The Republic of Cyprus has acceded to the Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction concluded in The Hague on 25 October 1980. In implementing this Convention, the Ministry of Justice and Public Order has been assigned as the Central Authority and cooperates with counterpart Central Authorities of other Contracting States.

This Convention applies to the Republic of Cyprus and the States below in regard to which the Republic has declared its acceptance of their accession.

http://hcch.e-vision.nl/index_en.php?act=conventions.status&cid=24

For more information on the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980, click here.

The object of the convention is:

a) to secure the prompt return of children wrongfully removed to or retained in any Contracting State, and

b) to ensure that rights of custody and of access under the law of one Contracting State are effectively respected in the other Contracting States.

Application forms to request the return of a child or to secure access rights on the basis of the aforementioned Convention are provided below.

In addition, after the accession of Cyprus to the European Union, Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003, ‘Regulation (EC) concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility’ also applies, repealing Regulation (EC) No 1347/2000.

From 1st August, 2022 the Regulation has been repealed and replaced by the Regulation (EU) 2019/1111 on jurisdiction, the recognition and enforcement of decisions in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility, and on international child abduction (recast).

Practice guide for the application of the Brussels IIb Regulation. For more languages click here.

Information and Guidelines on Procedures Regarding Cross-border Child Abduction

Rights and rules which apply to cross-border abduction of a child by a parent

Parental Responsibility

Lawful removal of a Child

Under what circumstances may a parent lawfully remove the child to another State without the other parent's consent?
A parent with sole custody can lawfully remove a child to another state without the other parent's consent.

Under what circumstances is the other parent's consent necessary for the child's removal to another state?
Where both parents exercise joint custody of an underage child, the other parent's consent is necessary to remove the child to another state. Removal without consent also constitutes a criminal offence in Cyprus, under Chapter 154 of the Criminal Code.

If the other parent does not consent to the child's removal to another State, although it is necessary, how can the child be removed lawfully to another state?
A child can be removed to another State without the consent of one of the parents with joint custody on the basis of a relevant judgment by the family Court.

Do the same rules apply to temporary removal (e.g. holiday, healthcare etc.) and permanent removal? If applicable, please provide relevant consent forms.
In the absence of consent for temporary or permanent removal, a Court judgment is required. If there is consent, there is no specific form used to grant such consent.

https://e-iustice.europa.eu/content lawful removal of the child-289-cy-en.do?init=true&member=1

https://e-iustice.europa.eu/content lawful removal of the child-289-en.do?clang=en

Unlawful Removal of a Child

Central Authority
Ministry of Justice and Public Order
International Legal Cooperation Unit
125 Athalassas Ave.
1461 Nicosia
Cyprus

Contact point:
Ms Troodia Dionysiou
International Legal Cooperation Unit
Ministry of Justice and Public Order
Tel: (+357) 22805932
Fax: (+357)22518328
Email: tdionysiou@mjpo.gov.cy

Mr Andreas Kyriakides
International Legal Cooperation Unit
Ministry of Justice and Public Order
Tel: (+357) 22805928
Fax: (+357)22518328
Email: akyriakides@papd.mof.gov.cy

Related Forms:

- List of Documents

- Access Form

- Return Form

- Authorisation

Which EU rules apply to cases involving cross-border abduction?

How do EU rules help to prevent child abduction?

How can a parent get an abducted child back?

Can a court in the country to which the child was abducted refuse the return of the child?

Will the judgment of the court be automatically enforceable?