Bill proposes easier citizenship registration for foreign spouses of Cypriots abroad

Nicosia, Cyprus. The interior ministry has proposed a bill to simplify the registration of foreign spouses of Cypriots living abroad as Cyprus citizens.

Residency and marriage requirements

Foreign spouses currently must have lived in Cyprus for three years before applying for citizenship.

Under the proposed bill, the requirement could be reduced to six months where the interior ministry determines that special circumstances exist, provided the couple have been married for at least three years.

For Cypriots living abroad whose foreign spouse seeks Cypriot nationality, the marriage must have lasted at least five years.

Application conditions

Applicants would be required to swear an oath of loyalty to the state and demonstrate their intention to continue living in Cyprus or to remain employed in the civil service, education or the police.

Exclusions and limits

The proposed amendments would not apply to people who entered Cyprus illegally or are residing in the country illegally.

The sole exception would allow the interior minister, in certain cases, to forgive a spouse who had previously lived in the government-controlled areas without proper legal status.

The bill also states that citizenship obtained through marriage cannot be inherited. A person granted citizenship in this way could not use it to help a stepchild obtain citizenship or to support a future spouse’s application after remarriage.