Dual nationality is the right to hold the citizenship of two countries concurrently and in Cyprus dual citizenship is allowed under Cypriot Citizenship law. No restriction is imposed by either the Civil Registry Law, 2002 nor by the Treaty of Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, 1960. Therefore nationals of the Republic of Cyprus can hold dual or multiple citizenships without any legal implications. A Cypriot passport holder may acquire a foreign citizenship with no need to register it or renounce the previous one, and likewise in case of foreigners acquiring Cypriot citizenship. These are the findings of the European Edition of Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates' Dual Citizenship Report, presented recently to the Secretary of the Council of Ministers by our Managing Partner Dr Jean-Philippe Chetcuti at the Palace in Nicosia.
According to Section 8 of Annex D of the Treaty of Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, obtaining a foreign passport does not automatically imply the loss of the Cypriot citizenship. However, one may voluntarily renounce it, provided that this person "has attained the age of 21 years (or is a woman who has been married) and is not of unsound mind and also possesses the nationality or citizenship of another country".
Benefits of Cypriot Dual Citizenship
Having Cypriot Dual Citizenship is associated with a number of benefits, including visa-free travel to over 150 countries and freedom to live, work and do business. Coupled with another foreign passport, be it the US, Chinese or Russian one, it can ensure an even higher level of international mobility and investment opportunities.
How to Obtain Cypriot Dual Citizenship
A foreign national with no Cypriot origins may become a citizen of the country by investment - after having fulfilled the requirements of the Cyprus Investment Programme, an official citizenship by investment programme that gives high-net-worth individuals the opportunity to be naturalised in Cyprus within 6 months in return for investing ?2 million in the country's economy.
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