Cypriot nationality law

Cypriot nationality law details the conditions by which a person is a national of Cyprus. The primary law governing nationality regulations is the Republic of Cyprus Citizenship Law, 1967, which came into force on 28 July 1967. Regulations apply to the entire island of Cyprus, which includes the Republic of Cyprus itself and Northern Cyprus, a breakaway region that is diplomatically recognised only by Turkey as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Cyprus is a member state of the European Union (EU) and all Cypriot nationals are EU citizens. They have automatic and permanent permission to live and work in any EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country and may vote in elections to the European Parliament. Individuals born to at least one Cypriot parent automatically acquire citizenship at birth only if neither parent is considered an illegal migrant. Birth in Cyprus by itself does not make a child eligible for citizenship. Foreign nationals may become Cypriot citizens by naturalisation after completing a residence requirement (normally seven years). Cyprus was previously a colony of the British Empire and local residents were British subjects. Although Cyprus gained independence in 1960 and Cypriot citizens no longer hold British nationality, they continue to have favoured status when residing in the United Kingdom; as Commonwealth citizens, they are eligible to vote in UK elections and serve in public office there. Ottoman CyprusBritish Cyprus and History of British nationality law The island of Cyprus was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1570. Accordingly, Ottoman nationality law applied to the island. Cyprus was governed by the Ottomans for three centuries until it was leased to the British Empire in 1878. While the island remained under nominal Ottoman sovereignty, no authority on Cyprus existed to enforce Ottoman laws. Cypriot residents ostensibly remained Ottoman subjects but traveled using documents that labeled them as "natives of Cyprus" instead of Ottoman passports.