How EU Citizens Register to Vote in Cyprus

As an EU citizen living in Cyprus, you can have a say in who runs your municipality and who represents Cyprus in the European Parliament. You aren't added automatically, though. You must register on the electoral roll before each election's deadline.

Which elections can EU citizens vote in?

Cyprus reformed local government on 1 July 2024, merging municipalities and creating district local government organisations. Local elections now cover these new bodies.

UK citizens: These rights come from EU citizenship, so UK nationals can't register as EU voters in Cyprus, even with Withdrawal Agreement residence.

Who can register?

You can register if you:

• are a citizen of another EU member state,
• will be 18 or over on election day, and
• normally live in Cyprus.

For European Parliament elections, you must also have lived in Cyprus, or in another EU country, for at least six months immediately before registering.

It helps to have registered your residence (MEU1) first; see our residency permits guide.

How do you register? Step by step

1. Watch for the election announcement

Before each election the Ministry of Interior announces a registration deadline. For the June 2024 European and local elections, for example, the deadline was 2 April 2024, about two months before polling day.

2. Get the right form

There are separate applications for the special electoral roll for local elections and for European Parliament elections. You can:

• download them from the Central Electoral Service website,
• pick them up from a District Administration office, Citizen Service Centre or district post office, or
• use the online registration service, if it's open to you. Online eligibility has varied between elections, so check the current rules on the electoral service page.

3. Fill it in and attach ID

Complete the form in full. Have your passport or national ID card and your MEU1 registration certificate to hand. Give your current Cyprus address carefully, because it decides your polling station.

4. Submit before the deadline

Hand in or post the form as instructed on it, or submit online. Late applications are not accepted for that election.

5. Check your polling station

About two weeks before an election, check your polling station on the Central Electoral Service website. Take your ID card or passport (or your voter card) on the day.

Can you stand as a candidate?

Yes, in local elections. EU citizens aged 21 or over can stand for a municipal or community council, on a party list or as an independent. They can't stand for mayor, deputy mayor, community leader, or president of a district local government organisation. Candidates register with the returning officer, pay a fee and make a solemn declaration that they haven't lost the right to stand in their home country.

What if you move house?

Your polling station is linked to your registered address. If you move within Cyprus, update your registration before the next deadline so that you vote in the right place.

Common problems

• Missing the deadline. It is usually weeks before the election, not days.
• Assuming you're registered. Registering your residence (MEU1) doesn't put you on the electoral roll.
• Voting twice in European elections. It is illegal to vote in both Cyprus and your home country.
• Greek-only notices. Some official notices are published in Greek first. Check the Ministry of Interior's English pages closer to election time.

When are the next elections?

The next European Parliament elections are due across the EU in 2029. Dates for local elections are set by law and announced by the Ministry of Interior. We'll update this guide when registration opens.

What to do next

1. Make sure your residence is registered (MEU1), or after five years see our MEU3 permanent residence guide.
2. Download the special electoral roll form so you're ready.
3. Still choosing where to live, and so which municipality you'll vote in? Try our area finder.