For M127 naturalization, the Greek level depends on the applicable route. A2 is not the general standard-route requirement, and not every applicant must sit an exam if the specified education exemption applies.
What are the requirements?
The Ministry of Interior’s M127 guidance and current citizenship law, section 111B, distinguish:
| Route | Greek requirement | Earlier qualifying residence, before the separate final twelve months |
|---|---|---|
| Standard M127 | B1, subject to the education exemption | Seven years within the preceding ten-year period |
| Eligible highly skilled applicant | A2 | Four years within that earlier ten-year period |
| Eligible highly skilled applicant | B1, or the qualifying education exemption | Three years within that earlier ten-year period |
These figures do not replace the other requirements. The highly skilled route requires qualifying company employment and the applicable employee criteria; the Ministry also requires at least two years of qualifying company employment before application. The final twelve-month residence period is separate, with the law’s allowance for absences of up to 90 days.
Use the standard naturalization guide or highly skilled route to assess the full conditions before selecting an exam level.
What exam exemptions exist?
The stated language-evidence exemption concerns a recognized Greek-medium high-school diploma or a Greek-medium academic degree. A course certificate, mere school attendance or a degree whose subject is Greek does not by itself establish those specified conditions.
The M127 political/social-knowledge certificate is a separate requirement; it is not the Greek-language certificate. The M127 checklist identifies the required evidence.
Other citizenship routes must be assessed separately. For example, the June 2025 M125 spouse/civil-partner checklist does not list the M127 Greek-language test. Do not apply the M127 exam rule to every citizenship application.
Where can I take the exam?
The Ministry of Interior identifies two accepted language-certificate providers:
- Centre for the Greek Language, through the Cyprus Ministry of Education’s Examination Service
- University of Cyprus School of Modern Greek
An ordinary language course or attendance certificate is not automatically the required proficiency certificate. The University says its course-final certification examinations and independent certification examinations lead to the same official language certificates; course attendance is not required for the independent examination.
Centre for the Greek Language / Cyprus Examination Service
Use the Cyprus Examination Service’s announcements and the Centre’s certification news for the relevant session.
The Cyprus Ministry’s 28 January 2026 notice for May 2026 set the A2 written exam for 17 May and B1 for 30 May, at EUR 90 per level. It expressly stated that these local dates differed from the Centre’s general calendar. These are historical session details, not a promise of the next Cyprus dates or fees.
The Centre’s 31 August 2026 announcement says its October 2026 session is only in Greece, for A2 for professional purposes and B1. It does not establish a second Cyprus examination round in November.
University of Cyprus: upcoming January 2027 round
The University’s current certification information, updated 31 August 2026, announces:
- Session: Nicosia, 11–29 January 2027; individual dates, times and venue are emailed after registration closes
- Registration: 2 November 2026 at 09:00 Cyprus time to 30 November at 23:59, or until places fill, whichever is earlier
- Independent exam fee: EUR 90 for A2 and EUR 90 for B1, non-refundable
- Valid application: correct and complete online form, within the deadline/capacity, and successful JCC payment
The page’s general timetable mentions January and September; use the dated session announcement for the actual window. Its course-final exam fees are included in tuition, so do not confuse a course price with the independent certification-exam fee.
What is the exam structure?
The Centre’s official A2 and B1 samples cover:
- Reading comprehension
- Listening comprehension
- Written production
- Oral production
The sample page provides written tasks, listening audio and oral-exam examples. Use the samples for your chosen level and check the selected provider’s current exam regulations and instructions.
How should I prepare?
- Confirm the citizenship route and accepted level first.
- Work through official samples for all four skills, including speaking and listening.
- Choose lessons and a study schedule around your present level and available time.
- Plan around the published registration deadline and keep payment and application confirmations.
- Use the learning Greek guide for courses and materials.
Avoid treating a fixed number of study months as a guarantee of passing.
How do I get my results and certificate?
The University publishes results within two months for independent certification examinations, and within one month for its students’ course-final examinations. It sends individual detailed results and certificate-collection/delivery information by email. Certificates are issued after the results announcement.
Its collection options are an appointment at the School’s offices, authorized third-party collection following the specified written notice, or a written postal-delivery request with postage paid by the recipient. Follow the University’s instructions for the selected option.
For the Centre for the Greek Language, follow that session’s result and certificate announcement rather than applying the University timetable to it. The Centre announced the May 2026 results for 31 July 2026 at 12:00; that historical announcement does not promise the next session’s result date.
Attach the applicable language evidence or qualifying education evidence to the M127 application as required by its checklist. Passing the language exam does not establish that all citizenship conditions are satisfied.
Frequently asked questions
What level of Greek is needed for Cyprus citizenship?
Standard M127 naturalization requires B1, subject to the qualifying Greek-medium education exemption. For eligible highly skilled applicants, A2 corresponds to four earlier qualifying residence years and B1 to three, before the separate final twelve-month period. Other residence and employment conditions still apply.
Where can I take the Greek language exam in Cyprus?
The Ministry of Interior accepts the Centre for the Greek Language certificate through the Cyprus Education Ministry’s Examination Service and the University of Cyprus School of Modern Greek certificate. Follow the relevant provider’s current Cyprus announcement; a Greece-only session is not a Cyprus exam round.
How much does the Ellinomatheia exam cost?
Fees depend on the provider and session. The Cyprus Education Ministry’s May 2026 notice charged EUR 90 for A2 or B1. The University of Cyprus currently publishes EUR 90 for each independent A2 or B1 certification exam; course-final examination fees are included in tuition. Check the next session before paying.