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Exams for long-term residence and Cypriot citizenship: Greek and knowledge of Cyprus

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In short

Who it applies to
Third-country nationals applying for Cypriot citizenship by years of residence or for long-term resident status (επί μακρόν διαμένων). The law sets no exams for spouses of Cypriots or for holders of a category F or reg. 6(2) immigration permit.
What it costs
The knowledge-of-Cyprus test costs €20, paid through JCC Smart. In 2026 the Greek exam in Cyprus cost €90 for A1, A2 and B1 and €100 for B2, Γ1 and Γ2. The citizenship application fee is separate and paid to the Ministry of Interior.
How long it takes
The knowledge test is held on a Saturday 3 times a year; applications are open for a week, roughly six to eight weeks before the exam. In 2026 results came two to two and a half months later, and the certificate is collected in person. The Greek exam is held in Cyprus once a year, in May; registration runs from 1 February to mid-March.
Where to apply
The knowledge test: the Ministry of Education's Υπηρεσία Εξετάσεων — application and payment on JCC Smart; venue and time arrive by email in the «δελτίο υποψηφίου». Greek: the Πιστοποίηση Ελληνομάθειας of the Κέντρο Ελληνικής Γλώσσας — registration in the ΚΕΓ system, Cyprus centre code 35703. Certificates are collected at the Υπηρεσία Εξετάσεων, Μεγάρων 23, Strovolos.
If your case differs
First work out what you are taking it for: citizenship and long-term residence need different levels of Greek and different pass marks — see the branches below. The knowledge test is in Greek, with no translation.

Deadlines and conditions

ConditionLegal basis
the knowledge test lasts 45 minutes, multiple choiceΥπηρεσία Εξετάσεων page on the test: «Η εξέταση, διάρκειας 45 λεπτών, περιλαμβάνει ερωτήσεις πολλαπλής επιλογής» and «Η γλώσσα της εξέτασης είναι η ελληνική». The page does not give the number of questions.
for citizenship you need at least 60%Υπηρεσία Εξετάσεων page: the pass mark «για τους αιτητές για πολιτογράφηση … το 60% τουλάχιστον της συνολικής βαθμολογίας». Ministry of Interior page on form M127: «Certificate of Success with a grade equal to or greater than 60%».
for long-term resident status — at least 50%Same page: «για τους αιτητές παραχώρησης καθεστώτος «επί μακρόν διαμένοντος» … το 50% τουλάχιστον». The Migration Department gives no pass mark.
the knowledge test costs €20Υπηρεσία Εξετάσεων page: «Τα εξεταστικά τέλη ανέρχονται στα €20,00 για κάθε υποψήφιο»; announcement of 22.09.2026 (ypp20532a): application with a €20 payment through JCC Smart. The Cap. 105 regulations still say «τέλους €25» and «προφορική εξέταση» — out of date.
the knowledge test is held 3 times a yearΥπηρεσία Εξετάσεων announcement of 22.09.2026 (ypp20532a): «έχει αποφασίσει τη διεξαγωγή των πιο πάνω εξετάσεων τρεις (3) φορές ετησίως»; 2027 programme (ypp20531a): 6 March, 3 July, 20 November 2027.
the syllabus has 14 topicsΥπηρεσία Εξετάσεων «Εξεταστέα ύλη» (PDF on sch.cy, created 17.12.2024; repeated word for word in ypp20532a): 14 topics, from «Επικαιρότητα» and history since 1960 to «Μέσα Μεταφοράς». The only official study material named is the «About Cyprus» section of visitcyprus.com; no sample questions are published.
citizenship by residence needs 7 years out of the last 10 plus 12 months in a row before applyingLaw 141(Ι)/2002, s. 111Β(1)(β): lawful residence «για χρονικά διαστήματα τα οποία αθροιζόμενα δεν είναι μικρότερα των επτά (7) ετών» within the 10 years before the last 12 months of continuous residence; (δ) «επαρκή γνώση της ελληνικής γλώσσας επιπέδου Β1»; (ε) knowledge of «βασικών στοιχείων της σύγχρονης πολιτικής και κοινωνικής πραγματικότητας».
highly skilled employees of companies on the government list — 4 years with A2 or 3 years with B1Law 141(Ι)/2002, s. 111Β(2): for people in «απασχόληση υψηλής ειδίκευσης σε εταιρείες οι οποίες καθορίζονται με Απόφαση του Υπουργικού Συμβουλίου» the period is «δεν είναι μικρότερα των τεσσάρων (4) ετών για τον κάτοχο πιστοποιητικού γλωσσομάθειας επιπέδου Α2 ή των τριών (3) ετών για τον κάτοχο … Β1». The knowledge test (111Β(1)(ε)) still applies.
the Greek exam at A2 or B1 cost €90 in 2026Υπηρεσία Εξετάσεων announcement of 28.01.2026 (ypp19692a), May 2026 Πιστοποίηση Ελληνομάθειας in Cyprus: A1, A2, B1 — «90 ευρώ», B2, Γ1, Γ2 — «100 ευρώ»; registration «Από 1 Φεβρουαρίου έως τις 20 Μαρτίου 2026». The 2027 Cyprus tariff is not yet announced; the ΚΕΓ site shows the same €90 and €100.

Your case

If you are applying for citizenship by years of residence (form M127)

You need both certificates: Greek at B1 or higher and the knowledge test at 60% or higher. Greek is accepted from the Κέντρο Ελληνικής Γλώσσας (the Πιστοποίηση Ελληνομάθειας, taken in Cyprus through the Υπηρεσία Εξετάσεων) and from the Greek language school of the Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου; older Υπηρεσία Εξετάσεων Greek certificates also count. Exempt from the Greek exam: holders of a Greek-language lyceum leaving certificate or a degree taught in Greek. Residence: 7 years out of the last 10 and 12 months in a row before applying.

If you are a highly skilled employee of a company on the government list

The period is shorter: 4 years with Greek at A2 or 3 years with B1. The knowledge test at 60% is still required, as for everyone. This route is open only to employees of companies named in a Council of Ministers decision — it is not a perk for anyone with B1. A spouse applying with you needs the same level of Greek.

If you are applying for long-term resident status (επί μακρόν διαμένων)

The law requires Greek at A2 and the same knowledge test, but the pass mark is 50%. In exceptional cases the Επιτροπή Ελέγχου Μετανάστευσης may waive both conditions. The Migration Department's document list still names the Ministry of Education's A2 certificate «for migrants» — an exam the service ran until 2023; today A2 is taken with the ΚΕΓ.

If you hold a category F or reg. 6(2) immigration permit, or are the spouse of a Cypriot

The Migration Department's pages set no exam for the category F or 6(2) permit itself. The spouse of a Cypriot acquires citizenship by registration on form M125 after living with the spouse in Cyprus for 3 years — neither the law nor the Ministry of Interior page sets a Greek or knowledge requirement. You will need the exams if you later apply for citizenship by years of residence — see the first branch.

One knowledge test, two pass marks: 60% for citizenship and 50% for long-term residence

What follows from this:

  • a certificate with 55% works for long-term residence but not for citizenship — if citizenship is the goal, aim for 60%
  • 2027 dates: 6 March (applications 11–18 January), 3 July (applications 17–24 May), 20 November (applications 4–11 October); each window is just a week
  • the next test is on 21 November 2026; applications for it closed on 12 October 2026
  • venue and time are not published in advance: they arrive by email, and you cannot change centre or time
  • bring an identity card, passport or ARC and the δελτίο υποψηφίου; arrive 30 minutes early; phones, smart watches and dictionaries are banned
  • the Greek exam is held in Cyprus once a year, in May; the Cyprus dates for May 2027 are not yet announced — watch the Υπηρεσία Εξετάσεων announcements from the start of the year
  • the certificate is collected in person in Strovolos; for someone else only with a signed authorisation

Sources

Where to go

Examinations Service, Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (Υπηρεσία Εξετάσεων) Address: Μεγάρων 23, 2032 Στρόβολος, Λευκωσία 22582900 [email protected]

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