The Administrative Court of the Republic of Cyprus rejected an appeal by a Chinese citizen who wanted to challenge the Cabinet's decision to revoke his Cypriot citizenship. The man had obtained a passport through an investment program, but he lost it after authorities learned that Interpol was looking for him.
Why did Cyprus revoke his citizenship?
The basis for revoking his citizenship was a report from the Chinese authorities that criminal proceedings had been initiated against him for bribery, which carries a minimum sentence of five years' imprisonment in the People's Republic of China (PRC). He is listed in Interpol's international database of wanted persons.
According to Cypriot law, individuals who receive citizenship through naturalization may not commit criminal offenses within ten years of receiving their passport. Participation in a corruption scheme, even if not proven in a Cypriot court, is considered a violation of these conditions.
Why did the court deny the appeal?
The court considered the plaintiff's argument that he was not provided timely information about the revocation procedure, which deprived him of the opportunity to file a complaint with an independent commission. However, the court ruled that:
- There was no violation of the law by the state.
- There was no "manifest illegality" in the government's actions.
- The plaintiff failed to prove that losing his passport would cause irreparable harm.
Therefore, the court refused to suspend the implementation of the Cabinet's decision and dismissed the appeal. The ruling was handed down on July 16, 2025, and published a week later.
A mass review of “golden” passports
This case is part of a large-scale review of the Cypriot investment program, which was in effect from 2013 to 2020. As of May 2025, Cypriot authorities had revoked the citizenship of 304 individuals, including 88 investors and 216 family members.
The reasons for revocation included providing false information on questionnaires, concealing criminal pasts, and having dubious sources of capital. To date, official orders to revoke passports have been issued for 112 individuals — 33 investors and 79 family members.
Previously heavily criticized by the EU, Cyprus is tightening controls on the legalization of foreign capital through investments and gradually cleaning up the consequences of the “golden visa” program.