If you have Cypriot heritage in your family tree you might be on the right pathway to obtain the Cyprus passport.
Individuals born to at least one Cypriot parent automatically acquire citizenship at birth only if neither parent is considered an illegal immigrant. Birth in Cyprus by itself does not necessarily make a child eligible for citizenship. Foreign nationals may, however, become Cypriot citizens by naturalisation after completing a residence requirement (usually seven years).
So, does Cyprus have any ways to shorten the citizenship timeline?
The good news is that you can apply for Cyprus citizenship after only five years of residency via the Cyprus Residency by Investment Program. This is different from the previous Citizenship by Investment Program (which was abolished in November 2020).
Buying a home in Cyprus is becoming a popular option for third country nationals seeking EU residency. By virtue of Regulation 6(2), the Cypriot government has provided the option to obtain a Permanent Residency Permit to non-EU citizens seeking to invest in Cyprus.
The minimum eligibility requirements are as follows:
The content of this article is valid as at the date of its first publication. It is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter and does not constitute legal advice. We recommend that you seek professional advice on your specific matter before acting on any information provided. For further information or advice, please contact Savvas Savvides, Partner at Michael Kyprianou & Co LLC, at telephone +357-26930800 or via email savvas.savvides@kyprianou.com