Filenews 3 April 2025 - by Vasos Vassiliou
In the period 2020-2023, it rained Cypriot nationals if we take into account that their number amounted to 22,740. Of these, 7,071 were approved in 2022, as recorded in a report by the Audit Service.
With regard to pending applications, in the report concerning the Department of Civil Registry and Migration (CRMD) it is recorded that according to the CRS computerized system, on 7.11.2023 there were a total of 11,891 applications for the acquisition of Cypriot citizenship, of which 6,801 (57%) related to applications for naturalization due to years of residence in the Republic and 2,243 (19%) related to applications for registration by virtue of marriage to a Cypriot citizen. The first applications date back to 2007.
Of interest is the case of a European citizen who, instead of residing in Cyprus for three years and then submitting an application, seems to have visited the Republic for only eight days in 2016 and another eight days in 2018.
In two cases, a category E immigration permit was granted to applicants who were offered employment in the Republic, at a time when they were not employees (as provided for by law) but main shareholders in their companies/employers, holding percentages of more than 50% of the share capital.
The findings of the report were presented to the Parliamentary Audit Committee by the Auditor General, Mr. Andreas Papaconstantinou. Among the findings are the following:
According to the data extracted from the ARS computerized system, as of 31.7.2023, a total of 23,646 applications for the granting of an entry permit and 37,782 applications for temporary residence of domestic workers and general employment workers were pending. Most of these applications appear to be pending for a period of more than five years.
The report also records that a Turkish Cypriot obtained a passport/ID card five times, using photographs of five different persons. The passports were obtained in the period 1.1.2020-31.7.2023
In another case, we paid money to a foreigner, as an incentive to leave Cyprus, even though he had already been deported beforehand.
It should be noted that the average time taken to complete the examination process of the cases for which an audit was carried out amounted to 37.7 months.
From what is recorded, it appears that the illegal stay and work of third-country nationals in Cyprus is linked to the lengthy procedures for examining applications and delays in decision-making, creating conditions for obtaining residence permits for humanitarian reasons.
The report records that some amounts from the liquidation of guarantees have been deposited and remain in a special fund for more than 20 years. In total, there is €1.9 million in the fund.
It is further mentioned that since 2007, applications for naturalization of foreigners were pending and these are among the total of 11,891 pending for examination until 31 July 2023, i.e. the period covered by the Auditor General's report (1.1.2020 to 31.7.2023).
The following are also recorded in the report:
-In 2019, the CRMD, with oral instructions, stopped examining new applications for category permanent residence permits, resulting in approximately 3,000 applications having accumulated for examination as of 31.7.2023.
-There is no control exercised with the risk that people who do not meet the conditions remain permanently in the Republic.
-There is no possibility to monitor whether students whose residence permit has expired have left the Republic, with the risk of increasing cases of illegal residence.
-Certificates of basic knowledge of the Greek or English language and experience may not be reliable (with all that this may mean for their legality).
– Illegal stay and work of third-country nationals in Cyprus is linked to lengthy application examination procedures and delays in decision-making, creating conditions for obtaining residence permits on humanitarian grounds.
-The collection of administrative fines worth €4.36 million is pending.
