A new bill seeks to ease the registration process for foreign spouses of Cypriot citizens living abroad, reducing the required period of residence in Cyprus from three years to six months in certain cases, following a decision by the Interior Minister.
The bill, titled the “Population Archive (Amending) Law of 2026”, was submitted for public consultation by the Interior Ministry.
Under the proposed changes, the conditions for registering a foreign spouse of a Cypriot citizen who lives abroad with their Cypriot partner would be clarified, with a requirement that the marriage has lasted at least five years.
The bill also provides for the reduction of the three-year residency requirement in Cyprus to a minimum of six months, at the discretion of the Interior Minister, where special circumstances apply in a specific case, provided that the marriage has lasted at least three years.
The Interior Minister would also be able, following an application submitted in the prescribed manner and after the applicant gives an oath of allegiance to the Republic, to arrange the registration as a citizen of the Republic of any adult person with full legal capacity who satisfies the minister that certain conditions are met.
These include that the applicant is the spouse, widower or widow of a citizen of the Republic, or was the spouse of a person who, had they not died, would have become or would have had the right to become a citizen of the Republic.
The applicant must also have lived with their spouse in Cyprus for at least three years, be of good character and intend to continue residing in the Republic or, where applicable, serving in the public service, educational service or Police Force of the Republic after registration as a citizen.
The provisions would not apply to cases where a foreign national enters or remains illegally in the Republic. However, the Interior Minister may exempt a foreign spouse of a Cypriot citizen who remained illegally in the areas controlled by the Republic from the application of this restriction.
The bill also clarifies that a person who acquires Cypriot citizenship under these provisions cannot transfer the right to registration as a Cypriot citizen to a child who is not also a child of their spouse, or to a future foreign spouse.
It further specifies that the term “lives with their spouse in Cyprus” refers to the couple residing in Cyprus for at least six months each year. Except for persons covered by the first exception, the couple’s total residence in Cyprus during the three years immediately before the application must not be less than two years.
