Cypriot nationality law
The Cypriot nationality law dates back to 1967. It is mainly based on jus sanguinis.
Commonwealth citizenship
Cypriot citizens also have Commonwealth citizenship and therefore, if they are settled in the UK,[1] have the right to stand for and be elected to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.
Citizenship of the European Union
Cypriot citizens are also citizens of the European Union and thus enjoy rights of free movement and have the right to vote in elections for the European Parliament.
Acquisition of citizenship
There are several ways to become a Cypriot citizen (citizen of Cyprus) :
- Being married to a Cypriot national
- Having Cypriot origins
- Naturalization
- New Baby born
Marriage to a Cypriot National
The first, being married to a Cypriot national, requires one to be married for at least 3 years, and have completed 2 years of residency in Cyprus prior to the date of the application.
The documents required are:
- Birth certificate of the applicant
- Certificate of clean criminal record of the applicant
- Marriage certificate
- Birth certificate of the couple’s children
- Certificate of acquisition of the Cypriot citizenship of the Cypriot spouse (where applicable)
- Statement of harmonious cohabitation signed before an Officer of the District Administration Office or the diplomatic authority
- Statement of cohabitation from the local authority
- The application should be submitted in duplicate and one of the two application forms should bear two stamps worth 8.54 euros.
- Photocopy of receipt for the amount of 300 euros paid as fees [2]
Having Cypriot Origins
To apply through this method, one must be over 18 years old, and naturally, have Cypriot origins, as long as one was born abroad after the 16th of August 1960, with one's father at the time of birth a Cypriot citizen. One can apply in this way if one is an individual born after the 11th of June 1999, whose mother was a Cypriot citizen at the time of one's birth.[3]
Accompanying the application must be:
- Birth certificate of the applicant
- Marriage certificate of the applicant's parents
- Photocopy of the applicant's and the applicant's parents' passports
- Certificate of registration of the Cypriot parent (where applicable)
- Copy of proof of fees paid 20 euros
- Stamp worth 8.54 euros attached to the application [4]
Naturalization
Naturalization is referred to as the process for which a non-citizen of a country, in this case Cyprus, may become a citizen of that country. The process may be done via a statute or an application to the relevant authorities. In March 2014, the Cyprus Council of Ministers revised the "Scheme for Naturalisation of Investors in Cyprus by Exception" as part of the government's attempts to attract foreign investors to the country.[5] One of these attempts included a citizenship-by-investment program that granted applicants the right to live, work and study in Cyprus and in the European Union.[6] Applicants applying for Cypriot citizenship through this citizenship-by-investment option must actively invest in the Cyprus economy, by purchasing state bonds, investing in financial assets of Cypriot entities, purchasing real estate, acquiring or incorporating companies operating in Cyprus, among others.[6]
New baby born
According to the Republic of Cyprus Citizenship Law of 1967, anyone born on or after 16 August 1960, and with at least one parent being a Cypriot citizen, automatically acquires Cypriot citizenship.[7] Those who were born between 16 August 1960 and 1999 to a Cypriot mother abroad however, do not automatically become citizens of Cyprus, but they may register after they turn 21 years old.[8]
Travel freedom of Cypriot citizens
Visa requirements for Cypriot citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Cyprus. In 2016, Cypriot citizens had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 159 countries and territories, ranking the Cypriot passport 17th in the world according to the Visa Restrictions Index.
External links
- Cypriot Government
- "1967 Cyprus citizenship law". 2015-01-15. Archived from the original on 2009-02-08.
References
- ↑ Electoral Administration Act 2006, Section 18
- ↑ http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/crmd/crmd.nsf/All/2DC0A53CB22ADF38C22578E300362B51?OpenDocument
- ↑ http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/crmd/crmd.nsf/All/1B47E1C815108698C22578E30035ECD1?OpenDocument
- ↑ http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/crmd/crmd.nsf/All/1B47E1C815108698C22578E30035ECD1?OpenDocument
- ↑ "Grant of the Cypriot citizenship to non–Cypriot entrepreneurs/ investors through the "Scheme for Naturalization of Investors in Cyprus by exception". Ministry of Interior.
- 1 2 "Citizenship-by-Investment in Cyprus - Henley & Partners". www.henleyglobal.com. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
- ↑ "Official Website of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Washington D.C.". www.cyprusembassy.net. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
- ↑ "Dual Citizenship Cyprus". www.dualcitizenship.com. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
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1 British Overseas Territories. 2 Open border with Schengen Area. 3 Russia is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. The vast majority of its population (80%) lives in European Russia, therefore Russia as a whole is included as a European country here. 4 Turkey is a transcontinental country in the Middle East and Southeast Europe. Has a small part of its territory (3%) in Southeast Europe called Turkish Thrace. 5 Azerbaijan and Georgia (Abkhazia; South Ossetia) are transcontinental countries. Both have a small part of their territories in the European part of the Caucasus. 6 Kazakhstan is a transcontinental country. Has a small part of its territories located west of the Urals in Eastern Europe. 7 Armenia (Nagorno-Karabakh) and Cyprus (Northern Cyprus) are entirely in Southwest Asia but having socio-political connections with Europe. 8 Egypt is a transcontinental country in North Africa and the Middle East. Has a small part of its territory in the Middle East called Sinai peninsula. 9 Partially recognized.
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