Documents in Cyprus Checked: no change to the rule has been established since the check
In short
- Who it applies to
- Anyone applying for a residence permit, permanent residence or citizenship in Cyprus with documents issued abroad: a criminal record certificate, marriage and birth certificates, diplomas. The department accepts only documents certified as required for the issuing country, and only in Greek or English.
- What it costs
- The apostille and translation are paid for in the issuing country, at its prices. In Cyprus a police criminal record certificate costs €20 and a Ministry of Justice apostille on a Cypriot document €5.
- How long it takes
- The issuing country sets the time for an apostille and translation abroad — allow for it before filing. The Cyprus police issue a criminal record certificate in three working days.
- Where to apply
- The apostille is placed where the document was issued: the Cypriot Ministry of Justice certifies Cypriot documents only. The translation is made by a sworn translator, the issuing country's consulate or one of its government departments. A Cypriot criminal record certificate is issued by the police Previous Convictions Registry and the divisional police offices.
- If your case differs
- A visitor needs a criminal record certificate from their home country for the first permit only. Foreigners who have lived here lawfully for at least six months can get a Cypriot one.
Your case
If the document was issued in Russia or Serbia
No apostille is needed: under bilateral agreements such documents are exempt from any certification, provided they are signed and bear the seal of the issuing authority. A translation into Greek or English is still required — from a sworn translator, a consulate or a government department of the issuing country.
If the document was issued in another country of the Hague Apostille Convention
You need an apostille placed in the issuing country — the Cypriot Ministry of Justice does not certify foreign documents. Copies are certified the same way as originals. Then a translation into Greek or English. The list of Convention countries is kept by the Hague Conference.
If the issuing country is not party to the Hague Convention
You need diplomatic legalisation as a chain: the issuing country's foreign ministry, then the Cypriot consulate in that country, then the Cypriot foreign ministry. If Cyprus has no consulate there, the chain is longer — through a consulate in a third country. Private documents are certified by an authorised body of the issuing country.
If the document was issued in an EU country
Documents on birth, marriage, divorce, parenthood, residence, nationality and absence of a criminal record need no apostille under EU Regulation 2016/1191. For these you can ask for a multilingual standard form: with it no official translation is required.
If you need a criminal record certificate from Cyprus
The police issue it to foreigners who have lived in Cyprus lawfully for at least six months: €20, three working days. Bring copies of your residence permit, ARC card and passport; through another person — with a written authorisation. If it is for another country, the Cypriot Ministry of Justice places the apostille — €5 per document.
Deadlines and conditions
- a Cypriot criminal record certificate costs €20The police page «Αρχείο Προηγουμένων Καταδικών»: «Τέλος έκδοσης πιστοποιητικού Ποινικού Μητρώου €20».
- it is issued in 3 working daysThe same: «Για την έκδοση των πιστοποιητικών χρειάζονται τρεις (3) εργάσιμες μέρες»; for EU nationals the procedure differs and the time is given separately.
- a foreigner can get it after at least 6 months of lawful residence in CyprusThe same page, English version: certificates are issued to “Aliens residing legally in the Republic of Cyprus for at least six months”.
- an apostille on a Cypriot document costs €5 per documentThe Ministry of Justice page «Πιστοποιήσεις Apostille», para 4: «Καταβάλλεται τέλος ύψους 5 Ευρώ, ανά έγγραφο»; payment by card (announcement of 26.02.2026).
How recent the criminal record certificate must be
The department publishes no general rule on how recent the certificate must be, and different document lists differ. Before ordering one, check the list for your application.
Sources
- Migration Department, “Document Ratification”www.gov.cyLanguages and translation, the apostille, diplomatic legalisation, the exemption for Russia and Serbia, EU Regulation 2016/1191.
- Cyprus Police, Previous Convictions Registrywww.gov.cyWho gets a certificate, what to attach, €20, three working days, office addresses.
- Ministry of Justice, “Apostille certifications”www.gov.cyWho places the apostille on Cypriot documents, the €5 fee, card payment, opening hours.
- Law 50/1972 ratifying the Hague Apostille Conventionwww.cylaw.orgCyprus is party to the Convention; the apostille replaces consular legalisation.
- Regulation (EU) 2016/1191eur-lex.europa.euWhich EU public documents are exempt from the apostille, and multilingual standard forms.