Military Obligations

In accordance with the provisions of the Law relating to the National Guard, there is compulsory military service for all male citizens of the Republic of Cyprus. This includes all males residing in Cyprus whose father is Cypriot, even if they do not have citizenship. The obligation commences in the year of their 18th birthday and continues up to the year of their 50th birthday.

All males who are not Cypriot citizens but are of Cypriot descent born in 1960 or after are obliged to do military service. All those born in or before 1959 are not obliged at present to enlist. If they wish to obtain Cypriot citizenship they can volunteer to do 6 months and then apply for Cypriot citizenship without any further obligation for military service.

Exemptions

• All Cypriot Citizens residing permanently abroad
• Persons of dual Cypriot and Greek citizenship provided that during their permanent residence in Greece they fulfill their obligation to serve the Greek Army.
• All persons who at the date of conscription have four or more dependents (married with wife and three or more children who are minors)
• All persons who at the date of conscription are considered unsuitable for military service for health reasons.
• The oldest or the only son of a family whose father was killed or went missing while serving in the National Guard.

Length of Military Service for Cypriot Citizens

• The normal length of Military Service is 26 months. (In exceptional cases, the length of service may be reduced. Interested parties who think they have reason to apply for a reduction in Military Service can apply directly to the Minister of Defense.)
• One or more children of large families serve for 13 months. (4 male children in a family, one will serve only 13 months, if there are more than 4 male children, two of them will only serve 13 months.)

Length of Military Service for Repatriates
Based on the decisions of the Council of Ministers, the latest ruling 50036 of 14th July 1999, the following provisions have been made for all Overseas Cypriots who take up permanent residence in Cyprus. Repatriated Cypriot conscripts who had their permanent residence abroad for a period of more than 10 years, are entitled to a reduced military service. Calculations are made according to their age on the date of settlement in Cyprus.

NB. The following table applies provided that the repatriate whose age is called up (18 years and over) enlists within 15 months after the date of repatriation. In the case of their enlistment after the 15 months they will be obliged to serve an additional 3 months.

26 - 50 years old	3 months service
18 - 25 years old	6 months service
13 - 17 years old	12 months service
Up to 12 years old	26 months service

Overseas Cypriots (born in Cyprus) who have performed compulsory military service (for at least 11 months) in their country of residence before returning to Cyprus are obliged to serve 3 months.

Conscripts of any class who have been called up to do military service after they acquire Cypriot citizenship have to satisfy the Minister of Defence that they have completed their military service in the country of which they were nationals by means of an official Army discharge document. Once these papers are approved they will only have to serve 2 months.

The Minister of Defence may at his discretion and when the circumstances justify it, exempt entirely from compulsory service in the National Guard aliens who acquire Cypriot citizenship, but of whom neither parent is of Cypriot descent.

PROCEDURE
Immediately after arrival in Cyprus and before enlistment those concerned should present themselves at the Enlistment Office of the District in which they were born, or for those born abroad the Enlistment Office of the District were they will reside. They will then be provided with a Notice of Enlistment for the next enlistment (January or July).

After enlistment the following must be submitted to their unit:

• Application for reduced service (if this applies) on the special form supplied by the Enlistment Office.
• A solemn declaration with reference to the time and place of permanent residence abroad.
• Confirmation from the Cyprus Embassy, High Commissioner or other competent Authority that they were permanent residents abroad (and for what period)

If these do not confirm that they were permanently settled abroad the following may also be required.

• Photocopies of all pages of old and new passports until their arrival in Cyprus.
• Photocopies of educational qualifications obtained abroad.
• Confirmation from employers and/or the commissioner of Inland Revenue for themselves and/or the parents relating to their work/employment abroad up to the date of their arrival in Cyprus.
• Photocopies of any exemptions or postponements of military service granted to them in the past by the Minister of Defence.
• Any other official documentation that would confirm their permanent settlement abroad.

EXIT PERMITS
All Overseas Cypriots and their male children between the ages of 15 and 50s visiting Cyprus, will not be allowed to leave the island unless they have obtained an exit permit from the Ministry of Defense.

To facilitate those affected the following arrangements have been made:

• All those who have done their military service may leave without an exit permit provided that they produce their original Army Discharge papers.
• All those who are exempted from compulsory military service by reasons of permanent residence abroad, may leave without an Exit Permit provided that they present to Passport Control the original "Certificate of Exemption" which is issued by the Ministry of Defence upon application.
• These permanent Certificates of Exemption can only be used if their stay in Cyprus does not exceed 3 months. In the case were their stay is over 3 months, then an application has to be made for and Exit Permit. All those entitled to a Certificate of Exemption are urged to submit their applications without delay to the Ministry of Defence to secure the above Certificate, which relieves them of unnecessary inconvenience and expense during their visit to Cyprus.
• All those that are exempted for other reasons (health, dependents, prisoners of war, missing father or brother etc) must apply to the National Guard Enlistment Office in the district in which applies to them to secure a "Certificate of Emigration" which, as mentioned above, will allow them to leave Cyprus without an Exit Permit. Otherwise they must secure an Exit Permit directly from the Ministry of Defence in Nicosia.

Ministry of Defence 22-807542
Director General 22-807501
Recruitment Administrative officer 22-807538
Exit permits, Deferments, Exemptions 22-807542-3
Minister's office 22-807505

Nicosia Enlistment Office
Ethniki Frouras Street
(Opposite Hilton Hotel)
Nicosia 22-376580

Larnaca Enlistment Office
Apollonos 13,
Larnaca 24-653991

Limassol Enlistment Office
Louki Akrita 13,
Limassol
25-369850

Paphos Enlistment Office
Kolokotroni Street,
Paphos 26-233270