cypriot citizenship — Being married to a Cypriot national does not automatically confer the right to become a Cypriot citizen, according to a recent ruling from the supreme constitutional court.
- cypriot citizenship — Being married to a Cypriot national does not automatically confer the right to become a Cypriot citizen, according to a recent ruling from the supreme constitutional court.
This decision, announced by the attorney-general’s office on Monday, came after a foreign national’s application for citizenship was denied. The court upheld a lower court’s ruling that rejected his petition, which was based on his marriage to a Cypriot woman.
The case highlights the legal framework governing citizenship in Cyprus. The supreme constitutional court delivered its ruling last week, reinforcing the broad discretion of the Republic of Cyprus in matters concerning citizenship via marriage.
Previously, the administrative court had ruled against the foreign national’s request due to his history of violence, including instances of domestic abuse. Following this, he appealed to the supreme constitutional court, which found no faults with the administrative court’s initial ruling.
The attorney-general’s office explained that the relevant law, the Civil Registry Law of 2002, does not guarantee citizenship for foreign nationals. Instead, it outlines procedures under specific conditions for granting citizenship. Ultimately, the final decision lies with the interior minister.
The supreme constitutional court’s decision also referenced international law, indicating that each member state retains sovereign authority over citizenship criteria. In this case, the rejection of the application was based on “objective and legitimate criteria intended to safeguard the interests of the state” and was not discriminatory.
