Living in Cyprus

This guide sets out essential information for British citizens about moving to or living in Cyprus. Read about how our high commission in CyprusNicosia can help.

This information is provided as a guide only. You should obtain definitive information from the Cypriot authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.

Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

To stay up to date:

• sign up for email alerts
• follow the British High Commission in CyprusNicosia on Facebook and Twitter

If you were living in Cyprus before 1 January 2021

Some parts of this guide only apply if you werehave been living in Cyprus since before 1 January 2021. TheseYou areshould indicatedread withthese sub-headings.in addition to the rest of the guidance in each section.

You should also read our Living in Europe page for detailed guidance about citizens’ rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

You can also:

• also read the Cypriot government guidance on the Withdrawal Agreement

Coronavirus

YouFollow should follow the advice of the CyprusCypriot Governmentgovernment and your local authority. You canshould also read ourthe Cyprus travel advice.

For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Cyprus seeread our coronavirus travel advice.

Visas and residency

You must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad. If you were legally resident in Cyprus orand you can prove that you arrived in Cyprus before 1 January 2021, you will be able to stay.

Check the entry requirements for Cyprus. Read the Cypriot government guidance on visas.

If you want to stay longer than 90 days as a visitor, you need to apply for residency as a third country national. A third country national is someone who does not have EU, EEA or Swiss nationality.

Visas and residency if you were living in Cyprus before 1 January 2021

If you have lived in Cyprus since before 1 January 2021, you and your family members have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you have a MEU residence document

If you registered as a resident before 1 January 2021, you will have a MEU1 or MEU3 residence document. Non-EUYour non-EU family members will have a MEU2. AsYou ofcan 1exchange Januaryyour 2021,MEU residence document for the CypriotMUKW governmentbiometric introducedWithdrawal Agreement residence document.

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If you have been legally resident in Cyprus for:

• over 5 years,years: you willare be eligible for permanent residency and a 10-year renewable residency document (MUKW3)(MUKW3), initially valid for 10 years
• less than 5 years,years: you willare be eligible for a residence document withvalid for 5 years validity (MUKW1)
• nonnon-EU EU family members willare be eligible for a MUKW2 document

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Read the Cypriot government guidance residency in Cyprus. If you need further help on how to secure your residency, you may find the Cyprus Residency Planning Group website useful.

You can obtain the newMUKW residence document fromfor a fee from:

• the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia
• one andof the District Units of the Aliens and Immigration Service of the Police.

ReadYou must book an appointment online, so you can submit your documents and have your biometric data taken. You will be contacted when your MUKW residence document is approved. You collect your MUKW residence document from the Cypriotoffice governmentwhere guidanceyou residencyapplied.

If inyou Cyprushave not had a reply to your request for a MUKW residence document, contact the Civil Registry and Migration Department.

If thereyour areapplication changesis topending, you will be contacted for additional documents.

Appeal process

If your residency registrationapplication processes,is werefused, the refusal letter will updateexplain thishow guidanceto asappeal. soonIf asyou informationneed legal advice, read our list of English-speaking lawyers in cyprus. If your appeal is available.rejected, Youyou shouldmay signbe upable to apply for emaillong alertsterm residence as a third country national.

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Passports and travel

Coronavirus travel restrictions may affect travel to and from Cyprus.

You can apply for or renew your British passport infrom Cyprus.

Check the Cyprus travel advice for Cyprus for passport validity requirements.

If you’re travelling to the north of Cyprus, their administration advises that your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry to the north.

Always carry your passport when travelling to other EU /or EFTAEuropean Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. If you have citizenship of an EU /or EFTA country, in addition to your British citizenship, you should enter and leave Cyprus using your EU /or EFTA passport.

Cyprus is not part of the Schengen area. If you stay in Cyprus with a Cypriot residence permit or long stay visa, this time does not count towards your 90-day in 180 days visa-free limit in Cyprus or for the Schengen area.area.

If you visit countries in the Schengen area, make sure you do not exceed the visa-free 90 days in any 180-day period. You are responsible for counting how long you stay under the Schengen visa waiver, and you must comply with its conditions.

Different rules apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

If you were living in Cyprus before 1 January 2021

When you travel, you should carry withyour youMEU youror MUKW residence document (MEU1/MEU3/MUKW1/MUKW3) or frontier worker permit issued under the Withdrawal Agreement, in addition to your valid passport.

You must proactively show your residence document, or other evidence of residence status, if you are asked to show your passport at border control. Other evidence may be your tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020. If you have applied for, but not yet received, your residence document, carryshow your certificate of registration.

If you cannot prove that you are a resident in Cyprus, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the EU. Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in the country or countries where you live or work. If a passport is incorrectly stamped, the stamp is considered null and void when you can show evidence of lawful residence.

If you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, you can enter and exit Cyprus with a valid passport. You do not need any extraadditional monthsvalidity on yourthe passport tobeyond enterthe ordates exito EUwhich countries.you are travelling.

Healthcare

Read our guidance on healthcare in Cyprus and make sure you are correctly registered for your circumstances. We strongly advise you take out private medical insurance if you are not eligible for state healthcare.

Travel insurance is not intended to cover healthcare costs if you live overseas.

Read the Cypriot government guidance on the healthcare system (in Greek).

You should also read guidance on:

• finding English-speaking doctors and on-call pharmacies
• finding a hospital in Cyprus
• checking your prescriptions are legal in Cyprus
• healthcare when travelling inwith Europemedicines
• advice on foreign travel insurance

Working in Cyprus

If you are planning to move to Cyprus and work, you may need a visa. Read the Cyprus government’s guidance on working in Cyprus as a foreign national and how to get a visa.

To apply for a job you may need to provide a UK police certificate.

Read:

• working or providing services in Cyprus
• working in an EU country
• EU guidance on working in an EU country

If you were living in Cyprus before 1 January 2021

You have the right to work under the Withdrawal Agreement.Agreement, if you have a MEU or MUKW residence document, or have applied for one.

If you live in Cyprus and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 1 January 2021, read our guidance for frontier workers.

Professional qualifications

You may need to get your professional qualification recognised if you want to work in a profession that is regulated in Cyprus.

Read guidance on:

• recognition of professional qualifications
• how to get your qualification recognised in Cyprus

If you were living in Cyprus before 1 January 2021

If the relevant regulator in Cyprus officially recognised your professional qualification before 1 January 2021, or you started the recognition process by this date, make sure you understand the terms of your recognition decision. SeekYou should get advice from the regulatorrelevant if needed.regulator.

Studying in Cyprus

If you plan to study in Cyprus, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.

Contact the relevant higher education provider in Cyprus to check what fees you may have to pay.

Read guidance on:

• continuing your studies in the EU
• studying in the European Union
• healthcare for students in Cyprus

If you were living in Cyprus before 1 January 2021

The studying in the European Union guidance includes specific information forif thoseyou who were already living in Cyprus before 1 January 2021.

Money, tax and bankingTax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Cyprus toso ensurethat you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

You should get professional advice on paying tax in Cyprus. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Cyprus.

Read the guidance on:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• tax if you get a pension and live abroad
• paying income tax in Cyprus
• EU guidancefactsheet on taxbuying andgoods customs, including online shopping from the UK websites
• EU

National guidanceinsurance onand customssocial includingsecurity preferentialcontributions

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EU guidance(NIC) onare excisecalled duties

National‘social Insurance

security contributions’ (SSC) in Cyprus. Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Cyprus.

UK banking

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PensionsBenefits

UK benefits

Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Cyprus.

IfCheck which UK benefits you arecan movingclaim orwhile retiringabroad and how to claim them.

Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

Cypriot benefits

You may be able to claim some Cypriot social security benefits,. When you mustare tellchecking thewhether UKyou governmentare officeseligible thatfor dealbenefits within yourCyprus benefits,you pensionshould andmake tax.sure you declare any National Insurance contributions you made in the UK.

Pensions

Read ourguidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Cyprus.

Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.

If you retire in Cyprus, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. PleaseContact contact the International Pensions Centre to claim
• your Cypriot and UK state pension through your local citizen service centre if you have worked in Cyprus
• pensions if you have worked in other EU countries

Read the Money and Pension Service’s MoneyHelper guidance on pension and retirement changes for more information on cross-border pensions.

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you must fillrespond itas insoon promptly,as otherwisepossible. yourYour payments may be suspended.suspended, if you do not.

BenefitsMoney and banking

ReadWhether our guidance on entitlement to UK benefitsbanks andcan pensionsprovide whileservices youto arecustomers living in Cyprus.

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Exchanging UK.

your UK licence

If you live in Cyprus, you must exchange your UK licence for a Cypriot one within 6 months of becoming residentresident. inYou Cyprus.do not need to take a driving test. You cannot use an International Driving Permit (IDP) instead of exchanging your licence.

Exchanging your Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man licence

If you holdhave a UK licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need to take a test.

Disabled drivers

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Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Cyprus

You cannot import vehicles through the northern part of Cyprus. The authorities may seize your vehicle.

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK and the Cypriot government webpageguidance on importing a vehicle into Cyprus.Cyprus.

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Read the EU guidance on:

• EU driving licences and insurance
• driving licence withoutexchange takingand arecognition test.
  in the EU.

Voting

You cannot vote in elections in Cyprus or European Parliament elections.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter

Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnerships

If your child is born in Cyprus, you willcan register the birth with the UK authorities in addition to registering locally. If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register athe birth abroad.with the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.

If someone dies in Cyprus, read our guidance on:

• what to do after someone dies
• bereavement in Cyprus

Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Cyprus.

You may also need:

• English-speaking lawyers and translators in Cyprus
• notarial and documentary services for Cyprus
• citizen service centres

Pets

If youyou’re havemoving ato petCyprus passportwith issuedyour bypet, Cyprusread orthe anotherguidance EUand memberensure state, you cancomply usewith itthe toregulations:

• taking travel with your pet abroad
• moving to GreatEU Britaincountries andwith elsewhereyour in the EU.
  pet

ATo GB-issuedvisit EUother petcountries passportwith isyour notpet, validcheck forthe travelrules tofor the EUcountry oryou’re Northerntravelling Ireland.to. YouContact should speak to your vet before you travel to get the necessary pet travel documents andyour ensurepet you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.needs.

Read guidance on:

• bringing your pet to GBGreat Britain
• travelling. withCheck that your petpet’s rabies vaccinations are up to date. Vets in theGreat EUBritain cannot enter rabies vaccination details in non-UK issued pet passports
• travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet
• travelling with your pet in the EU

Emergencies

CheckDial the rulesEuropean ofemergency thenumber country112 you’rein travellingCyprus to for anythe additionalpolice, restrictionsambulance or requirementsfire beforebrigade, youor travel.dial 199.

Emergencies

YouIf canyour dialchild is at risk of, or has been abducted need information on child abduction, read the Europeanguidance emergencyon numberinternational 112parental child abduction; the Cyprus Social Welfare Services information for families and children; the EU guidance on child abduction and EU guidance on child abduction to another EU country.

Read our information if you are a victim of rape or 199sexual assault in Cyprus.

If you’re the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisiscrisis, abroad, contact the British High Commission Nicosia.

Returning to the UK

Check the COVID-19 travel guidance for entering the UK.

Tell the CyprusCypriot and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

If you get healthcare in Cyprus through the S1 certificate, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.

To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, bringing family members, tax and access to services.

If you return to the UK permanently and meet the ordinarily resident test, you’ll be able to access NHS care without charge.

Useful information

Support for British nationals abroad: a guide sets out how to stay safe abroad, and explains how the FCDO can support you if you get into difficulty.