Blog · 2024-05-09
Cyprus citizenship by investment
Citizenship by investment is a process in which foreign nationals invest funds within a country and, in return, receive the right to its citizenship.
There are several investment routes:
- A government fund. A non-refundable contribution to the national economy.
- Business. Investing in a business inside the country; these funds may be returned with a profit.
- Real estate. Buying commercial or residential property that can be rented out for income, or simply purchasing a home to live in, with citizenship as a bonus.
- Socially significant projects.
Investment really is the fastest way to obtain citizenship. Cyprus was once one of the most popular destinations among investors. Let's take a closer look at the program.
- Investment amount: from 2 million euros
- Processing time: 6 months
- Available to Russian citizens: no
What were the investment options?
- Residential property: from 2 million euros
- Commercial property: from 2 million euros + residential property from 500,000 euros
- Shares in Cypriot companies: from 2 million euros + residential property from 500,000 euros
- Shipping industry: from 2 million euros + residential property from 500,000 euros
You would need to prove the legitimacy of the invested funds by providing documents showing how the money was earned and whether taxes had been paid on it. Loan funds from major banks were also acceptable for investment. Each case was reviewed individually.
Cypriot citizenship through investment was open to anyone, regardless of their original citizenship or country of residence. There was no requirement to live in the country before or after receiving the passport, and no knowledge of the Cypriot language or history was needed.
Benefits of Cypriot citizenship
- Fast processing. The passport could be obtained in as little as six months.
- Citizenship for the whole family. A spouse, children up to age 28, and the investor's parents could receive passports alongside the applicant.
- Visa-free access to 158 countries: the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Japan.
- Tax optimization.
- A "safe haven."
As of 1 November 2020, the Cyprus citizenship-by-investment program has been suspended.
FAQ
Can you still buy Cyprus citizenship?
How much did Cyprus citizenship by investment cost?
Could Russian citizens get a Cypriot passport by investment?
Did you have to live in Cyprus to get the passport?
How long did a Cyprus investor passport take?
Don’t want to figure this out alone?
We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Leave your details and a migration expert will get back to you. The first consultation is free.