I did it. I am (almost) a Cypriot.

I am writing this with my hands shaking, because I’ve just recieved The Greatest News ever since Maxim was born.

My naturalization application has been approved. Yeeehaaaa! I am one step away from getting Cyprus citizenship, and that one step is only about paperwork.

I have spent slightly more than 10 years in Cyprus. I’ve passed several stages both mentally and beaurocractically. From – I hate this place to I love this place. From tourist, through student, to employed alien. I’ve seen both old pink slips and new pink slips. ‘Final’ mark was printed on all pink slips that I got since January of 1999. ‘Final. Not extendable’ mark was printed on all pink slips that I got for the last three or four years.

But now, all of it is behind me. I won’t have to worry about being thrown out of this country ever again.

There is a lot to do too. I have to learn Greek now. I have to get Cypriot driving license. I have to study all legal implications of my status change. I have to find out all financial benefits – taxes, loans, mortgages, etc. I have to grow proper roots…

Today, though, I am glad and quietly celebrating. Major celebrations will follow, when I’ll have Cyprus passport in my hands. Thanks to everyone who helped and is helping in the process!

20 thoughts on “I did it. I am (almost) a Cypriot.”


  1. This is really great.You cant imagine of how big your new world will be now.I ve got my european sitizenship about 2 years ago,but even now (after I had visited about 30 countries) I am pleased every day.New opportunities for you and good inheritance
    to your son.
    My congratulations.Mike Kiselev


  2. Sincere congrats from faraway England! I always thought of you as the only living would-be example of a Russian who got Cypriot citizenship. Now the “would-be” part is about to cease which is great news! Hope some time later we would come down the airplane landed in Larnaca, pass through the green lane and slap you on the shoulder in a way a European normaly does to another European :)
    Only thing though, are you obliged to learn Greek being a citizen? That sounds somewhat strange. I understand it is a sort of moral obligation but is it not only that?


  3. Thanks Alexey!

    I don’t know why you thought of me that way – I personally know of a quite a few Russian people who got Cypriot citizenship, especially in the recent years. Probably, we know different people. ;)

    Regarding the Greek language – no, it is not mandatory and I don’t really have to learn it. I just want to. And I’ve been promising everyone to learn it in return for the Cypriot passport. Now that the passport thing is almost done – I have to fullfill my promise. ;)

    Anyway, hopefully you’re doing fine all the way over there…


  4. Leonid congratulations, does that mean you will be staying in Cyprus or going somewhere else in Europe? I see one of your other correspondents refers to having ‘European’ citzenship. There is no such thing offically of course. If you learn Greek you will have to learn how to shout your head off like all the other crazy Cypriots! Malcolm


  5. Hi Malcolm,

    Thanks for stopping by. :)

    that mean you will be staying in Cyprus or going somewhere else in Europe?

    For now I’ll be staying in Cyprus. I love the place. I see Europe only as a tourism destination at the moment. But you never know…

    I see one of your other correspondents refers to having ‘European’ citzenship. There is no such thing offically of course.

    What he meant by European citizenship was that he got citizenship of one of the EU countries. He just didn’t feel like specifying which one. :)

    If you learn Greek you will have to learn how to shout your head off like all the other crazy Cypriots!

    Hahaha :) I think I’m physically incapable of shouting. There’s probably something wrong with my anatomy.

    But I’ll be able to use Greek in emails and on the Web, which I see as beneficial. ;)

    Cheers!


  6. HI, how long did it take for u to get an approval after you applied? A couple of months or more than a year?
    Thanks
    Rahul


      1. Thanks Leo, I’ve been in this country almost 10 years, applied 2 years ago, still waiting………

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