FAQs: Gaining Cypriot Citizenship by Descent

A child can gain citizenship at birth by being born to at least one parent who holds Cypriot citizenship at the time. This applies regardless of birthplace or whether a consular birth certificate was issued abroad.

The main eligibility criteria for Cypriot citizenship by descent have to do with the relevant ancestor’s status at the time of the applicant’s birth and whether or not the applicant’s parent was born in Cyprus or abroad. Note that, if the ancestor renounced their citizenship or naturalized somewhere else before your parent was born, you may not be eligible as a grandchild.
Cyprus’ Ministry of Interior states the following eligibility pathways, which each require different application forms:
People of Cypriot descent by male parentage who were born prior to August 16, 1960, and are UK citizens.
People of Cypriot descent by male parentage who were born prior to August 16, 1960, and are not UK citizens.

Yes. You can retain your current citizenship status while acquiring Cypriot citizenship by descent, becoming a Cypriot citizen and maintaining your ties to your country of origin.

Sometimes. Adopted children who are under 18 years old can usually qualify if their adoption is legally recognized.

Within Cyprus, applicants file at the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia. If applying from abroad, you’ll deal with the relevant Cypriot embassy or consulate in the country in which you reside.

Yes. The Cypriot Citizenship Application by Descent Form M121, which you’ll use if claiming citizenship based on Cypriot descent, costs €20.00. Fees for other forms, such as application by registration forms, vary, so you should always check with the competent authority you’re applying through.

In addition to having the correct Cypriot citizenship application form based on your ancestral connection, the main document requirements are:
Your long-form birth certificate.
Your parent’s and grandparent’s birth certificates.
Proof of your ancestor’s Cypriot citizenship in the form of a registry entry, ID, or passport.
Your parents’ and grandparents’ marriage certificates.
Your passport and proof of residence.
A police clearance certificate for yourself (if older than 18).
Legalizations of foreign documents.
Certified translations of documents.

Yes. All foreign documents submitted with citizenship applications must be translated into Greek or English and legalized via apostille or consular certification. Translation fees may apply but are usually €30–€100 per document.

Yes, you can apply for a Cypriot passport, but only after your citizenship application is successful and you’ve received a certificate of registration. At that point, you can also apply for a Cypriot ID card.

Yes. As a citizen of Cyprus, which is an EU member nation, you also get EU citizenship and access to the healthcare, education, work, travel, and residency rights of the European Union.