Offices
+36 70 421 32 63

Updated

GL-C-08

Glossary · Cyprus PR

Certifying officer in Cyprus - who certifies signatures instead of a notary

An official appointed by the Ministry of Interior to certify signatures and copies in Cyprus

Cyprus PR programme
€5document up to 2 pages
€103 to 10 pages
up to €2each extra signatory

01 / In 30 seconds

The short answer

What it is
An official appointed by the Ministry of Interior to certify signatures and copies in Cyprus
Why
Cyprus has no notaries in the civil-law sense
Cost
€5 up to 2 pages, €10 up to 10, €25 up to 100, €40 above
Why it matters for PR
Certifies signatures on the application form, affidavit, declarations and powers of attorney

02 / In plain words

What Certifying officer in Cyprus means

A certifying officer (in Greek Πιστοποιών Υπάλληλος, "pistopoion ypallilos") is a person appointed by the Cyprus Ministry of Interior to certify signatures and copies of documents. The procedure and fees are set by Law 165(I)/2012.

Cyprus has no notaries in the civil-law sense, so signatures on an application form, affidavit or power of attorney are certified by these officers. The fee depends on page count: €5 up to 2 pages, €10 for 3 to 10 pages, €25 for 11 to 100 pages, €40 above that, and up to €2 for each extra signatory. A mukhtar, the head of a community, can also certify signatures.

If the document is going abroad, the District Administration certifies the officer's signature (up to €2 per document), and the Ministry of Justice then adds an apostille for €5. For PR, clients in Cyprus usually sign this way; clients abroad sign before a Cyprus consul or a notary at home with an apostille.

A simple example

A client flies to Cyprus to view a property. We prepare form MIP2, the income affidavit, the non-employment declaration and the power of attorney in advance. In one meeting the officer certifies all signatures, at €5 for each document of up to 2 pages.

When you need a certifying officer

  • Signing form MIP2
  • Income affidavit
  • Non-employment and address declarations
  • Power of attorney for a lawyer or representative
  • Certified copies of documents

03 / What it covers

Key points about signature certification in Cyprus

01

Who certifies

  • Officer appointed by the Ministry of Interior
  • Community mukhtar
  • Citizen Service Centres
02

Fees

  • Up to 2 pages €5
  • 3-10 pages €10
  • 11-100 €25, above €40
03

For use abroad

  • District Administration up to €2
  • Ministry of Justice apostille €5
  • Then valid abroad
04

If you are not in Cyprus

  • Cyprus consulate
  • A notary at home
  • Home-country apostille and translation

04 / How it works

How to certify a signature in Cyprus

Step 1

Preparing the document

We fill in the form and check the details.

Step 2

Appointment

We book a time with a certifying officer.

Step 3

Signing before the officer

The client signs in person, with a passport.

Step 4

District Administration

If the document is for another country, it certifies the officer's signature.

Step 5

Apostille

The Ministry of Justice adds an apostille, €5.

05 / Key facts

What matters

01Instead of a notary

Appointed by the ministry

Cyprus has no notaries in the civil-law sense. Signatures are certified by officers appointed by the Ministry of Interior and by mukhtars.

02Fee

€5 / €10 / €25 / €40

By page count: up to 2, up to 10, up to 100 and over 100. Each extra signatory up to €2.

03For a document going abroad

+ up to €2 and €5

The District Administration certifies the officer's signature, then the Ministry of Justice adds an apostille.

04Signing in person only

With a passport

The officer certifies a signature made in front of them. A document signed in advance will not be certified.

Common mistakes

Signing the document in advance

You sign in front of the officer. Bring your passport and an unsigned document.

Looking for a notary in Cyprus

Signatures are certified by an officer appointed by the ministry. We book the meeting in advance.

Forgetting the apostille for use abroad

If the document is needed in another country, it goes to the District Administration and the Ministry of Justice after certification.

06 / Expert advice

Anna Kovalevskaya

How to prepare in advance

If you will be in Cyprus, tell us your dates: we will prepare all forms in advance and have every signature certified in one meeting. Bring your original passport.

What we do for you. We prepare the documents, book the certifying officer and, when needed, take the document through the District Administration and the Ministry of Justice.

Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer for EU citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice

07 / Questions

Frequently asked questions

Not in the civil-law sense. Signatures are certified by officers appointed by the Ministry of Interior and by community mukhtars.

€5 for a document up to 2 pages, €10 up to 10 pages, €25 up to 100, €40 above.

Law 165(I)/2012 on the certification of signatures and copies.

No, you sign in front of the officer.

The District Administration certifies the officer's signature, then the Ministry of Justice adds a €5 apostille.

Sign before a Cyprus consul or a notary in your country with an apostille.

Cyprus PR glossary

Related terms

Author: Anna Kovalevskaya

Reviewed by: Sergey Evdokimov

Sources: Cyprus Ministry of Justice - apostille and signature certification, Cyprus Migration Department, gov.cy - forms and document lists

INITIAL ASSESSMENT

Tell us what outcome your family needs

We will design a solution for your case, choose the country and the right status, and take the whole process through to the result.

Or message us on WhatsApp or Telegram

Anna Kovalevskaya, lead lawyer at BRIDGES GLOBAL
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer, citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice