The Civil Registry and Migration Department (hereinafter “CRMD” or “the Department”) is the result of the consolidation of the Migration, Registration and Election Services, which were part of the Ministry of Interior [Amendment of the Civil Service (General) Regulations, Κ.Δ.Π. 921/2003].

Originally the CRMD was mainly responsible for the civil registry issues, whereas migration issues were of a smaller volume and importance. During the years and especially after the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union, the competencies of the CRMD expanded significantly mainly regarding the migration related matters.

Nowadays, the main mission of the CRMD is citizens’ service for all matters falling into its competencies. The Department also participates actively in forming policies and acts complementary to other governmental institutions.

Furthermore, the Department participates actively in woks of the European Union institutions and is in close cooperation with other European, international and local governmental and non-governmental organisations.

The main competencies of the Department are:


Civil Registry

(a) Keeping the Civil Registry.
(b) Granting the Cypriot citizenship to foreigners.
(b) Issuing of Cyprus passports.
(d) Issuing passports and identity cards to refugees.
(e) Issuing identity cards and misplaced persons identity cards.
(f) Issuance of displaced person Certificate by virtue of origin.
(g) Keeping the central civil marriages registry and issuance of certificates, on the basis of the Marriage Law.
(h) Keeping the civil union contracts registry and issuance of certified copies of civil union contracts, on the basis of the Civil Union Law.

Immigration and Free Movement

(a) Issuing of Certificates of Registration for EU citizens and Residence Cards to members of their families who are not citizens of the European Union.
(b) Handling applications for entry and residence of third country nationals who are family members of a Cypriot citizen and issuing of the relevant permits.
(c) Issuing of residence permits to third country nationals who are long term residents.
(d) Issuing of Immigration Permits.
(e) Handling applications for family reunification and issuing of entry and residence permits.
(f) Handling applications for entry and residence of third country nationals who wish to enter or reside in Cyprus as visitors and issuing of the relevant permits.
(g) Handling applications for entry and residence of third country nationals for the purposes of employment (general employment, domestic employment, employment at a foreign company, etc) and issuing of the relevant permits.
(h) Handling applications for entry and residence of third country nationals for studying purposes and issuing of the relevant permits.
(i) Issuance of residence permits to third country nationals who are holders of an international protection status.
(j) Handling applications for entry and residence for other purposes (research, volunteer service, etc) and issuing of the relevant permits.
(k) Imposing of administrative fines on carriers.
(l) Imposing of administrative fines on employers who illegally employ foreign students and imposing of such fines to the students illegally employed.