Visa/Permit applications???

[Anna-bel]

Originally Posted by Miss Daisy

Well, whatever the case, if I don't have to reapply every year for residency, I will be happy. And once I get this visa or permit or whatever it is called, it will keep me legal until I apply for citizenship.

And after you apply for citizenship you will need to wait for another 7 years (i.e. you will need a permit nevertheless, just application for naturalization does not make one legal in the country))))) Unless, of course, something Drastic happens with the speed of processing applications.. or maybe they have special procedures for americans ;-)

[Miss Daisy]

Originally Posted by Anna-bel

And after you apply for citizenship you will need to wait for another 7 years (i.e. you will need a permit nevertheless, just application for naturalization does not make one legal in the country))))) Unless, of course, something Drastic happens with the speed of processing applications.. or maybe they have special procedures for americans ;-)

Of course I understand that until I get citizenship, some sort of residency permit is required.

I find it hard to believe that the naturalization process takes 7 years from the time of application (requiring a total of 14 years living in Cyprus). I know that I cannot apply for citizenship until I have been here for 7 years and I assume that it will take 1-2 years to become a citizen, but not 7 years after I apply!

[Anna-bel]

Originally Posted by Miss Daisy

I find it hard to believe that the naturalization process takes 7 years from the time of application (requiring a total of 14 years living in Cyprus). I know that I cannot apply for citizenship until I have been here for 7 years and I assume that it will take 1-2 years to become a citizen, but not 7 years after I apply!

Well, that is how long it Actually took somebody I know to get the Cyprus passport (and the application was in order, no criminal past or anything)) ! And I know Nobody who got it sooner than 5 years after the application. They are overloaded with applications and simply can not process them faster.. So unless some MAJOR restructuring happens in the relevant departments (and it has not for the past decade at least) I would not get hopes high and get ready for a Slow process.. Siga-siga as they say here.

[passerby]

Anna-bel, processing of naturalization applications used to be faster around 5 years ago and earlier, I know a few people who got their citizenship in approx. 2 years after application around that time.
But you are right that lately it takes 5 years or more

[Vegaanders]

Just a question

What is the big difference for someone coming from outside EU between an unlimited permission to stay and citizenship?

It must be more then the right to vote.

Anders

[passerby]

Originally Posted by Vegaanders

What is the big difference for someone coming from outside EU between an unlimited permission to stay and citizenship?

Hm... Freedom of movement in the EU? (as by becoming Cypriot citizen one also becomes European Union citizen)
Plus, as I pointed out earlier, there are different kinds of "permanent residence permits" with different kinds of restrictions.
BTW, here are some interesting (not exhaustive though) information about naturalization, residence permits etc.: Cyprus | MIPEX - Migrant Integration Policy Index

[Anna-bel]

Originally Posted by Vegaanders

Just a question

What is the big difference for someone coming from outside EU between an unlimited permission to stay and citizenship?

It must be more then the right to vote.

Anders

There are quite a few, most obvious one - Citizenship means European passport i.e. for example, ability to freely move within all Europe, and long-term permit means one can stay only in Cyprus and has to apply for visas to other countries (even for a 3 day visit). I am not a lawyer but I expect inheritance / marriage laws applicable to an individual differ quite significantly as well.. If you acquire citizenship they Have to treat you as a Cypriot (unless, of course, you commit a serious crime) - and you may have as many long-term permits as you want but legally you will still be a foreigner.. Well, in Cyprus even naturalized foreigners who do not speak perfect Greek (and even whose who manage well) are still treated as foreigners. IMHO, the community here is quite closed no matter what your passport is, they will only (often Unwillingly) treat as one of their own the foreigners who marry into the Family. Maybe that last bit's a little off the topic... but for a serious list of legal differences between individuals with European passports and non-EU nationals residing in Cyprus some study of lengthy regulations / publications might be needed!

[Vegaanders]

Ofc the free movement even if I thought that a permission to stay in Cyprus for third country citizens had the same validity as for a Eu one, meaning that you have the right to go in all 27 states without Visa

Have really not found any writing on Internet about the difference, perhaps someone can point in the right direction

Anders

[Vegaanders]

Originally Posted by passerby

Hm... Freedom of movement in the EU? (as by becoming Cypriot citizen one also becomes European Union citizen)
Plus, as I pointed out earlier, there are different kinds of "permanent residence permits" with different kinds of restrictions.
BTW, here are some interesting (not exhaustive though) information about naturalization, residence permits etc.: Cyprus | MIPEX - Migrant Integration Policy Index

This is really scary reading. As Swede I should be proud but thinking of the 3 year of fighing to get my wife to sweden without succes is nothing to be proud for.

And even more scary reading is the way the EU states treats the Recidence card

But somehow in Cyprus it seems that the russian population has no big problems to get a permission to stay, and I cant believe that all work in Russian companies in Limassol

[Veronica]

Originally Posted by Vegaanders

This is really scary reading. As Swede I should be proud but thinking of the 3 year of fighing to get my wife to sweden without succes is nothing to be proud for.

And even more scary reading is the way the EU states treats the Recidence card

But somehow in Cyprus it seems that the russian population has no big problems to get a permission to stay, and I cant believe that all work in Russian companies in Limassol

In reality despite what all the government websites say, no EU citizens or their spouses, no matter what nationality, have any problems with getting permission to stay.
We sold a hosue to an Engisihman who hasnt lived in the UK for many years, his wife is from Taiwan and there were no problems at all with her getting her residence permit.
The whole immirgation thing has become far more relaxed, especially for anyone who is buying a property. They are even allowing Chinese to stay as long as they spend at least 300K on a house.