Cyprus Citizenship through Permanent Residence (PR)

If you have Cypriot ancestry in your family lineage, you may have a pathway to obtain a Cyprus passport. Citizenship is automatically granted to individuals born to at least one Cypriot parent, provided neither parent is considered an illegal immigrant. Birth in Cyprus alone does not guarantee citizenship. However, foreign nationals can become Cypriot citizens through naturalization after fulfilling a residency requirement, typically seven years.

Is there a way to expedite the citizenship process in Cyprus?

Fortunately, you can apply for Cyprus citizenship after just five years of residency through the Cyprus Residency by Investment Program. This program differs from the previous Citizenship by Investment Program, which was discontinued in November 2020.

Purchasing a property in Cyprus has become a popular option for non-EU nationals seeking EU residency. Under Regulation 6(2), the Cypriot government offers the opportunity to obtain a Permanent Residency Permit for non-EU citizens investing in Cyprus.

Here are the minimum eligibility requirements:

1. The applicant must acquire a new residential property in Cyprus valued at a minimum of €300,000 (excluding VAT). The initial payment of €200,000 must be made upon application. The property purchase must be a first-time sale from a property development company. As per recent changes, the applicant must provide annual evidence of maintaining the initial investment.
2. The applicant must open and maintain a fixed deposit of at least €30,000 in a Cyprus bank for three consecutive years.
3. The applicant must demonstrate a secure annual income of at least €30,000 from outside Cyprus. The required funds must be increased by €5,000 for each dependent and €8,000 for each parent included in the application. Recent updates have increased the annual secure income requirement for the main applicant to €50,000, €10,000 for each minor child, and €15,000 for the spouse. The PR holder must provide annual proof of receiving the required income for themselves and their family.
4. The applicant will undergo a ‘Fit and Proper’ test and must provide a clean criminal record certificate to comply with due diligence procedures.
5. The applicant must visit Cyprus within the first year to register biometrics and subsequently visit Cyprus at least once every two years.

These requirements allow eligible individuals to pursue Cyprus citizenship through the Permanent Residence Program, providing a streamlined pathway to EU residency and potential citizenship.