The Committee of Supervision and Control for the Cyprus Investment Programme, has published code of conduct and new guidelines in relation to promotion and advertising and public relations within the framework of the citizenship by investment scheme.
The guidelines for the promotion of investment scheme are below:
1. The Programme, in all its forms of promotion, including through the internet and social media, must be described with careful language so as to protect it and not endanger its existence.
2. Any reference to details of the Programme must be in line with the information provided for the Programme in the websites of the Ministries of Interior, Finance and Invest Cyprus.
3. It is expressly prohibited, for members of the Registry as well as for the natural persons acting on their behalf and for all their collaborators:
- To show, in all forms of advertising, including the internet and social media, the Cyprus passport or other similar images or details which do not comply with the law and/or misleading advertising with false details and representations.
- To use, in any way whatsoever, the symbols of the Republic of Cyprus and the European Union.
4. Any reference relating to the residency of the applicant in Cyprus is prohibited, except to the fact that the applicant must, prior to its naturalisation, possess a residency permit in the Republic of Cyprus, for a period of six months.
5. Under no circumstance shall members, the natural persons acting on their behalf or their professional associates proceed with defamation against other colleagues who are service providers related to the Programme, whether orally or in writing, in promotional literature or on the internet or social media.
6. Reference that the process of examination of the application for the Programme can be accelerated in any way (Fast track procedure) is prohibited.
7. Any reference which refers to ‘sale of passports’ is prohibited.
8. Any act which intends to influence the work of the government authorities responsible for the examination of the applications is prohibited.
9. Any comparison with similar programmes of other countries may be made only if such references are limited to real and precise facts.
10. The acquisition of European citizenship cannot be included in the benefits of the Programme.
The Guidelines can be downloaded as pdf here
Important: It is noted that the material used by the Service Providers must be approved by the Committee, before publication.
