Cyprus High Commission Review

The Best nation
and the Best country !
The Cypriots
and the Cyprus !
That s what I think
and I know !

The young chap that sits behind the screen downstairs at the consulate just far too condescending and rude ..Doesnt good customer service count for anything anymore ..

These people a
re running a corrupted service,

I m baffled by the positive reviews about staff being helpful. 2nd visit after 1st was very disheartening. Lady I met with told me she was doing me a favour as it wasn t her job to see me for my citizenship application, she was covering for someone who wasn t well. Immediately she found a reason to tell me I haven t got the correct ids etc and have to come back, I told her that I had already waited 3 months for the appointment and that I had to make a special arrangement to go there. It was a waste of my time as the website was not clear as to which form was the correct one to complete and what was required. She raised her voice,go then , it s not my problem . My mum had to tell her to act like a professional. She calmed down and then explained that I didn t have the correct form and needed my parents marriage certificate apostilled. I asked her if it would be possible to give me a completed list of everything that I needed as I didn t want to book another appointment and come back again in 3 months, only to be turned away. She assured me that everything she had told me was correct. She also said her colleague at the front would book an earlier appointment for me so that I wouldn t have to wait so long. Her colleague at the desk refused and said I had to go online. Ok so three months later I went back. This time I came prepared with the correct form, (which is for minors but also used for adults?)I paid for an apostilled copy of my parents marriage certificate. So I waited and this guy came up to me and said are you waiting for an appointment? I replied and he told me to come in.I had my baby and husband with me. He said they can come in but cannot sit down as no chairs available. So they stayed in the waiting area. The guy was not super helpful. He again found a reason to tell me to book another appointment. Apparently the Cypriot government doesn t give back your original birth certificate. This was not mentioned to me last time. The lady I saw told me she would take a photo copy and I would keep the original(again misinformation) all he could say was I didn t tell you nothing. I explained what happened last time and he just smerked. I told him I cannot keep coming back every time for them to tell me different things. She wanted only my parents marriage certificate and would keep that, this time he said no he would only need to take a photocopy of the certificate and the apostille but couldn t do the same for my birth certificate. I told him this is terrible miscommunication.All he kept saying is book another appointment, get another copy and have it apostilled. It s not me, I don t make the website. I told him, they never answer the phone and they don t respond to emails either. He said I will book you an appointment in the afternoon, you come back one day in the afternoon. I told him that last time the front desk said they can t book appointments and he said, no we can. (Again bad service) he also told me the lady who met me last is there and he would get her to talk to me. I had to wait she didn t want to see me. Then a very nice lady waiting for her appointment saw my distress and told me to just stay calm, they did the same to her and she has had to come back 3 times. They made her give her original birth cert too. She ordered a copy for herself from the council. So I knocked on the door and asked to speak to that guy. He said the lady isn t available to speak with you today, make another appointment online. I replied no I m seeing you now my husband came in and said what is going on here? Then suddenly my application was taken, copies of ids etc taken no problem but kept Birth cert. you can always request another copy for yourself, as my husband was there he seemed to be nicer. We asked how long it would take 6-9 months, then you get it. Get what? Citizenship, then book another appointment for passport. Wow astonished. I was warned about the service by others before me. Believe it now as have 1st hand experience. Shocking.

Really nice and efficient service! I was skeptical at first seeing previous reviews but very pleasantly surprised to see possibly the best level of service in my whole life of applying for visas at least 3-4 traumatising times a year to other countries. And my visa hasn't even been approved yet! Thank you!

I am totally disappointed of the way the embassy deals with a birth registration.I was told it is going to take 6 months, but I find out to my surprise that after 6 months they didn t even send my application to Nicosia. This is outrageous!! I have being calling them daily and send them emails and not even one answer. Cyprus is an EU country but their system looks worst than a third world country.

My experience with the Cyprus High Commission has been pleasant. Everyone was very helpful and polite. With regards to comments about the location, it is just a couple of minutes walk from Green Park, Piccadilly Circus or Charing Cross stations. Take your pick!

Been phoning for a week no answer.You not help people.shame..

Irene K .....STATED.................................
Only the gentleman in visa is polite and helpfull.Bad location not easy to reach and very bad working hours.

MY REPLY
Just wonder what Irene K likes the Cyprus High Commission to do??

Bad this and bad that....would you like them to come to you??? I don't know some people are not satisfied with anything until the moan and groan ...LOL get a life Irene

I hope you enjoyed your holiday in Cyprus!!!!!!!!!!!!

Androula has helped for the last seven years she is very friendly

as if they don t even exist. tried to contact them multiple times but got ignored. terrible service.

Excellent service and very welcoming and very quick service done within an hour and returned never seen such a great service . Well done

Just like any other person in Cyprus, absolutely useless, one star is an overstatement honestly

Right where to start. Speaking to anyone on the phone they come across as not bothered and abrupt.

Visited to get documents validated, the process of booking online was straight forward. Attending was simple.

Payments - Only CASH! So had to dash to cashpoint. Can I have a receipt please (for payment)? "we don't give out receipts", hmm funny that!!

All in all I'll give them an OK rating as they didn't have to break a sweat.

Worst attitude i have ever come across to be working in such embassy!!!! Not sure why i even bother booking a flight to Cyprus if this is the attitude i will be receiving from the local people.

Went to get some papers stamped and the man on reception was very rude and unhelpful.

Paid for a new passport in November of last year. I waited for the lockdown to end and gave them some time to sort out their backlog. Called in to ask for information, was immediately asked to email. I sent an email with my receipt as requested and received no reply.

Have since emailed in multiple times with no response, and after calling them I was told a colleague would deal with it, despite that being the only response I've gotten so far on the phone. The employee then proceeded to hang up on me before I could finish my question, and they never picked up the phone again, letting it ring for 20+ minutes.

I used to think the offices in Cyprus were a little slow with their service, but this is a whole other level. Why have a specific category for passports on the phone, if the only response you can give is to send an email instead so someone else can deal with it?

what happened with being treated with respect. the cypriots are known for their hospitality and friendliness not so here.

Shameless lack of service - they don t answer the phone, emails and are rude when you are driven to go in person to receive any semblance of service. They are internally focussed and have no regard for people dependent on such an essential service.

Really helpful to me during 'lockdown' response on messenger. Opened up for an appointment to help me, when they were officially closed.

They were not bad. Okay they took hours to do a five minute job but at least the place was icy cold and air conditioned on a boiling hot day outside. They then called the wrong person to the window to collect MY documents. But they did everything with a smile.

Very helpful and polite people,thank you once again!

been phoning for 3 days now not once have my calls been answered typically hanging up after 15 mins every time. Also tried emailing but 3 days now without a reply. ridiculous service only want to ask few simple questions

Friendly main staff and beautiful building in central location.

I sent an email with all the relevant documents as advised on the consular website for proof of uk residency for my efedria in Cyprus (which now I have missed the deadline they set and now I have a court Marshall against me!) nearly 2 months ago and had no reply I've also sent another 5 emails with no reply.ive called multiple times with no answer and when they do they can't help and advise me to email the consular they are very busy getting 200 emails a day. You are a disgrace of an embassy!

My reason for needing to contact and go to the High Commission - Consulate General was to be able to apply for a Cypriot passport and ID card (my grandparents are all Greek Cypriot). I applied for my Cypriot citizenship in Cyprus. My More

Applied for visa got rejected don't know the reasons why it has been rejected
I paid for the flight and hotel which none refundable
Disgusting

As simply as I can... So unprofessional and untrained. I'm British and my husband is Non EU. He has an EU residence card, meaning, by EU law, that he can travel through Europe with/to join me without the need to obtain a visa. We were going to Cyprus and wanted to double check. Someone at the CHC said 'I am 100% sure you need a visa" Over the week I argued this with prints of EU law, emails from other Cypriot Embassies saying he doesn't, emails from European Rights SOLVIT, emails from the Department of Interior in Cyprus and emails from the airport security in Cyprus. He insisted my husband needed a visa for the whole week and became really impatient with me. He actually said to me: 'I have lost faith in my colleagues in Cyprus and I am 100% sure your husband needs a visa and if you want to try he will get sent back" So obviously someone 'official' saying this scares you. Anyway we went ahead and got to Cyprus. WALKED IN with no visa and no problems. The man I spoke to at the CHC REFUSED to write down what he had told me, so I couldn't take it further. But just so you know, officials here are sometimes WRONG. So research yourself and don't depend on what they say. I'm sure the man I spoke to must have been frustrated by another know-it-all person walking in there... but he could have at least checked and found out that there was an issue with the information he was giving people and to fix it for the future! I doubt any of this happened!

Lovely counter staff. I needed 3 documents signed and apostiled, this was done within 15 minutes. I went at 11am and was first in the queue. The gentleman was friendly, smiling and helpful .

Friendly enough staff and quick customer service. Arrived half an hour earlier than 9:30 and they still opened the door and did their jobs.

Great experience very quick service. A staff member was so helpful. He helped with my child's buggy up the stairs.

Try to call them in regards to a passport apllication. Just call them. I dare you....

Visited the Cyprus embassy to get some papers signed, walk down to the basement of the building and my first contact was the gentleman who was behind the counter .I showed the gentleman the papers that needed to be signed and he look at me with a blank stare and did not have a clue
what i was talking about.He was very rude and unapologetic towards myself.
I feel that any person who is representing the GREEK CYPRIOTS Embassy in London should have a good knowledge of some of the basic
requirement which the customers would ask for assistance when coming to the embassy .
This gentlemen needs to go on a customer care course as his behavior
was not what i expected and i left the embassy very unhappy.
I feel things must change because this embassy has got a lot of negative reviews.

Very disappointed, after continuing trying to speak to someone in the consulate, nobody answers the phone , no reply to emails and the website is a complete joke.
Disgraceful attitude to people who require their help.
Should be closed down. You are better off going Cyprus to sort out your paper work. Disgraceful for the Cyptiot flag. I am ashamed to be Cypriot. P. L. Perikleous

1 hour 10 minutes waiting for someone to pick up the phone. Doesn t seem as though anyone is interested... so long as they get their pay checks, paid for through our taxes.

Hello i went to cyprus embassy i saw devram one man he doesnt help no one we gave him a passport to reniew and he was asking birth certificate any id i gave to him and he was asking another proof that u dont need and i have a baby he send me back home and i went the other day and someone else help me devran needs to go he doesnt help any one so just sitting there to get money with no any help he just send the people back
Home dont like him they need to kicked him out

Quick and professional service. Needed a power of attorney certified. I was in and out in 15min. Thank you!!

Amazing super efficient service. Very polite, professional and friendly emabassy team. Easy to find location. Great experience.

Horribly rude and disgusting employers as well as make your life a living hell when asking for the simplest task even you are providing them with everything they ask for, yet still try to rip you off. Basically, just like it is back in Cyprus, I shouldn't really be surprised.

Professional and friendly team who helped me and apply for Citizenship with no issues. The process was efficient, quick and thorough, and the very courteous lady who processed our application was brilliant.

Like me you are probably here to get Cypriot citizenship. Please see below for details of this process.

To get the most from the process be prepared and ensure you have everything you need at the time. We applied from my mother's side as she has a Cyprus ID card and birth certificate. Note you pay in CASH only, bring it with you. They will issue a receipt. Save this as you will need it to collect.

You will need

Apostilled copy of your parents Marriage certicate
Apostilled Birth Certificate - NOTE this will be kept! You can order these from the GRO.
Apostilled copy of your Passport (this will be kept), plus your actual passport
Parents' Cyprus ID card (just one parent is fine)- if you can provide a copy of both sides even better.
Parents passports and copies of same (no need to apostille these if cyprus ID card present for one of them. I did anyway)
Filled in form - I filled in the M123 form (search online) but this was the incorrect form, however it was worth bringing it anyway. The correct form was provided. NOTE sometimes only Greek forms available. Not a problem for me as I speak Greek but you may need help. Also note, put your mobile number on the form. They will text you an update.

Ensure your name matches the application (look out for a stray "S" at the end of surname, lots of middle names could be an issue)

Bring everything with you plus copies! Note the consular entrance is down the steps in the basement.

The Commission is short staffed and staff have to deal with a huge number of appointments far in excess of their capacity so be patient- it is amazing they process so many and they simply do not have the capacity to answer the phone or emails. If you happen to be going to Cyprus in the near future it will certainly be quicker to apply in person in Cyprus. Considering these limitations they do an excellent job and I am delighted with how I was handled.

I expect to receive a Birth certificate in nine months. I can then apply at the Commission for ID card and passport, but I may simply apply in person in Cyprus for this bit.

Finally, if you are only at the start of this process, I strongly recommend using Westminster Legalisation Services for the Apostille process. A same day service as standard and they were a great help.

****Update:

I now understand that you no longer require your documentation to be apostilled. This could change depending on Brexit. Good news and a big money saving!

****Further update:

Six months later, I received a text message confirming my registration was available. I collected the certificate of registration and have booked an appointment to apply for a passport. The process works!

*****Further further update:

A very straightforward passport application meeting that took very little time. Staffing levels have improved and waiting times have gone down. Still a 5* review if you put the work in.

***** Final update:

I now have a passport. Great stuff

Good luck!

Have been trying to contact the Cyprus High commission several times via the messaging service that they claim is the best way to contact them. No responce at all have tried calling no responce. For people that have been put there by the Cypriot goverment to help us for me they are not doing a good job.As a previous reviewer has sugested might as well go to Cyprus to gt things done. Hope someone that has a real emergency gets ta better results.

Only the gentleman in visa is polite and helpfull.Bad location not easy to reach and very bad working hours.

Worst service EVER. They don't pick up the phones they actually hung up and some options on the phone take you round in a circle. So shocked at how appalling they are.

I ve been trying to call multiple times but no answer...

I needed a visa and I was dreading going to the embassy. However I was happily surprised! I was impressed by the pleasant and friendly approach they had towards the people waiting. I found that the service was efficient and surprisingly quick.
The seating area was pleasantly decorated even if the seats were in some places stained as they seem to have numerous families visiting.
There was allocated place to fill on the form and then the procedure was explained and it was pretty much very straight forward.

They don t pick up the phones, no response to emails or having emailed again to remind them. Not enough clear information online either. Terrible service quite frankly.

Surprised anyone can give a review!! They simply do not answer phones. Called every day for 2 weeks between 2-4pm opening hours. Finally got through and they were really helpful and sorted it.

Had an absolutely WONDERFUL experience working with a Legal firm called Rennie & Lacey legal, and I have to say both Robert and Elizabeth were and remain highly competent in the dual citizenship (They arranged my Irish Citizenship and passport) market. Elizabeth is a lawyer of the utmost character, in fact the most adept, resourceful, enthusiastic senior Lawyer I have worked with over my 40 years in business. Elizabeth managed my wife and 4 daughters and sons Cypriot citizenship applications and passport/military exemptions services all in 2 VISITS, 2 VISITS, I have read and learned about peoples experiences with the High Commission. I found them to be very courteous and helpful and with Elizabeth and Robert looking after us we all (Myself, Wife, 4 daughters and son - Who had travelled from all over the country for both visits) felt confident and comfortable with what was going on. Cannot recommend enough and even if you have bits and bobs hidden in multiple closets, Elizabeth can make all that better, which is why we contacted Rennie and Lacey in the first place.

Applied for visa a week ago and got rejected without any reason.
My flight, hotel everything is booked and paid.
Very disappointed picking cyprus for my holiday wasted my money and time

No response to emails. Sent a reminder after a week. No response. No picking up phones. Kept calling for a week between 2pm to 4pm as they request callers to do.

Very sad to say (as a Cypriot) that there is no service whatsoever here. They don't answer calls, will not respond to emails and the website looks has the functionality of chocolate teapot. What a complete shambles.