Matters of citizenship

The term "Overseas Cypriots" refers to persons of Cypriot descent who reside abroad even if they do not have Cypriot citizenship. Almost all Cypriots who are not citizens are automatically entitled to acquire citizenship on the basis of various provisions of the Cypriot legislation on citizenship. Applications, for citizenship are submitted to the Consular Authorities abroad, the office of Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia or the District Officers in all main towns if the applicants are in Cyprus. Citizenship must be obtained before an application for a Cypriot passport can be submitted. This is usually a long process and it can take up to a year to get citizenship Children of overseas Cypriots born abroad after 16/8/1960 may acquire Cypriot citizenship with the registration of their birth and the issue of a Consular Birth Certificate by the Consular Authorities of the Republic abroad or the Immigration Department in Nicosia provided that in the year of their birth, their father was a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus. If their father was not a Cypriot citizen at the time of their birth (because he emigrated from Cyprus before 16/8/1955) and they are over the age of 21 years they may acquire citizenship by submitting the relevant application form M123. By a recent amendment of the Law in force, children born on or after the 11/6/1999 are registered as Cypriot citizens provided their father or mother is a Cypriot citizen. The Consular Birth Certificate stands for a certificate of nationality and a birth certificate. This registration should normally take place within two years of the birth of the child but can be made at a later stage and even after the age of 21 with the consent of the Minister of Interior. Minors (under 21) whose father acquired Cypriot citizenship after their birth or whose mother is a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus may register as Cypriot citizens on the application of their parents on form M126. Aliens who are married to Cypriot citizens are entitled to apply for Cypriot citizenship, after completing three years of marriage and cohabitation with their Cypriot spouse. The marriage certificate, good character certificate, the birth certificate of the applicant and particulars of the Cypriot spouse (i.e. copy of Cyprus passport) are required. Also a certificate issued by the Chairman of Communal Council (Muhtar) stating that that they have been living continuously in his sector for at least two years immediately prior to the date of their application, should be provided. The applicant must be legally residing in Cyprus. The application must be submitted on form M125 (in duplicate). Cyprus accepts dual citizenship and Cypriots from abroad will be able to keep passports from other countries.