The Legal Framework
There are a number of circumstances under which a person, minor or adult can obtain Cypriot citizenship due to origin. When this citizenship has been obtained, they can apply for a Cypriot passport and a Cypriot ID card.
The options are as follows:
Minors
- Citizenship can be granted to individuals who were born abroad after 16 August 1960 if:
- their father at the time of birth was a Cypriot citizen; or
- they were born after 11 June 1999 and their mother was a Cypriot citizen at the time of birth.
The following documents should be submitted under this scenario:
- M121 form (this will be provided by your law firm);
- Translated and duly legalized birth certificate of the minor;
- Translated and duly legalized marriage certificate of the minor’s patents;
- Copy of the minor’s passport;
- Copy of the passports of the parents of the minor;
- Certificate of Registration of the parent who is a Cypriot citizen (where applicable).
- Citizenship can be granted to individuals born in Cyprus or abroad before 11 June 1999 if:
- their mother is a Cypriot citizen and their father is a foreigner; or
- if they are a minor and their father has acquired Cypriot citizenship after their birth; or
- if they are a minor and their mother or father has acquired Cypriot citizenship by naturalization or registration due to marriage with a Cypriot citizen.
The following documents should be submitted under this scenario:
- M126 form (this will be provided by your law firm);
- Translated and duly legalized birth certificate of the minor;
- Translated and duly legalized marriage certificate of the minor’s parents;
- Copy of the minor’s passport;
- Copy of the passports of the parents of the minor;
- Certificate of Naturalization of the parent who is a Cypriot citizen (where applicable);
- Two passport sized pictures of the minor;
- Declaration of the parent who is a foreigner consenting to the minor obtaining Cypriot citizenship (this will be provided by your law firm). This declaration is not necessary if the parent who is a Cypriot citizen has obtained a court decision for sole parental care of the minor;
- Certificate of Registration of the Cypriot parent of the minor (applicable when the citizenship is acquired due to marriage with a Cypriot citizen);
- Copy of a certificate of attendance at school in Cyprus of the minor (applicable when the citizenship of the applying parent is acquired due to marriage with a Cypriot citizen);
- Copy of a valid temporary residence permit for the minor (applicable when the citizenship of the applying parent is acquired due to marriage with a Cypriot citizen);
Adults
- Citizenship can be granted to individuals who were born abroad after 16 August 1960 if:
- their father at the time of birth was a Cypriot citizen; or
- they were born after 11 June 1999 and their mother was a Cypriot citizen at the time of birth.
The following documents should be submitted under this scenario:
- M121 form (this will be provided by your law firm);
- Translated and duly legalized birth certificate of the adult;
- Translated and duly legalized marriage certificate of the adult’s parents;
- Copy of the adult’s passport;
- Copy of the passports of the parents of the adult;
- Certificate of Registration of the parent who is a Cypriot citizen (where applicable).
- Citizenship can be granted to individuals who were born before 16 August 1960 if:
- they are a citizen of the UK and its former colonies; and
- they originate from Cyprus on the male side; and
- they reside permanently abroad.
The following documents should be submitted under this scenario:
- M71 (this will be provided by your law firm);
- Translated and duly legalized birth certificate of the adult;
- Translated and duly legalized birth certificate of the adult’s father;
- Copy of the adult’s passport.
- Citizenship can be granted to individuals who were born before 16 August 1960 if:
- they originate from Cyprus on the male side; and
- they reside permanently abroad or in the Republic.
The following documents should be submitted under this scenario:
- M72 (this will be provided by your law firm);
- Translated and duly legalized birth certificate of the adult;
- Translated and duly legalized birth certificate of the adult’s father;
- Copy of the adult’s passport.
- Citizenship can be granted to individuals who were born after 16 August 1960 if:
- they have a mother who is a Cypriot citizen and a father who is a foreigner; or
- they originate from a person who became a British citizen based on the Annexation of Cyprus Orders in Council 1914-1943; or
- they originate from a person born in Cyprus after 5 November 1914 but prior to 16 August 1960.
The following documents should be submitted under this scenario:
- M123 form, in duplicate (this will be provided by your law firm);
- Translated and duly legalized birth certificate of the adult;
- Translated and duly legalized marriage certificate of the adult’s parents;
- Copy of the adult’s passport;
- Copy of the passports of the parents of adult;
- Certificate of Registration of the parent who is a Cypriot citizen (where applicable).
- Citizenship can be granted to individuals who were born before 16 August 1960 if:
- they are a British citizen; or
- they are a citizen of any state of the Commonwealth and they have completed one year of legal residence in Cyprus.
The following documents should be submitted under this scenario:
- M124 form, in duplicate (this will be provided by your law firm);
- Certificate of clean criminal record from Cyprus of the applicant;
- Copy of the adult’s passport.
Acquisition of passport and ID card
Once the relevant certificate of becoming a Cypriot citizen has been obtain (Certificate of Naturalization, Consular Birth Certificate, etc.) the individual may proceed to request the issuance of a Cypriot passport and ID card.
The following documents are required:
- M.9G/T Form (this will be provided by your law firm);
- Application from for ID card (this will be provided by your law firm);
- Translated and duly legalized birth certificate;
- Translated and duly legalized marriage certificate;
- Certificate of becoming a Cypriot citizen.
Note that all documents issued by a foreign authority should be legalized by Apostille, in the event that the issuing country has signed The Hague Convention. In the event that the issuing country has not signed The Hague Convention, the documents should be duly legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country and the Embassy of Cyprus in the issuing country.
This memo is meant as a guideline. Any changes in procedure or law may not be incorporated herein. We advise that you contact Maritsa Chatzichristodoulou & Associates LLC at info@attorneycy.com for further information and custom advise to your particular circumstances