Cyprus Investment Programme Ended Explainer

Cyprus’s former investor naturalisation programme is closed. The official Cyprus Investment Programme registry states that the programme has been terminated since November 1, 2020, by Council of Ministers decision dated October 13, 2020, and that no new naturalisation application can be submitted under it.

That closure should be separated from two current topics: Cyprus permanent residence by investment and ordinary Cypriot citizenship by naturalisation. They are different legal routes with different evidence, residence, and decision rules.

Quick Answer

Cyprus no longer accepts new applications under the former Cyprus Investment Programme. Current Cyprus planning should start from active residence routes, the Regulation 6(2) permanent residence by investment route where relevant, or separate citizenship routes such as naturalisation by residence, marriage or civil partnership, or Cypriot origin.

Timeline

Date	Event
October 13, 2020	Council of Ministers decided to terminate the Cyprus Investment Programme
November 1, 2020	Programme termination took effect for new applications
2020 onward	Cyprus undertook follow-up actions connected with EU-law concerns and previous grants
March 11, 2026	Cyprus Law Office announced that the European Commission closed the infringement procedure relating to the programme

What Closed

The closed programme was an investor naturalisation framework connected with Article 111A and the 2020 regulations for honorary naturalisation for reasons of public interest and naturalisation of foreign entrepreneurs or investors.

The practical point for new applicants is direct: the official registry says no new naturalisation application can be submitted under the Cyprus Investment Programme after the November 1, 2020 termination date.

What Exists Now

Cyprus still has active residence and citizenship procedures, but they are not the former investor naturalisation route.

Goal	Current Route To Review
Permanent residence through qualifying investment	Cyprus Permanent Residence By Investment
Temporary remote-work residence	Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa
Citizenship after residence	Naturalisation by residence through the Ministry of Interior M127 process
Citizenship through family link	Marriage/civil partnership or Cypriot-origin procedures where facts fit

PR By Investment Is Different

Cyprus Regulation 6(2) permanent residence by investment remains active. It is an immigration permit route, not a citizenship application.

Issue	Cyprus PR By Investment
Output	Permanent residence / Immigration Permit
Main framework	Aliens and Immigration Regulations, Regulation 6(2)
Minimum investment	EUR 300,000 in one qualifying category
Citizenship result	No automatic citizenship
Naturalisation planning	Separate residence and integration analysis

For the current PR cluster, start with the Cyprus Permanent Residence By Investment guide.

Current Naturalisation By Residence

The Ministry of Interior naturalisation page says that, since December 19, 2023, adult applicants for citizenship by naturalisation based on residence must cumulatively meet conditions including:

Requirement Area	Standard Naturalisation Position
Immediate residence	Legal and continuous residence for 12 months before application, with limited permitted absence
Prior residence	At least 7 years of legal residence during the preceding 10 years before that 12-month period
Character	Good character
Language	Sufficient Greek at B1 level
Cyprus knowledge	Knowledge of basic elements of contemporary political and social reality
Resources and accommodation	Suitable accommodation and stable, regular financial resources
Intention	Intention to reside in the Republic

There is also a differentiated route for certain high-skilled employees in qualifying companies, with shorter residence periods depending on language level and other conditions. That is an employment and residence-based naturalisation pathway, not the former investor naturalisation programme.

Legacy And Status Questions

People connected with old Cyprus Investment Programme files should not rely on generic summaries. The relevant questions are usually case-specific:

1. whether an application was filed before termination;
2. whether a decision was issued;
3. whether any later review, revocation, or due-diligence issue applies;
4. whether family members were included;
5. whether current documents and nationality status need professional confirmation.

The 2026 Law Office press release says Cyprus took executive and legal steps after the programme termination, including inquiry work and revocations of a number of granted citizenships based on committee findings. Any legacy file therefore needs document-level review.

Practical Reading For 2026

For a new applicant in 2026, Cyprus should be read as a residence-first jurisdiction unless there is a separate family, origin, employment, or long-residence basis for citizenship. Investment can be relevant for permanent residence, but citizenship requires a separate legal analysis under current nationality rules.

Editorial Status

This article was checked against official sources on July 22, 2026. It is informational only and is not immigration, legal, tax, investment, securities, banking, AML, family, nationality, or relocation advice.