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Due to the mounting criticism of foreign countries Cyprus has tightened its vetting process in its Citizenship by investment scheme.
After the changes the scheme applicants will be subjected to more rigorous vetting procedures and enhanced due diligence.
Finance Minister, Mr Harris Georgiades said that the new procedures will be stricter and more credible and the number of passports issued per year will be limited to 700.
He said that in addition to the checks carried out by the Cypriot authorities to date, international firms and agencies specialised in money laundering will be involved in some cases to carry out thorough and exhaustive checks to ensure the suitability of the applicants.
Cyprus has been often criticised that it was operating a “passport-for-cash” scheme, that allowed the wealthy, mainly Russians and Chinese to obtain Cypriot citizenship.
Although the minister has conceded that there may have been weaknesses in the system, he rejected the claims that the Cyprus passport is for sale.
The Scheme for Naturalization of Investors in Cyprus by exception was introduced in 2013 in the wake of the financial crises in order to stimulate economic development. Many other EU member states run similar schemes.
Under the Naturalization scheme, an applicant has to make an investment in Cyprus of at least 2 million euros in either in real estate/land development and infrastructure projects or investment in Cypriot businesses or investment in alternative investment funds or financial assets of Cypriot companies. The applicants must have clear criminal record and permanent residency in Cyprus.
Cyprus has often been blamed by the EU and some EU member states as well as by the OECD of easily giving out plenty of citizenships, especially to Russian citizens.
According to data published by the EU statistics service, Eurostat approximately 1 million foreigners become EU citizens in 2016. The number of Cyprus citizenships granted was 4.660, out of which 24.8% were Russians, 15.6% Greeks and 7.2% from the UK.
As seen in the statistics of Eurostat, the number of 4.660 Cyprus Citizenships granted in 2016, compared with the total of 995.000 EU citizenships granted in the same year, is just 0,46%!
Our Assistance for Cyprus Citizenship
If you are interested in acquiring Cyprus Citizenship, Shanda Consult will be happy to advise and to assist you in all related aspects.
Please feel free to contact us for more information.