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.
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. 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.

Language

Despite the continuing division of Cyprus due to the Turkish invasion of 1974, all Cypriot passports contain text in Turkish as well as Greek and English, as Greek and Turkish are the official languages of the Republic of Cyprus. 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; are entitled to either TRNC passport or Turkish passport.

Physical appearance

s 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. Inside, on different pages, there are images of a statue of the goddess Aphrodite on display at the Cyprus Museum, a dove carrying an olive branch, the Cypriot mouflon, and the Kyrenia ship.

Visa requirements

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.

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.