Who can apply for Cypriot citizenship by descent
An applicant of Cypriot origin is generally entitled to be registered as a citizen of the Republic where one of the following applies:
- At least one parent was a Cypriot citizen at the time of the applicant’s birth, for births on or after 16 August 1960.
- The applicant was born before 16 August 1960 and descends through the paternal line from a person who was, or would have qualified as, a citizen of the Republic at independence.
- The applicant’s grandparent was Cypriot and the linking parent was, or can still be, registered as a Cypriot citizen.
Each file is assessed on its own facts and documentary chain of descent.
How the firm handles the application
The firm handles the full file, including:
- Legal review of eligibility under the Civil Registry Law of the Republic of Cyprus.
- Preparation of Form M123, M121, M124, or the relevant form for the applicable route.
- Coordination of Apostille and certified translation of foreign civil status documents.
- Submission and follow-up with the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia.
- Application for the Cyprus passport and national identity card once registration is granted.
Applying from anywhere in the world
Cypriot citizenship by descent may be claimed from any country. The firm acts for the Cypriot diaspora across the European Union, the United Kingdom, North America, Australia, the Gulf, and Southern Africa. Foreign documents are accepted once apostilled under the Hague Convention of 1961, or legalised through a Cypriot consulate in countries where the Convention does not apply.
The value of a Cyprus passport
A Cyprus passport is an EU passport. Holders can reside, work, study, and run a business in any European Union member state, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, and travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to 174 destinations (Henley Passport Index 2026). Cyprus permits dual citizenship; an existing nationality does not need to be renounced.
