The Administrative Court of Appeal has upheld the rejection of a foreign national's application for Cypriot citizenship, ruling that a person who obtained Cypriot citizenship through registration cannot pass that entitlement on to a foreign spouse whom they marry at a later date.
According to a statement by the Legal Service, registration is a means of acquiring Cypriot citizenship through descent or marriage to a Cypriot citizen, depending on the circumstances and the provisions of the relevant legislation.
The ruling, issued on 15 October 2026, upheld an earlier decision by the Administrative Court dismissing a challenge against the Ministry of Interior over its refusal to grant Cypriot citizenship by registration.
Court backs strict interpretation
The Appeal Court stressed the importance of applying the legislative framework consistently and ensuring that registration rights are exercised only within the limits established by law.
According to the Legal Service, the court's interpretation reflects the legislator's intention to prevent abuse of the system and the circumvention of citizenship provisions through successive marriages.
Concern over transfer of registration rights
The judgment specifically addresses situations where individuals who initially acquired Cypriot citizenship through registration may subsequently attempt to extend that right to:
- A new foreign spouse married at a later date.
- A child who is not the child of the spouse through whom the citizenship was originally acquired.
The court found that such an interpretation would be inconsistent with the purpose and limits of the legislation.
Case argued by Republic's lawyer
The case was handled on behalf of the Attorney General of the Republic by Nicoletta Nicolaou, a lawyer for the Republic.
Source: CNA
