Statistics on Republic of Cyprus citizenship granted to Turkish Cypriots

Between 2004 and September 2026, the Republic of Cyprus granted citizenship to 5,176 Turkish Cypriots. Data provided by the Ministry of Interior indicates that the process has been governed by evolving cabinet decisions and legal criteria over the past two decades.

The issuance of citizenship is divided into specific periods: 2,972 citizenships were granted between 2004 and February 2007, prior to the implementation of formal criteria. Following the introduction of cabinet-approved criteria on February 14, 2007, 1,806 individuals received citizenship through 2013, followed by 67 individuals between 2014 and 2023. Since February 2, 2024, when revised criteria were enacted, an additional 331 citizenships have been granted via cabinet decisions.

These procedures are grounded in the Population Archive Law, specifically article 109(1), which requires a cabinet decision for the registration of children born in Cyprus whose foreign parent entered or resides in the country illegally. The government maintains these records to track the legal status of individuals within this demographic framework, though the Ministry of Interior noted that statistics regarding pending applications remain distinct.