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NEW CRITERIA FOR NATURALISATION OF FOREIGN NATIONALS
in News
On the 19th of December 2023, the approved amendments of the Civil Registry Law were published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cyprus aiming to modernise and improve the existing legal framework in relation to the criteria for the naturalization of foreign nationals.
The main provisions include the following:
- Applications can be submitted by persons that have completed at least 7years of physical stay within a period of 10 years plus a 12-month period of legal and continuous physical stay in Cyprus.
- Periods of absence of up to 90 days per year are not deducted from the total period of physical stay.
- Applicants must have a certificate of basic knowledge of the Greek language (Level B1) and basic knowledge of the country’s history and current political/social status.
- Applicants must be of good character, financially self-sufficient and have a suitable place of residence.
- Applicants must have the intention to stay in Cyprus.
Special provisions for highly skilled foreign nationals working for companies of foreign interest as determined by the Council of Ministers:
- Application can be submitted by persons that have completed at least 4 or 3 years of physical stay within a period of 10 years preceding the application plus a 12-month period of legal and continuous physical stay in Cyprus.
- Periods of absence of up to 90 days per year are not deducted from the total period of physical stay.
- The 4-year route applies to applicants that have an A2 certificate of knowledge of the Greek language and the 3-year route to applicants that hold the B1 certificate of knowledge of the Greek language.
- Family members of the applicants are also eligible to apply under the same conditions.
- These applications will be examined through a fast-track process and shall be decided no later than 8 months.