Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sicily and Sardinia, with an area of 9.251 sq. kms. It is situated at the north-eastern corner of the Mediterranean, at a distance of 300 km north of Egypt, 90 km west of Syria, and 60 km south of Turkey. Cyprus is an independent sovereign Republic with a presidential system of government. On May 01, 2004 the Republic of Cyprus became a full member of the EU. Accession to the EU was a natural choice for Cyprus, dictated by its culture, civilization, history, its European outlook and adherence to the ideals of democracy, freedom and justice.
On January 01, 2008 the Republic of Cyprus introduced the Euro as its official currency, replacing the Cyprus pound as the unit of account. Cyprus is also a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and many other international organisations.
In 2013, the Cypriot government changed immigration policies to encourage foreign investment, making it possible to obtain Cypriot Citizenship by Investment in only 6 months. Cyprus is the only European country to fast track secondary citizenship, making it an extremely attractive choice. Applicants and their dependents are not required to live in Cyprus to obtain citizenship, meaning you can apply for and receive secondary passports without having to relocate the entire family or renounce your original nationality.