is required. Background information included within the form are documented below:

• Full name and address and place of birth;
• Passport and ID;
• Parents full names and place of birth;
• Marriage details;
• Full name of Cypriot Spouse together with place of birth;
• Cypriot Spouse’s Passport and ID Card;
• Cypriot Spouse’s Certificate of Citizenship;
• Apostilled Unabridged Civil Marriage Certificate or Non-Apostilled photocopy of Marriage Certificate issued by the Greek Orthodox Church (Apostille issued by DIRCO (Department of International Relations and Cooperation)) or the High Court;
• Information that the marriage has not been terminated by either of the following reasons;
• Divorce (Certificate required);
• Death of Cypriot Citizen - Certificate from Archbishop or Priest stating that the couple were married until the date of death and that the Spouse has not remarried.

Upon application of Form M125 there are certain accompanying documents that are required, these must be officially translated into English or Greek, Certified and Apostilled (if the country has signed the Hague Convention) or Certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of origin of the applicant and then the Embassy/Consulate of the Republic of Cyprus in their own country. After this has been completed any documentation must be Certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Republic with the processing time of the application in the region of 1-2 years.

The accompanying documents are as follows:

• Birth Certificate;
• Certificate of clean criminal record;
• Marriage Certificate;
• Birth Certificate of children (if applicable);
• Photocopy of Passport for both applicant and Spouse;
• Certificate of acquisition of Cypriot Citizenship of Spouse (if applicable);
• Statement of harmonious cohabitation signed before an officer (Mukhtar/Mayor) of the District Administration Office or the Diplomatic Authority;
• Duplicate application forms to be submitted with one of the forms bearing stamps to the value of €8.54;
• Receipt for Government fees to the value of €300.

Rideo Group professionals are experts in undertaking this type of application and are on hand to assist you in every possible way, we will keep you updated and informed of your application throughout the process and are happy to answer any queries or questions that you may have.

Citizenship (Naturalization) due to Length of Residence in the Republic

Application to the Republic of Cyprus by a foreign national that has completed 7 years of legal residence may apply for Citizenship (Form M127 - Application by an Alien for a Certificate of Naturalization). Applicants that are for parents or children of a Cypriot Citizen only have to complete 5 years of legal residence.

As with all applications there are relevant documents that need submitting, these must be officially translated into Greek or English and Certified with Apostille (if the country has signed the Hague Convention of 1961) OR Certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of origin of the applicant and then by the Embassy/Consulate of Cyprus in their country OR the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of origin of the applicant and then the Embassy/Consulate of their country in Cyprus and then Certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cyprus.

In the instance that the country of origin of the applicant has not signed the Hague Convention of 1961 and there is no Embassy/Consulate in the above mentioned country the documents must be Certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of origin of the applicant and then the nearest Embassy/Consulate which is accredited to Cyprus.

The application form M127 requires the following documentation:

• Birth name and/or any other names from previous marriage;
• Date/place of birth and nationality;
• Address and occupation with name and address of employer;
• Parents;
• Full name;
• Nationality;
• Place of birth;
• Date of birth;
• Marital status - Single/married/divorced/widowed;
• Full details of marriage;
• Marriage Certificate;
• Spouse’s full Name, date of birth and nationality;
• If Divorced, County Court order or Judgement;
• Full details regarding residence within the Republic from previous years;
• Residency periods;
• Date to and from;
• Full postal addresses of each abode;
• Future intentions of the applicant;
• Copies of all pages of all Passports of the applicant showing their movement in and out of the Republic;
• Detailed statement highlighting arrivals and departures to the Republic by the applicant;
• Copies of newspaper advertisements in 2 consecutive publications showing that the applicant has filed an application for Naturalization;
• Two Passport size photographs;
• Photocopy of receipt for paid fees (Rideo Group will advise of fees upon application);
• Civil or Criminal proceedings against the applicant (if any);
• Details of any previous Naturalization applications;
• Particulars of any children;
• Date of birth;
• Place of birth;
• Present place of residence.
• Statement regarding character;references;
• Application to be signed by a Judge/Registrar/Consular Officer or other person authorised to act in this respect.

The applicant must have continuously and legally resided in Cyprus during the previous 12 months from the date of application.

Rideo Group professionals are on hand to help you navigate the criteria and paperwork required, we are able to follow-up the application on your behalf. If there are any questions or uncertainty please don't hesitate in contacting one of our friendly colleagues for an informal chat.

Acquisition of Citizenship due to Cypriot Origins

The types of applications for the acquisition of a Cypriot Citizenship due to Cypriot Origins are split into different categories which we will look at in more depth. The categories are:

• Minors (under the age of 18 years):
• Application for Consular Birth Certificate - type M121;
• Application for the Registration of Minors - type M126.
• Adults (above the age of 18 years):
• Application type M71;
• Application type M72;
• Application type M123;
• Application type M124.

As with all applications there are relevant documents that need submitting, these must be officially translated into Greek or English and Certified with Apostille (if the country has signed the Hague Convention of 1961) OR Certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of origin of the applicant and then by the Embassy/Consulate of Cyprus in their country OR the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of origin of the applicant and then the Embassy/Consulate of their country in Cyprus and then Certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cyprus. In the instance that the country of origin of the applicant has not signed the Hague Convention of 1961 and there is no Embassy/Consulate in the above mentioned country the documents must be Certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of origin of the applicant and then the nearest Embassy/Consulate which is accredited to Cyprus.

Application for Consular Birth Certificate - type M121

This application can be submitted for minors born abroad after the 16th August 1960, whose father at the time of birth was a Cypriot Citizen. The application applies to individuals born after the 11th July 1999, whose mother was at the time of birth a Cypriot Citizen.

• The accompanying documentation required:
• Birth Certificate of the applicant;
• Marriage Certificate of the applicants parents;
• Photocopy of the applicant and applicants parents Passports;
• Certificate of Registration of the Cypriot parent (where applicable);
• Copy of proof of fees and stamps attached to the application, Rideo Group will advise of fees and stamp costs at the time of application.

Application for the Registration of Minors - type M126

This application may be submitted for minors born prior to the 11th June 1999 both in the Republic or abroad and whose mother is a Cypriot Citizen and father is a foreigner or for minors whose father acquired Cypriot Citizenship after birth. In addition, the application can be submitted for minors whose mother or father acquired Cypriot Citizenship by Naturalization or by Registration due to marriage with a Cypriot Citizen.

The accompanying documentation required:

• Birth Certificate of the applicant;
• Marriage Certificate of the applicants parents;
• Photocopy of the applicant and applicants parents Passports;
• Certificate of acquisition of Cypriot Citizenship of the Cypriot parent (where applicable);
• Declaration of the foreign parent signed before an officer of the District Administration Office or the Diplomatic Authority consents to the granting of Cypriot Citizenship to a minor child, this is not required if the Cypriot parent has obtained sole parental care. A copy of the court decision should be attached;
• Copy of proof of fees and stamps attached to the application, Rideo Group will advise of fees and stamp costs at the time of application;
• Two Passport size photographs.

Applications for children of Cypriot Citizens that have acquired Citizenship by Naturalization or by Registration due to marriage with a Cypriot Citizen are required to submit the following additional information:

• Certificate of Registration or Naturalization of the Cypriot parent;
• Copy of the Certificate of school attendance;
• Photocopy of a valid Temporary Residence Permit for the child.

Application type M71

This application can be submitted by persons born prior to the 16th August 1960 and who are Citizens of the United Kingdom (UK) and its former Colonies, who originate from Cyprus on their fathers side and reside permanently abroad. Application type M72.

The application M72 can be submitted by persons born before the 16th August 1960 and who are not Citizens of the UK or its former colonies but who originate from Cyprus on their fathers side.

The accompanying documentation required for both type M71 and M72:

• Birth Certificate of the applicant;
• Birth Certificate of the applicants father;
• Photocopy of the applicants Passport;
• Copy of proof of fees and stamps attached to the application, Rideo Group will advise of fees and stamp costs at the time of application.
• Application type M123.

Application type M123 can be submitted by adults who were born on or after the 16th August 1960, with neither of their parents at the time of birth being Cypriot Citizens. Submission may also be submitted by adults born after the 16th August 1960 and originating from a person who became a British Citizen based on the Annexation of Cyprus Orders in Council 1914-1943 or a person born in Cyprus after the 5th November 1914 and prior to the 16th August 1960.

The accompanying documentation required:

• Birth Certificate of the applicant;
• Marriage Certificate of the applicants parents;
• Photocopy of the applicant and applicants parents Passports;
• Certificate of acquisition of Cypriot Citizenship of the Cypriot parent (where applicable);
• Copy of proof of fees and stamps attached to the application, Rideo Group will advise of fees and stamp costs at the time of application.

Application type M124

Application type M124 can be submitted by adults of Cypriot origin, who were born before the 16th August 1960 and are British Citizens or Citizens of any State of the Commonwealth and have completed 1 year of legal residence in the Republic.

The accompanying documentation required:

• Birth Certificate of the applicant;
• Marriage Certificate of the applicants parents;
• Photocopy of the applicant and applicants parents Passports;
• Certificate of acquisition of Cypriot Citizenship of the Cypriot parent (where applicable);
• Copy of proof of fees and stamps attached to the application, Rideo Group will advise of fees and stamp costs at the time of application.

Applications whichever apply to the applicant must be submitted to the Civil Registry and Migration Department or the District Offices of the local town/city or at the Embassy/Consulate if abroad.

Our legal experts at Rideo Group have access to all relevant forms required for each application and are highly experienced in achieving excellent results. We work with you, making the application quick and easy whilst keeping you updated throughout the process. Please contact one of our friendly team for an informal chat to see how we can help you.