In late November 2022, a draft law was submitted to the Parliament of the Republic of Cyprus — it is aimed at simplifying the procedure for obtaining Cypriot citizenship and minimizing bureaucracy in the naturalization of highly skilled employees of companies. This may lead to a reduction in the waiting time required for processing applications, which is especially relevant for Russian citizens who wish to protect themselves and their assets as well as improve their quality of life.

According to the new naturalization model, highly skilled employees working in Cyprus for at least three years are eligible for citizenship without having to make significant investments in the country’s economy. This differs from the more common practice of granting citizenship through real estate or business investments in Cyprus.

To obtain the passport of the Republic of Cyprus, several requirements must be met:

1: Stable income and suitable place of residence: applicants must demonstrate a stable and legal source of income and have suitable housing. The exact figures differ depending on whether it is permanent residency (PR) or citizenship. For PR by investment, a minimum of 300,000 euros (excluding taxes) needs to be invested, while citizenship requires a specific annual income (at the time of this publication, the sum is 50,000 euros).
2: Commitment to Cyprus: it is crucial for applicants to express their willingness to continue living and working on the island after obtaining citizenship.
3: Impeccable reputation: applicants must not show contempt for the Republic of Cyprus and should not be internationally wanted or have any criminal convictions.
4: Criminal history: applicants should not have any pending criminal cases in Cyprus or elsewhere. They must enter the Republic of Cyprus legally (not through illegal ports or airports) and must not pose a threat to public safety and order.
5: Language proficiency and residency on the island: to obtain citizenship, at least 3 years must be spent in Cyprus (the number of days spent outside the republic should not exceed 90 per year), and continuous residence on the island for 12 months is required before applying for citizenship.

The draft law that defines the conditions for obtaining a Cypriot passport also establishes criteria for the Greek language proficiency. Residence in the country is linked to language proficiency: the higher the language proficiency level, the less time is required for submitting a citizenship application. For example, if a specialist has a basic knowledge level (A2) of the Greek language, they must reside in Cyprus for at least four years to obtain citizenship. However, if their language proficiency reaches the intermediate level (B1), the time required for submitting a citizenship application is reduced to three years.

It is expected that the draft law will be approved and come into effect in 2023. As always, our company can be your reliable guide at every stage of the potential process of obtaining citizenship of the Republic of Cyprus, saving you time and eliminating the need to interact with numerous specialists, providing a comprehensive and individual approach to resolving the matter.