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Cypriot Citizenship by Descent for UK Nationals

Am I allowed to have dual citizenship, i.e. UK and Cyprus?

Cypriots who are permanent residents of the UK are eligible to obtain Cypriot citizenship due to descent from Cyprus. Dual citizenship/nationality is allowed both in Cyprus and in the UK.

Am I automatically entitled to Cypriot citizenship if one of my parents is Cypriot, even though I was born in the UK?

Citizenship by descent in Cyprus can be granted to persons who have Cypriot origins. In order to be able to apply for citizenship through this legal option, all foreigners are required to provide documents that can prove the existence of a family tie with a Cypriot national, this being a basic requirement.

It depends on your date of birth and your parent’s citizenship status at that time.

Application M.70 or M.71

May be submitted by persons of Cypriot origin, their father is a Cypriot citizen, who were born before 16/08/1960 and are citizens of the United Kingdom and its former colonies.

Application M.121

May be submitted by minors or adults over the age of 18 who were born after 16/08/1960 and their father, at the time of the applicant’s birth, was a Cypriot citizen, as well as individuals who were born after 11/6/1999 and their mother, at the time of the applicant’s birth, was a Cypriot citizen.

Application M.123

May be submitted by an adult individual born after 16/08/1960 who is a descendant of an individual granted British citizenship under the Cyprus’ Annexation Council Decrees of 1914-1943 or an individual born in Cyprus after 5/11/1914 and prior 16/08/1960.

Application M.124

It can be submitted by adult persons of Cypriot origin, who are citizens of the United Kingdom and its former colonies or a Commonwealth country and who habitually resides in Cyprus or resided in Cyprus for a continuous period of 12 months prior to the submission of the application and intend to continue to reside in the Republic and are of good character.

Application M.126

This application can be submitted for minor persons, whose one of their parents acquired the Cypriot citizenship after their birth.

So it’s not always “automatic” just because one parent was Cypriot. The key is your birth date, the parent’s citizenship status at that time, and whether you meet the form category.

What documents are usually required?

  • The applicant’s birth certificate
  • The applicant’s parents marriage certificate
  • A photocopy of the applicant’s passport and his/her parents passports
  • Certificate of registration of the Cypriot parent
  • Photocopy of the receipt of payment

If your parents were not married at your birth, you may need to follow additional procedures, for example legal recognition of parentage under Cyprus law. If the birth was out of wedlock, legal recognition must be completed under Law on Children (Kinship and Legal Status) 187/1991, Articles 16-17.

Where do I submit my application?

Submitting the application at the Cyprus High Commission in the UK is convenient if you are based in the UK. However, the embassy does not process the application itself. It forwards the documents to the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Cyprus. This additional step may add extra processing time.

Submitting your application in Cyprus may sometimes be quicker because it goes directly to the Civil Registry and Migration Department without intermediary handling. This option may be preferable if you can travel to Cyprus or if faster processing is important to you.

However, note that original documents submitted in Cyprus are not returned, so you must prepare certified copies/apostilles in advance.

How long does the citizenship registration process take?

There is no officially published fixed timeframe for all applications. Processing time depends on the category of application, the completeness of the documentation, and the workload of the Civil Registry and Migration Department.

In general, some applications may take 3–6 months, while others can take up to 12 months or longer.

Once approved, how do I obtain my Cyprus passport and Cyprus ID from the UK?

Once the certificate of registration of citizenship is issued, you can apply for a Cyprus Identity Card and a Cyprus passport. British-resident applicants will often apply through the High Commission or through Cyprus district offices.