Holistic Criteria for Naturalization

Residential Mandate: The new law stipulates a continuous 12-month residence prior to application, with a permissible 90-day absence. Additionally, a composite seven-year residence within the past decade, including civil service, is required.

Character Assessment: Applicants must exhibit good character, defined expansively to include law-abidance, non-association with unrecognized territories in Northern Cyprus, non-engagement with enemies during wartime, absence of serious criminal records, and non-inclusion in sanction lists or pending serious criminal cases.

Cultural and Linguistic Integration

Language: Mastery of the Greek language at the BI level, validated through specified examinations, is now mandatory.

Contemporary Knowledge: A grasp of Cyprus' political and social landscape is mandated, assessed by a tripartite committee from the Ministries of Interior, Education, Sports and Youth, and Justice.

Economic and Residential Stability

Financial Stability: Applicants must demonstrate stable financial resources for themselves and dependents, considering employment income and long-term unemployment history.

Suitable Accommodation: Adequate living arrangements are now a prerequisite.

Demonstrating Genuine Intent

The law emphasizes the necessity of genuine intent to reside in Cyprus, implying a physical presence in the Republic, as per immigration norms. Notably, residency as an asylum seeker, holder of international protection, or student, are excluded from the residency calculations.

Comprehensive Compliance or Rejection

Failure to meet any of these conditions results in application rejection. The law, retroactively effective, applies to pending applications submitted under the previous regime.

Concluding Remarks

This regulatory reform represents the Cypriot government's commitment to ensuring that applicants have substantial ties to Cyprus, including linguistic and cultural assimilation. Citizenship is no longer a procedural formality but a privilege extended to those who truly embody the ethos of Cypriot society.