Maksym Stepanenko
Managing Partner, Crystal Tax
International client projects since 2012: company structures, tax, immigration, DUNS and NCAGE. 50+ jurisdictions.
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Cypriot citizenship in 2026 is acquired by naturalisation: at least 7 years of lawful residence in the last 10 years, including 12 continuous months before applying, Greek at B1 level and a test on life in Cyprus. Highly skilled employees of companies under the government's business attraction strategy have a fast track of 4 years with Greek A2 or 3 years with B1. Citizenship by investment is closed: only applications filed before 30.10.2020 were considered.
We handle the tax side of relocation: residence, non-dom status, income from Ukraine and other countries
In brief
- Period: 7 years of lawful residence in 10, plus 12 continuous months before the application with absences of up to 90 days.
- Language: Greek B1, written and oral exam; exempt with a school or university qualification taught in Greek.
- Fast track: 4 years (A2) or 3 years (B1) for highly skilled employees of strategy companies, decision within 8 months.
- Not counted: time under temporary or subsidiary protection, as an asylum seeker or as a student.
- The "passport for investment" programme is closed; its provision was deleted from the law in 2025.
Naturalisation requirements
Residence
12 months of continuous lawful residence before applying (absences up to 90 days in total) and at least 7 years of lawful residence in the preceding 10 years (s.111B).
Language
Greek at B1 level under a ministerial order. Exempt: holders of a school or university qualification taught in Greek.
Knowledge of Cyprus
A test on the political and social life of Cyprus.
Means and housing
Sufficient means and accommodation in Cyprus.
Character
Good character and an intention to reside in Cyprus.
Fast track for international company staff
Highly skilled employees of companies operating under the business attraction strategy (a Council of Ministers decision) can apply after 4 years of residence with Greek A2, or 3 years with B1, with a decision within 8 months. If the employer is outside the strategy, the fast track is unavailable, Blue Card holders included.
Employment with such a company runs under the companies of foreign interests scheme: salary of at least €2,500 gross a month, a degree or 2 years' experience, a contract of at least 2 years.
What does not count towards the 7 years
| Status | Counts |
|---|---|
| Temporary protection (Ukrainians in Cyprus) | No |
| Subsidiary protection, asylum seeker | No |
| Student permit | No |
| Employment, companies of foreign interests, Blue Card, investor permit | Yes, as lawful residence |
Temporary protection for Ukrainians in Cyprus has been extended automatically to 04.03.2027. Temporary protection holders cannot apply for a Blue Card. If citizenship is the goal, the status has to change to a permit that counts.
Permanent residence as a step
- Investor immigration permit (Reg. 6(2)): investment of at least €300,000 in new housing from a developer, commercial property, the capital of a Cyprus company with 5 employees, or Cyprus funds, plus foreign income of at least €50,000 a year. Work is limited to being director of the company invested in. It gives no citizenship, but the residence counts.
- EU long-term resident status after 5 years of continuous lawful residence with a permit.
Permit types and their tax effects are on residence permit in Cyprus.
Citizenship and tax
Citizenship does not change tax; tax follows tax residence. You become Cyprus resident after 183 days in a year or under the 60-day rule. Non-dom status (no defence contribution on dividends and interest) lasts until you have been resident for 17 of the last 20 years. A Cypriot citizen living abroad pays tax there. Details: Cyprus non-dom and personal tax.
Cyprus no longer issues "golden passports". The investor naturalisation programme accepted applications until 30.10.2020. Offers of "citizenship for investment" in Cyprus in 2026 have no basis in law.
How we help
- Count your residence for naturalisation and identify which permit counts.
- Map tax residence for the relocation years: Cyprus, Ukraine and third countries.
- Prepare the tax side of an investor permit: the €50,000 foreign income and source of funds.
- Immigration filings are handled by partner lawyers; we cover tax.
Tell us your status in Cyprus, how long you have lived there and where your income comes from. We will prepare a tailored proposal for the tax side of your move.
Related pages
- Residence permit in Cyprus: permit types and tax.
- Cyprus non-dom: tax residence and SDC.
- Company registration in Cyprus and taxes: 15% corporate tax, filings.
Sources: Civil Registry Law 141(I)/2002 (s.111A, s.111B, cylaw.org); Migration Department: investor immigration permit, long-term resident status, EU Blue Card, companies of foreign interests; Asylum Service: temporary protection extension; Income Tax Law, SDC Law. Checked on 9 October 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
How many years until I can get Cypriot citizenship?
Can I get Cypriot citizenship by investment in 2026?
What level of Greek is required?
Does temporary protection count towards citizenship?
Does the €300,000 permanent residence lead to citizenship?
Does Cypriot citizenship affect my taxes?
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Our advantages
Corporate structuring, company registration in Ukraine and abroad, tax and reporting, migration, bank accounts, DUNS and NCAGE codes. We run the whole project, from choosing the solution to the finished documents.
Confidentiality terms are set out in our contract. We do not pass information about a client or their project to third parties, except where the law expressly requires it.
We compare jurisdictions against your business task: tax regime, reporting, substance requirements and access to banking. On the call we go through the upsides and the limits of each option.
We name the timeline for every step before the work starts — it depends on the jurisdiction, the registrar and the bank. Personal data is used only to deliver the service.
We handle the correspondence with registrars, government bodies and banks and answer their requests ourselves. From you we need documents and signatures.
We take each case to the finish: if an authority or registrar comes back with remarks, we revise the documents at no extra charge. The fee is calculated for your task before work starts.