Naturalisation
Cyprus Citizenship Based on Long-Term Lawful Residence — Form M127
Eligibility to Apply
Adult foreign nationals may apply for citizenship of the Republic of Cyprus through naturalisation. To submit an application, the applicant must demonstrate lawful residence in Cyprus for the required period, knowledge of the Greek language, understanding of the fundamentals of contemporary political and social life in Cyprus, good character, suitable accommodation, and stable financial resources. Meeting the eligibility requirements gives the applicant the right to apply, but does not guarantee that citizenship will be granted. Each application is assessed individually by the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus.
Main Requirements
Required Documents
Below is the official list of documents required when applying for citizenship through naturalisation. The competent authority may request additional documents depending on the applicant’s individual circumstances.
- Original birth certificate.
- Original police clearance certificate issued in the Republic of Cyprus, valid for 6 months.
- Copy of a valid residence permit.
- Marriage certificate / civil partnership agreement, where applicable.
- Copy of a valid passport or other travel document.
- Copies of passport pages containing entry and exit stamps.
- Detailed record of all entries into and departures from Cyprus.
- Copies of notices published in two consecutive issues of a daily newspaper announcing the applicant’s intention to apply for naturalisation.
- Certificate confirming successful completion of a Greek language examination at A2 or B1 level, as applicable; a certificate issued by the School of Modern Greek at the University of Cyprus; a secondary school certificate showing that Greek was the main language of instruction; or a higher education diploma from a programme taught in Greek.
- Certificate confirming successful completion of the examination on the Fundamentals of the Contemporary Political and Social Reality of Cyprus, with a score of at least 60%.
- Proof of accommodation: title deed, sale agreement and payment receipts, rental agreement and rent payment receipts, as well as utility bills and proof of payment.
- Proof of financial resources: salary certificates, employment agreement, social insurance contributions, tax returns, bank statements or other evidence of the applicant’s income.
- Persons residing in the Republic for the purpose of employment as highly qualified employees of companies covered by Council of Ministers Decision No. 92.018 must provide confirmation from the relevant government authorities that the company meets the applicable criteria. All applicants under this route must have worked for such a company for at least two years before submitting the application.
This requirement does not apply to holders of a residence permit with BCS status. - Two recent passport-size photographs certified by the local community leader (Mukhtar / μουχτάρης).
- Copy of the receipt confirming payment of the €500 fee.
At present, the fee referred to in this item is payable only after the applicant receives a letter confirming a positive decision.
Applying Using Form M127
Applications are submitted using Form M127 to the relevant local District Administration.
Invitation to the Interview
After the application and supporting documents have been submitted, they are reviewed by the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus. If necessary, the applicant may be asked to provide additional information or supporting evidence. For standard naturalisation, the official M127 procedure does not specify a fixed processing time. In practice, the average processing time is approximately 4–5 years.
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