How to get Cyprus citizenship by investment in 2026

Cyprus citizenship grants EU citizenship rights, including the ability to live and work in other EU countries. The 2026 Henley Passport Index lists 175 destinations accessible without a prior visa. Citizenship can be acquired through naturalisation, marriage or descent.

Key Benefits of Cyprus Citizenship

• the ability to live and work throughout the European Union;
• visa-free access to 175 destinations;
• a favourable tax regime;
• high-quality healthcare services under a general insurance policy;
• widespread use of the English language: although English ceased to be an official language in the 1960s, over 70% of the population speaks English today;
• a vibrant expatriate community, including Russian speakers;
• a strategic geographical location, with easy access to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East;
• a mild coastal climate, with 300 days of sunshine per year and numerous beaches;
• the possibility of holding dual citizenship.

Citizenship by Investment

Until 2020, Cyprus offered a citizenship-by-investment programme. Under this programme, individuals could obtain Cypriot citizenship by investing €2 million or more in real estate, government bonds, or an investment fund.

Cyprus continues to offer a permanent residency programme for individuals investing €300,000 or more in real estate. For personalised guidance and project selection, contact Tranio experts.

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Citizenship by Investment in Real Estate

Previously, foreign investors could obtain Cyprus citizenship by investing a minimum of €2 million in real estate. At least €500,000 had to be allocated towards a personal residence, which could not be sold under the programme’s conditions.

Investments could be directed towards purchasing or constructing buildings, developing land for residential or commercial use, or creating tourism infrastructure. However, land purchases were only permitted if a specific development plan was in place.

Although Cyprus has closed its citizenship-by-investment programme, a permanent residency programme remains available to qualifying property buyers at a lower entry threshold. It can provide access to European banking, education and healthcare, and allows applicants to include a spouse and children. Subsequent naturalisation requires actual residence; permanent residence status alone does not satisfy the residence periods.

Dmitrii Bozhkov Head of sales Tranio Cyprus

Citizenship by Investment in Business

Cypriot citizenship could be obtained by investing €2 million or more in businesses on the island. Companies had to maintain a real presence in Cyprus and employ at least nine Cypriot or other EU citizens. If multiple investors participated in the same project, the minimum number of employees had to increase proportionally.

Additionally, 20% of the minimum required investment (€400,000) had to be invested in a company operating in the primary or secondary sectors of the economy (excluding construction), or in research, education, health, or renewable energy sectors.

Investment in Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)

To obtain citizenship through investment, applicants were required to acquire units worth at least €2 million in Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), Registered Alternative Investment Funds (RAIFs), or financial assets of Cypriot companies or entities licensed by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) for the same amount.

Additional Conditions for Citizenship by Investment

In addition to meeting the investment requirements, applicants were required to contribute €100,000 each to the Land Development Corporation (CLDC) and to either the Research and Innovation Fund, the Renewable Energy Fund, or the National Solidarity Fund.

Investment funds had to originate from the investor’s personal account or from a company based and operating abroad. Applicants who had been denied citizenship under another EU Member State’s programme were ineligible for Cypriot citizenship under this programme.

Cyprus offers a permanent residence permit programme for foreigners investing €300,000 or more in real estate. This is one of the few permanent residence programmes in the EU with such a low entry threshold. Submit an application form to receive a detailed consultation.

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Cyprus Citizenship by Naturalisation

Foreign nationals may apply for Cypriot citizenship through naturalisation after 12 months of continuous residence immediately before applying and at least seven years of lawful residence within the previous 10 years. They must also meet the Greek-language B1, civic-knowledge, income and accommodation requirements.

Citizenship for Qualified Professionals

In 2024, the Cypriot Ministry of the Interior announced the acceptance and processing of naturalisation applications under new rules adopted in 2023.

General Requirements for Naturalisation under General Rules:

• legal and continuous residence in Cyprus for 12 months prior to the application;
• legal residence in Cyprus for a cumulative period of at least seven years;
• knowledge of Greek at B1 level;
• stable financial resources and good creditworthiness.

On November 30, 2023, the Cypriot Parliament adopted amendments that include a simplified naturalisation procedure for qualified professionals working in Cypriot companies.

Key Changes in the New Law:

• Greek language proficiency at A2 or B1 level;
• legal residence in the Republic of Cyprus for at least four or three years (depending on the level of Greek language skills — A2 and B1, respectively).

To obtain citizenship under the simplified procedure, the applicant must work in high-tech and innovative companies (the full list is available on the Ministry of the Interior’s website) with a representative office in Cyprus or in a company registered in the Register of Foreign Companies of the Department of Accounting and Migration of Cyprus.

Documents Required for Obtaining Cyprus Citizenship by Naturalisation:

• applicant’s birth certificate;
• certificate of the applicant’s criminal record;
• marriage certificate;
• copies of all pages of the applicant’s current and previous passports with entry stamps to Cyprus;
• a detailed application form with information on arrivals in and departures from Cyprus, completed by the applicant;
• copies of advertisements in two Cypriot newspapers placed by the applicant stating that they have applied for naturalisation;
• two photographs;
• a receipt for the €500 application fee and two €8.54 revenue stamps; a further €500 is payable for the naturalisation certificate after approval.

All documents issued abroad must be translated into Greek or English and certified with an apostille if the issuing country is a member of the Hague Convention.

Citizenship through Marriage

Foreign spouses of Cypriot citizens may apply for Cypriot citizenship after three years of marriage, provided they have lived in Cyprus for at least two of those years. Applications must be submitted to the administrative districts of the applicant’s place of residence. If both spouses reside outside Cyprus, the application must be submitted at the embassy of the Republic abroad.

Documents Required for Obtaining Cyprus Citizenship through Marriage:

• applicant’s birth certificate;
• certificate of the applicant’s criminal record;
• marriage certificate;
• birth certificates of the couple’s children;
• a copy of the applicant’s passport;
• a copy of the Cypriot spouse’s passport;
• certificate of Cypriot citizenship of the Cypriot spouse (if applicable);
• a statement of harmonious cohabitation signed by an official of the district administration or diplomatic office;
• a certificate of cohabitation from the local authority;
• a copy of the receipt for the €300 application fee.

If the couple resides outside Cyprus, the documents must be accompanied by a letter explaining the reasons for requesting Cypriot citizenship for a foreign spouse. If the couple has been married for at least five years and has at least one child, this letter is not required.

Cypriot Citizenship by Descent

The following foreign nationals may apply for Cypriot citizenship by right of descent:

• Minors and adults (over 18 years of age) born abroad after 16th August 1960, whose father was a Cypriot citizen at the time of their birth, and persons born after 11th June 1999, whose mother was a Cypriot citizen at the time of their birth.
• Minors born before 11th June 1999, either in Cyprus or abroad, whose mother is a Cypriot citizen and whose father is a foreign national. This also applies to minors whose father acquired Cypriot citizenship after their birth.
• Minors whose father or mother acquired Cypriot citizenship through naturalisation or by registering a marriage to a Cypriot citizen.
• Persons born before 16th August 1960, who are citizens of the United Kingdom or its former colonies, are Cypriots by paternal descent, and permanently reside abroad.
• Persons born before 16th August 1960, who are not citizens of the United Kingdom or its former colonies, but are Cypriots by paternal descent.

Documents Required for Obtaining Cyprus Citizenship by Descent:

• applicant’s birth certificate;
• marriage certificate of the applicant’s parents;
• copies of the passports of the applicant and the applicant’s parents;
• certificate of Registration of the Cypriot parent (if applicable);
• certificate of Cypriot citizenship of the Cypriot parent (if applicable);
• a copy of proof of payment of the €20 application fee.

Cyprus Citizenship: Application Fees