(Source: InBusinessNews 22/03/2024)

The qualifications required to apply for naturalisation, according to the provisions of the Civil Registry (Amendment) Law of 2023, have been announced by the Ministry of Interior.

More specifically, according to the Ministry, the qualifications for naturalisation, pursuant to Article 111B(1) of the Civil Registry Law, which must be met cumulatively to for an application for naturalisation to be submitted, include:

• Legal and continuous residence for 12 months immediately preceding the date of application, with periods of absence not exceeding 90 days in total not interrupting the stated period of time, as well as
• Legal residence for cumulative periods of no less than 7 years during the 10 years immediately preceding the 12-month period.

The required criteria also include:

• Good character, sufficient knowledge of the Greek language at level B1,
• The sufficient knowledge of basic elements of the modern political and social reality of the Republic,
• Suitable accommodation and stable and regular financial resources,
• The means for the support of himself and the members of the applicant's family, as well as
• The intention to reside in the Republic.

The Ministry then notes that according to article 111B(2) the qualifications are differentiated for persons residing in the Republic for the purpose of highly skilled employment in companies, which are determined by the Decision of the Council of Ministers no. 92.018 and date 15/10/2021, regarding the Strategy for Attracting Companies to Activate and/or Expand their Activities, as well as for their family members.

As stated, this category includes:

• Businesses/companies of foreign interests operating in the Republic of Cyprus and operating independent offices in Cyprus, which are housed in suitable premises, separate from any private residence or other office,
• Cypriot shipping companies,
• Cypriot hi-tech/innovation companies (with products related to the aerospace industry, computers, information technology and communication, pharmaceuticals, biomedical equipment, research and development equipment, electrical machinery, chemicals, non-electrical machinery), Cypriot pharmaceutical companies or
• Cypriot companies active in the fields of biogenetics and biotechnology and
• companies that are already registered in the Register of Foreign Companies of the Civil Registry and Migration Department.

It is added that the qualifications for the persons falling under the provisions of article 111B(2), as well as for their family members, which must be met cumulatively, are:

• Legal and continuous residence for 12 months immediately preceding the date of application, with periods of absence not exceeding 90 days in total not interrupting the stated period, and
• Legal residence for cumulative periods of no less than 4 years or 3 years, depending on the level of knowledge of the Greek language, i.e. A2 or B1 respectively, during the immediately preceding 10 years from the 12-month period, with an absence that does not exceed a total of 90 days not to interrupt the mentioned time period.

Good character, sufficient knowledge of the Greek language at level A2 or B1, sufficient knowledge of basic elements of the modern political and social reality of the Republic, suitable accommodation and stable and regular financial resources sufficient for the upkeep of the applicant and his family members are also required, as well as the intention to stay in the Republic

More information on naturalisation qualifications, the supporting documents to be submitted, as well as the application form, is available on the Interior Ministry's website, the statement concluded.