The issue of maintaining EU resident status is no longer a mere formality. In the past, obtaining the coveted Cypriot passport was considered the finish line of a bureaucratic marathon, but the rules of the game have changed. The Republic of Cyprus, which for decades served as a quiet harbor for international capital, has fundamentally revised its approach to previously issued citizenship documents. What was once a theoretical legal provision has turned into a functioning revocation mechanism.
A shift in policy and external pressure
The legal framework for revoking passports has always existed — namely Article 113 of the Civil Registry Law. However, for many years this mechanism was rarely used. The turning point came as a result of tough dialogue with Brussels. The European Commission, dissatisfied with the practice of effectively “selling” passports, pushed Nicosia to introduce a permanent “clean-up mode” in order to restore Cyprus’s reputation on the global stage.
As a result, government archives were reopened and a deep review began of the files of individuals who had obtained citizenship through the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, which was terminated in November 2020. Importantly, scrutiny is not limited to major investors. The law makes no exceptions: reviews may also affect those who obtained Cypriot passports through marriage or long-term residence if serious violations are uncovered.
The trigger for reopening a case is almost always simple dishonesty. If it is discovered that an applicant concealed problematic aspects of their background — such as a criminal record in their home country — or submitted falsified documents, the Council of Ministers has full authority to annul the decision. There is no statute of limitations: deception uncovered even ten years later still constitutes grounds for revocation.
The aftermath of “golden passports” and collective responsibility
The hardest blow fell on the Citizenship by Investment program. While it brought billions into the state budget and significantly influenced the country’s real estate landscape, the cost proved too high. After a series of exposés — including the well-known Al Jazeera investigation — it became clear that due diligence filters designed to screen out questionable applicants often failed.
Today, the Cypriot authorities publish lists of individuals stripped of their citizenship. Entire families are included. The law operates on a domino principle: if the main investor’s citizenship is declared invalid, their dependents — spouses and children who received passports “by association” — lose theirs as well. Their legal status was directly tied to the integrity of the main applicant’s file.
High-profile cases have become emblematic of the new reality. The case of Malaysian financier Jho Low, as well as several entrepreneurs from the CIS, clearly illustrates the shift. EU sanctions lists have become the key indicator of “toxicity.” Being sanctioned is now interpreted by officials as conduct that harms the interests of the Republic and undermines trust in the state. The logic is straightforward: a person on the EU blacklist cannot be a citizen of an EU member state.
Criminal offenses and lack of genuine ties to the country
It would be a mistake to assume that only oligarchs are at risk. The Republic of Cyprus also revokes citizenship for reasons unrelated to geopolitics.
Criminal prosecution is a serious trigger. If within ten years of obtaining a passport a person is convicted anywhere in the world of a crime involving “moral turpitude” (such as murder, fraud, or money laundering), and the sentence exceeds 12 months of imprisonment, revocation proceedings may begin. An important nuance: the offense must also be recognized as a crime under Cypriot law.
Another less obvious trap is prolonged absence. This applies to those who acquired citizenship through naturalization (not by descent). If a citizen lives abroad for seven consecutive years without informing a consulate of their intention to maintain ties with Cyprus, they risk losing their status. Many people obtain citizenship, move abroad, and simply forget about the formalities. From the system’s perspective, this signals that the connection has been lost — and the passport is no longer justified.
How the procedure works
Revocation of Cypriot citizenship is not an instantaneous process. Officials are required to observe at least a formal adversarial procedure. Typically, the initiative comes from the Ministry of Interior or the Attorney General’s Office. The case is then referred to a special Independent Committee, which reviews the facts.
The passport holder must be formally notified that an investigation has been initiated. They have the right to a defense: they may hire lawyers, submit objections, and attempt to prove that the allegations are unfounded. The final decision is made by the Council of Ministers. When reaching a decision, officials are required to assess the consequences, including whether the person would become stateless. However, if the individual holds a second passport (for example, from their country of origin), this argument does not apply, and the authorities have greater discretion.
Judicial practice in this area is still developing. Many decisions are currently being challenged before the Supreme Court. Lawyers argue that the law is being applied retroactively, but the state’s position is firm: if citizenship was obtained in violation of the rules, it was invalid from the outset.
It is evident that the number of cases involving revoked citizenship has not yet reached its peak. Reviews of old files are ongoing, and new names will continue to appear regularly in Cypriot and international media.
What passport holders should do
To feel secure, it is not enough simply to transfer money to Cyprus. Holders of citizenship must continuously demonstrate their reliability and a genuine connection to their new homeland. Scrutiny does not end at the moment a naturalization certificate is issued.
Real integration significantly reduces the risk of revocation. Owning residential property, paying taxes and utility bills, and maintaining a clean legal record in other countries all work in favor of a new citizen. It is important not to disappear from the authorities’ radar: notify them of changes in actual residence address, keep registry details up to date, and visit Cyprus periodically.
Today, a Cypriot passport is not an unconditional lifetime gift, but rather a contract with fairly strict terms. Any attempt to use it merely as a “convenient travel pass,” without a genuine link to the country or while hiding serious issues, is now regarded as a breach of that contract. The days when such nuances were overlooked are well and truly over.
Dear readers, this article is an informational overview written by a local resident and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult qualified legal professionals for specific guidance.
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