Naturalisation — Years of Residence

We reconcile lawful stay and absences against permits and travel history, applying the current thresholds for the chosen route.

We assess against allowable limits and advise the cleanest option (wait period and/or supporting evidence).

Yes. We coordinate with immigration lawyers where required. Where permitted, we can attend or provide a representative.

Yes. We coordinate certified translations and legalisations where required.

Timing depends on office workload and file completeness. We advise realistic expectations during intake and track the file until decision.

The general requirement is seven years of lawful residence in Cyprus, including one continuous year immediately before the application. Absences totalling up to 90 days do not interrupt the 12-month continuous-residence requirement; longer or repeated absences can affect eligibility — we confirm your travel history at intake. Absences during the qualifying period must stay within allowed limits. We reconcile your residence history at intake and confirm whether you qualify.

Since the Civil Registry (Amendment) Law came into force on 19 December 2023, naturalisation by years of residence carries two requirements that are now mandatory and often overlooked. First, the applicant must hold a Greek language certificate at B1 level, obtained through the written examination run by the Ministry of Education or through Greek-medium schooling or study. Second, the applicant must pass a written examination on the basic elements of Cyprus's contemporary political and social reality, also administered by the Ministry of Education. These sit alongside the core criteria: seven years of legal residence within the preceding ten years, twelve months of continuous residence immediately before applying, good character, suitable accommodation, and stable financial means. MegaServe maps the residence history and the language and civic-knowledge steps before the application is filed.

Yes. The same years-of-residence framework provides a shorter path for highly skilled employees of foreign-interest companies, who can qualify on fewer years of legal residence in exchange for a Greek language certificate at A2 or B1 level, alongside the civic-knowledge and financial criteria. The precise number of years and the salary condition depend on the applicant's certificate level and employment, and are set by the current legislation, so MegaServe confirms the exact threshold that applies to your circumstances at intake rather than quoting a figure that may not fit your case.

Cyprus generally permits dual citizenship, meaning you can become a Cypriot citizen without being required by Cyprus to renounce your existing nationality. However, some other countries do not allow their citizens to hold a second nationality — we recommend confirming the rules of your country of citizenship separately before you proceed.

Yes. Cyprus is a member of the European Union, so Cypriot citizens receive a Cyprus passport that confers full EU citizenship rights — including the right to live, work, study, and travel freely across all EU and EEA member states, plus visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to many non-EU countries.

Total cost has two parts: MegaServe's coordination fee (covering eligibility memo with residence-days reconciliation, evidence pack, translations and legalisations coordination, submission, and follow-ups through to the oath) and government/authority fees (application fees, certificates, and oath/registration steps). We provide a clear written quote after the intake call with no hidden charges. Family members are billed per applicant.