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Government Legislative Proposals Aim To Safeguard National Real Estate Markets

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 11, 2025

In response to growing concerns over the unregulated influx of foreign buyers, legislators have introduced three new proposals designed to restrict the acquisition of real estate by non-nationals. Recent data revealing that 27% of properties and lands have been sold to non-European buyers has spurred lawmakers into action. These measures aim not only to protect the housing rights of lower and middle-income residents but also to preserve national security and economic stability.

Targeting Unbridled Foreign Acquisitions

Two proposals submitted by members of ACEL specifically target the unchecked property market driven by foreign purchases. The legislative changes will amend current laws governing the acquisition of real estate by non-nationals, closing loopholes that have allowed indirect property purchases without prior governmental approval. By broadening the definition of organizations controlled by foreign interests, the proposals extend regulatory oversight to include any entity where ultimate control is vested in a non-national as per existing anti-money laundering statutes.

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Enhanced Ministerial Oversight And Streamlined Exceptions

The proposals assign the Ministerial Council the responsibility of defining strict parameters, conditions, and criteria for real estate transactions involving foreign parties. Each application submitted will be meticulously examined and decided by the council. Furthermore, an exception is provided whereby approval is not required for natural persons acquiring properties such as an apartment or a house (up to 200 square meters), a retail space of similar size, or an office of up to 300 square meters. These pragmatic amendments underscore the government’s commitment to balancing regulatory control with market pragmatism.

Prevention Of Indirect Ownership And Strategic Asset Limits

In an effort to eliminate potential circumvention, the proposals explicitly prohibit both direct and indirect acquisition of properties through corporate structures or third-party intermediaries. Restrictions also apply to properties located near critical infrastructure, such as ports, airports, beaches, and military installations. These initiatives ensure that national interests take precedence over speculative investment.

Limitations On Multiple Acquisitions By Foreign Nationals

A collaborative proposal by representatives from DISY, DIKO, and DIPA confines foreign nationals to the purchase of only one residence or apartment per parcel of land. Additionally, strict conditions are imposed on legal entities, mandating that at least 51% of the issued share capital, voting rights, or control must belong to citizens of the Republic or other EU/EFTA member states, or to a company established under the jurisdiction of such a state. The acquisition of agricultural or forest lands by foreigners is categorically banned, emphasizing a protective stance over critical domestic resources.

Revamping The Land Registry Procedures

Another proposal from ACEL revises the laws governing the registration and transfer of properties, thereby enhancing the oversight of transactions involving foreign buyers. The director of the Land Registry Department will be barred from processing any real estate transfer or registration that falls under the new restrictive provisions. This change is anticipated to curb indirect property acquisitions through companies, ensuring greater transparency regarding the true ownership of legal entities involved in domestic real estate transactions.

Conclusion

These comprehensive legislative reforms reflect a strategic effort by the government to secure the national real estate market against unbridled foreign investments. By instituting stringent controls and clearly defined exceptions, lawmakers seek to balance the interests of domestic economic security with the realities of a globalized property market.

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Cyprus Crypto Users Face New Risks As MiCA Rules Take Effect

by News Editor

August 18, 2026

Why Investors Need To Check The Company Behind Their Crypto Platform

Crypto users in Cyprus are being urged to verify exactly which company holds their assets after the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) transition period ended on July 1, 2026.

MiCA rules for crypto-asset service providers have applied since December 2024, but Cyprus allowed companies operating under its previous national framework to continue temporarily. CySEC required providers wishing to remain in the market to apply by February 27, 2026.

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The end of the transition means that appearing on an old national register is no longer enough. Investors must check the specific legal entity providing the service and the activities it is authorised to perform.

Two Regulatory Routes

CySEC maintains separate registers for providers authorised under Article 63 and companies using the Article 60 notification route.

The lists should not simply be treated as a count of licensed crypto exchanges. Providers have different regulatory statuses and may be authorised for different services, including custody, transfers, exchanges or operating trading platforms.

Companies authorised elsewhere in the EU can also serve Cypriot customers through MiCA passporting. Investors should therefore check the wider ESMA register.

Familiar Brands Can Still Be Used In Scams

MiCA authorisation applies to a specific legal entity, not automatically to every website, subsidiary or service using the same brand. Fraudsters can copy a legitimate company’s name, logo and licence number while changing its website or payment details.

The regulatory transition creates another opportunity for scammers. They can imitate legitimate notices about account closures or transfers and claim that customers must urgently move their assets to a new “regulated” platform.

In its July announcement, CySEC warned that customers using unauthorised providers do not receive MiCA protections and advised investors to verify providers through ESMA.

A Wider European Shake-Up

The changes affect the broader European crypto market. VASPnet estimated that more than 1,700 unlicensed crypto companies could face closure, relocation or restructuring after the transition period.

ESMA’s register contained 323 authorised providers at the end of July, while TRM Labs identified 1,343 operating providers in the European Economic Area on July 1, including 281 with MiCA authorisation. The different figures reflect different methodologies, but point to a substantial number of providers operating without the new authorisation.

ESMA instructed unauthorised companies to stop accepting new EU customers, opening accounts and marketing their services, while allowing limited activity needed for an orderly withdrawal.

What Investors Should Check

MiCA introduces common requirements for areas such as governance, disclosures and safeguarding client assets, but it does not make crypto investments risk-free.

For Cyprus users, the key questions are which legal entity provides the service, what it is authorised to do and whether the website or contact details are genuine.

Requests to transfer assets urgently, pay recovery fees, reveal private keys or install remote-access software should be treated as red flags. MiCA may bring greater clarity to the market, but the transition has also created a new opportunity for criminals to exploit a very real regulatory change.