Cyprus Category F and path to citizenship

[oznomad]

Don't have enough free capital for golden visas so looking at alternatives that don't have heavy minimum stay requirements and leads to EU citizenship down the road. Will continue to stay in Australia for the foreseeable future for various reasons. Anyone been through the Category F process? Can recommend any agents/lawyers?

 

[boomy]

Georgia, Malta and Bulgaria are the places suggested here a lot of time.

For Cyprus‌ I'm sure @CyprusLaw , @CyprusLawyer101 and a few more will shim in soon 🙂

 

[CyprusLawyer101]

Spot on @boomy !

Hi @oznomad , there is a wqy to go about it‌ and without large investments. However skipping the "stay" requirements might not be feasible. If you‍ wish I can send you a pm to discuss.

 

[JohnDones]

Wouldn't you have to⁤ stay for majority of the year in Cyprus to renew cat F visa?

Also to⁣ qualify for citizenship you need 5x365 days I believe, so it's not 5 years on⁢ paper.

 

[CyprusLaw]

Application for Cyprus citizenship can⁠ be submitted by foreigners, who have completed a total of 7 years of legal residence⁤ in Cyprus (2555 days of staying in Cyprus) before the application date. The applicant must⁣ have resided continuously in Cyprus through the last 1 year before applying. In cases of⁢ applicants who are children or parents of Cypriot citizens, the time required is 5 years︀ rather than 7.

The same 5 years period requirement applies to holders of the permanent︁ residency status.

Please note that at the moment the gvt is preparing amendments to the︂ relevant law making it 5 years instead of seven for all cases, or 4 years︃ for exceptional cases that can show good knowledge of Greek language.

 

[JohnDones]

So if the OP plans to stay in Australia for foreseeable future he cannot go‌ with the Cat F visa and get citizenship because he needs to stay physically in‍ Cyprus for both residency renewal reasons and citizenship.

 

[boomy]

that's even better.

 

[oznomad]

Thanks all for the quick responses. If one has to reside continuously for the last‌ 1 year, does that mean the 4 years before that can be reduced stay requirements?‍

From what I've researched, Malta is a tough nut to crack for⁣ citizenship through Naturalization.
I believe Bulgaria doesn't allow dual citizenship, I don't know much about⁢ their pathways. I think it's the same for Georgia as well.

 

[Marc Rich]

Portugal golden visa might⁤ be interesting, 7 day per year minimum stay. Can apply after 5 years to obtain⁣ Citizenship

 

[oznomad]

It indeed is and‍ is my first option but I don't have enough free capital to make it work⁠ at this stage so just looking at options.

 

[boomy]

what does it mean,‍ you travel there once a year, stay for 7 days, doing this 5 years and⁠ you can get citizenship ?

 

[oznomad]

Yep, some of the first GV holders have gotten their citizenship this way

 

[boomy]

Not bad, what would be the great opportunity to Portugal over Cyprus‍ ?

 

[Marc Rich]

exactly, and you only need to renew the residency after 2 years, so technically the first‍ two years you can come 2 weeks before renewing it. You would get the citizenship⁠ & passport in the 6 or 7th year

 

[oznomad]

Ease of getting citizenship. Cyprus is probably better for taxes and the‍ non-fast track version of Category F costs a lot less than 300k euro option

 

[lacomaco]

More and more judges in Portugal decide not to grant citizenship without substance for applicants⁤ who spend only a week per year

 

[oznomad]

GV only covers‍ the residency requirements for citizenship, the two other important factors are "ties to Portugal" and⁠ basic fluency of Portuguese.

 

[Marc Rich]

ties to Portugal‍ is relatively easy to have in the form of bank accounts, some membership to maybe⁠ gyms, yacht clubs etc. Basic fluency of Portuguese is attainable via any language school and⁤ can be 'bought'

 

[clemens]

That's good to know!

 

[oznomad]

I don't⁠ think there is a residency requirements for Category F? Once every 2 years should do⁤ it.