The Cyprus government has introduced this scheme for granting foreign investors Cypriot Citizenship.
Acquiring Cypriot Citizenship (Naturalization of Investors in Cyprus by Exception)
Eligibility:
The following non-Cypriot individuals who meet one of the set financial criteria, are eligible to apply for the acquisition of Cypriot Citizenship:
- individuals, either personally or through a company in which they are participating as shareholders, in proportion to their holding percentage
- through investments made by their spouse or jointly with the spouse
- as high-ranking senior manager of a company that meets one of the financial criteria below (provided that they receive a remuneration that generates paid tax revenues of at least €100,000 over three years)
Financial Criteria:
Eligible individuals that meet one of the following financial criteria may apply for the acquisition of the Cypriot Citizenship:
- Investment in real estate, land development and infrastructure projects of at least €2m
- Investment in financial assets of Cypriot companies or organizations of at least €2m
- Investment in Alternative Investment Funds or financial assets of Cypriot companies/organizations that are licensed by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission of at least €2m
- Combination of the above criteria, which can also include investment in government bonds of up to €500,000
Other Terms and Conditions:
- Prior to the naturalization, investors must hold a residence permit in Cyprus. If not, the application for a residence permit can be submitted simultaneously with the application for the naturalization
- In addition to the above investment requirements, an investor must also own a permanent privately-owned residence in Cyprus of at least €500,000 (+VAT). If investment is made into residential properties, as per the first financial criterion, this requirement is not applicable, if at least one of the units is worth at least €500,000 (+VAT), provided that the applicant retains the possession of the residence for life
- The investment in government bonds is restricted to €500,000
- There is no requirement of residing in Cyprus after acquiring citizenship
Family Members:
- Spouse/partner: The investor’s spouse or partner may acquire the Cypriot Citizenship. Their application may be filed simultaneously
- Minor children: Dependent children up to the age of 18 may apply, after the investor acquires the Cypriot Citizenship and provided that the other parent consents to the grant of the citizenship
- Adult financially dependent children: the right to apply for citizenship is also granted to the financially dependent adult children of the investor belonging to one of the following two categories:
- students up to the age of 28
- children with severe physical/mental disability that prohibits employment
- Parents: The investor’s parents may also apply for citizenship after the investor has acquired his/her citizenship, provided that they are owners of a private residence of at least €500,000 (+VAT). The investor and his/her parents may collectively acquire one residential property of a total value of at least €1m (+VAT)