Whether they’re seeking sunshine in their retirement or just a gentler pace of life, hundreds of Brits relocate to Cyprus every year and statistics show that there are between 30,000 and 50,000 UK expats currently living on this beautiful island
If you fancy joining those moving to Cyprus from the UK, stay tuned as we’re sharing our complete guide to moving to Cyprus from UK.
Where is Cyprus?
Hugely popular with holidaymakers, Cyprus is an island country nestled on the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea and is officially known as the Republic of Cyprus. While Cyprus may be considered, geographically, to be part of Western Asia, its geopolitics and culture are resoundingly South Eastern European.
Sunny side up
As well as being incredibly beautiful, Cyprus boasts between 300 and 340 days of sunshine a year, giving its residents and visitors ample opportunity to visit the island’s stunning beaches.
Why move to Cyprus ?
If you’re thinking of moving to Cyprus from the UK, there are some really good reasons to do so and we’re going to be looking at some of these in this section:
Climate
As we’ve mentioned, Cyprus enjoys an unrivalled amount of sunshine every year meaning that, even during the winter months when the UK is shrouded in rain, snow, wind and freezing temperatures, the weather in Cyprus usually remains comfortable.
Cost of living
Over the last year or so, the cost of living has been a major topic – and a very real concern – for many Brits; particularly those living in cities such as London.
Many aspects of living costs in Cyprus are lower than the UK, including:
- Property rental prices which are 20.4% lower
- Grocery prices which are 9.8% lower
- Consumer prices which are 9.4% lower
- Local purchasing power which is 36.5% lower
For anybody thinking about moving to Cyprus from UK, this alone is a pretty compelling reason.
Healthcare
Healthcare is always pretty high up on the list when considering moving to a different country and, figures show that Cyprus spends 7.0% of its GDP on its healthcare system, compared to 5.2% for the UK.
Health in Cyprus
Having said that, Cyprus runs a different system to the UK and healthcare is not necessarily free to all – and we’ll talk about this more later in this article.
Moving to Cyprus from UK in 2024
If we’ve sold you on the benefits of making a new home in Cyprus, you’re probably wondering how you would go about it.
Wonder no more as, in this section, we’re sharing our guide on moving to Cyprus from UK in 2024:
Visa
All residents of non-EU (European Union) countries, including the United Kingdom, will need a visa if they are thinking of moving to Cyprus from the UK.
This is a long-stay visa, also known as a national visa) and it is important that you apply for this while still in your home country.
For information on how to go about applying for a visa, you should first get in touch with the High Commission of Cyprus.
Non EU residents who fail to acquire a visa may only stay in Cyprus for a maximum of 90 days.
Buying property in Cyprus
It is possible to buy property if you’re planning a move to Cyprus from the UK however, while EU citizens have the right to buy immovable property free of restrictions, this is not the case for Brits.
In order to buy a house, flat or commercial enterprise in Cyprus, UK residents must gain permission from the Council of Ministers (the executive branch of the Cypriot government).
To do this you will need to instruct your lawyer or legal representative to gain approval on your behalf. T
his will involve filling in documentation including an application form and submitting this along with information about yourself and any co-buyers as well as details of the property that you wish to purchase.
The relevant distinct office in Cyprus will then review your application and prepare a report to be forwarded to the Council of Ministers.
The final decision
While this process is taking place, you are permitted to take possession of the property as long as you have signed contracts and deposited a copy at the Land Registry.
If you choose to do this, all will be fine and dandy if your application is approved, however, if your application is declined, you may find yourself in a somewhat sticky situation.
Having said that though, it is extremely rare for an application by a genuine and above-board foreign national to be turned down.
Healthcare when moving to Cyprus from UK
We touched on healthcare in Cyprus earlier and, in this section, we’ll delve a little deeper.
When visiting Cyprus as a tourist, Brits are entitled to medical treatment free of charge through the GHIC or EHIC on showing a valid NHS card.
For expats living in Cyprus however, things are slightly different.
When moving to Cyprus from the UK, it’s extremely important to make sure that you are registered for healthcare.
In general, healthcare in Cyprus is not free of charge and is subject to a wide range of costs including:
- 1 euro for a prescribed medicine or medical product
- 6 euros to see a specialist with a referral from your GP
- 25 euros to see a specialist without a referral from your GP
- 10 euros to go to A&E
Cyprus runs a healthcare system known as The General Healthcare System.
Those intending to move to Cyprus from the UK must apply for healthcare when applying for their visa and this MUST be done before registering as a resident in Cyprus.
Once you have registered for healthcare with the GHS, you will then be able to register yourself and your family with local doctors and dentists to ensure that you can access treatment when you need it.
A taxing subject
If you are looking to move to Cyprus from the UK and are a business person, professional or have a high net worth, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
Tax residency
Cyprus runs on a tax residency system which allows expats to benefit from income tax advantages on their person income and this works as follows:
- 183 day rule – If you are physically present in Cyprus (i.e. living and / or working there) for over 183 days in the tax year, this gives you tax residency status.
- 60 day rule – If you stay in Cyprus for at least 60 days in the tax year – and DO NOT stay in any other country for more than 183 days (and do not hold tax residency in any other country) you may be entitled to tax residency status as long as you hold a permanent home in Cyprus (either rented or purchased).
Working in Cyprus
When moving to Cyprus from UK, most expats are hoping to find work in their new country.
While not impossible, finding jobs in Cyprus can be tricky as you are essentially competing with nationals.
To give yourself the very best chance of snagging a job in Cyprus, it’s a good idea to learn at least a little of the language – particularly if you are hoping for a public facing role such as a job in a restaurant, bar or hotel.
Bringing skills to Cyprus
You’ll also give yourself a bit of a head start if you have specialist skills or experience in industries such as healthcare or teaching.
For the record
Cyprus is an extremely welcoming country for people from across the globe and, after completing the relevant documentation, most foreign nationals will be free to live, work and acquire healthcare and other services when moving to Cyprus from UK.
Access denied
If, however, you have a criminal record – either in the UK or in Cyprus – you may not be granted residency.
When applying for your residency visa, you will need to provide certificates from both the British police service and its counterpart in Cyprus declaring that you do not have any criminal convictions.
If you are unable to present these certificates, your residency application will be withdrawn and you will be unable to move to Cyprus.
Sun, sand and friends for life
Starting a new life in Cyprus can be incredibly exciting and can offer tons of great opportunities – all while enjoying the fabulous sunshine, laid back atmosphere and countless fantastic restaurants and bars.
Community spirit
For those moving to Cyprus from the UK and looking to make friends with other Brits, there are a number of expat communities within Cyprus’s main southern cities including Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca and Nicosia.
Moving to one of these communities is a great way of hitting the ground running when it comes to getting yourself a ready made group of friends who will be able to give you the lowdown on your new home.
Ticking all the boxes
Before you start packing your bags there are, as we’ve mentioned, a few things you need to take care of first.
It’s essential that you make sure that you know everything you will need in order to make the move to Cyprus – and to make sure that you have covered all bases in terms of permissions for living, working and buying a property on this fabulous island.