Cypriot courts have faced a wave of lawsuits from foreign nationals related to the “Citizenship by Investment” program. Hundreds of applicants are challenging refusals to grant citizenship, the revocation of already issued “golden” passports, as well as the authorities’ very decision to shut down the program. As it became known, some investors never received Cypriot citizenship, while others had their passports revoked after repeated checks.
These court proceedings became a logical continuation of a large-scale review of decisions taken under the investment scheme and affected not only the private interests of applicants, but also key principles of public administration and judicial oversight.
Why Cyprus closed the “golden passport” program
The Cypriot investment program had been operating since 2013 and allowed foreigners to obtain citizenship in exchange for significant investments, mainly in the real estate sector. The program was finally suspended as of November 1, 2020, following an international investigation by the Qatari channel Al Jazeera, sharp criticism from the European Commission, and a serious internal political crisis.
After the program was closed, the authorities began a systematic review of citizenships already granted. Particular attention was paid to the origin of invested funds, compliance with naturalization criteria, and possible violations of the law. These checks became the basis for citizenship revocations and refusals of previously submitted applications.
The state’s position and the dispute over “acts of government”
The state adopted a tough legal position, insisting that matters of granting, refusing, and revoking citizenship fall into the category of “acts of government.” In the view of the Republic of Cyprus, such decisions have an exclusive sovereign nature and should not be considered by administrative courts. This position was officially presented by Attorney General Elena Papageorgiou.
The conflict escalated after the Administrative Court rejected the state’s preliminary objection regarding lack of jurisdiction over such cases. In response, the Republic filed an appeal and applied to the Administrative Court of Appeal, emphasizing that the dispute has constitutional significance and affects a wide range of public interests, including the balance between executive power and judicial oversight.
Why the case was referred to the Supreme Constitutional Court
In January 2026, the Administrative Court of Appeal agreed with the arguments of the state and referred the appeal for consideration to the Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus. The court concluded that the issue goes beyond an ordinary administrative dispute and requires a final decision at the level of constitutional law.
Now the Supreme Constitutional Court must determine whether applicants and former holders of “golden passports” have the right to challenge the refusal or revocation of citizenship in court, or whether such state decisions are completely removed from judicial review. It is expected that the verdict will be decisive for all current and future cases related to exceptional naturalization in Cyprus.
Checks, case law, and new restrictions
The debate over the judicial jurisdiction of such cases has been ongoing for several years. Thus, on July 9, 2024, the full bench of the Administrative Court had previously rejected the state’s arguments about the non-justiciability of refusals under exceptional naturalization and confirmed the possibility of their judicial review. It was this decision that became one of the factors leading to the current constitutional proceedings.
Against the backdrop of court disputes, in 2025 the authorities continued checks of citizenships granted under the investment program. According to the Ministry of Interior, a total of 7,329 people obtained citizenship under the scheme. Revocation or annulment procedures affected 373 cases, of which 116 had been fully completed by that time. Additionally, in December 2025, parliament closed residual legal possibilities for granting citizenship to investors so that, after the program’s termination, no loopholes would remain to circumvent the established rules.
The decision of the Supreme Constitutional Court is expected to put an end to the long-running dispute and determine how, in the future, state sovereignty, investment policy, and the right to judicial protection will be balanced in Cyprus.