Cypriot passport

Cypriot passports are issued to citizens of Cyprus for the purpose of international travel. Every Cypriot citizen is also a Commonwealth citizen and a citizen of the European Union. The Cypriot passport, along with the Cypriot identity card, allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Union, European Economic Area, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. As of 26 March 2019, Cypriot citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 173 countries and territories, ranking the Cypriot passport 16th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.[4] Cypriot citizens can live and work in any country within the EU as a result of the right of free movement and residence granted in Article 21 of the EU Treaty.[5]

Cypriot passport
The front cover of a Cypriot Citizen's biometric passport issued since 2010
Biographical data page of Cypriot passport.
TypePassport
Issued by Cyprus
First issued29 November 2010 (current version)[1]
PurposeIdentification
EligibilityCypriot citizenship
Expiration10 years (adults)
5 years (minors)[2]
Cost
  • €70 (adults)
  • €45 (minors)[3]

Language

Despite the continuing division of Cyprus due to the Turkish invasion of 1974, all Cypriot passports contain text in Greek as well as Turkish and English, as Greek and Turkish are the official languages of the Republic of Cyprus (according to Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution of Cyprus).[6] Turkish Cypriots may obtain Cypriot passports and ID cards if they can prove their descent from a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus. Turkish settlers in the northern part of Cyprus are not entitled to Cypriot citizenship.

Physical appearance

Biometric passports have been issued since 13 December 2010 and include text in all official languages of the European Union. They carry a microchip containing biometric data such as fingerprints, a biometric photograph, and a digital signature.[7] Inside, on different pages, there are images of a statue of the goddess Aphrodite on display at the Cyprus Museum,[8] a dove carrying an olive branch, the Cypriot mouflon, and the Kyrenia ship.

Visa requirements

As of 26 March 2019, Cypriot citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 173 countries and territories, ranking the Cypriot passport 16th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.[9]

Visa requirements for Cypriot citizens
  Cyprus
  Freedom of movement
  Visa not required
  Visa on arrival
  eVisa
  Visa available both on arrival or online
  Visa required prior to arrival

Application

The Civil Registry and Immigration Department of the Ministry of the Interior is responsible for issuing and renewing Cypriot passports.

Revocation

Passport revocation took place for 26 individuals in 2019 for the first time after a Reuters investigation. Simultaneously, the Interior Minister Constantinos Petrides opened an official investigation to all investors granted a Cypriot citizenship prior to 2018.[10]

See also

References

  1. "The Henley Passport Index" (PDF). Henley & Partners Holdings Ltd. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019. This graph shows the full Global Ranking of the 2019 Henley Passport Index. In certain cases, a rank is shared by multiple countries because these countries all have the same level of visa-free or visa-on-arrival access.
  2. Treaty on the Function of the European Union (consolidated version)
  3. (in Greek) http://www.presidency.gov.cy/presidency/presidency.nsf/all/1003AEDD83EED9C7C225756F0023C6AD/$file/CY_Constitution.pdf?openelement Archived 2013-11-03 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Kambas, Michele (Dec 23, 2010). "Goddess of Love emerges into foaming Cypriot row". reuters. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  5. "The Henley Passport Index" (PDF). Henley & Partners Holdings Ltd. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019. This graph shows the full Global Ranking of the 2019 Henley Passport Index. In certain cases, a rank is shared by multiple countries because these countries all have the same level of visa-free or visa-on-arrival access.
  6. Bangkok Post: Cyprus revoking 'golden passports' (consolidated version)


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