Moving to Cyprus from the UK: a complete guide

Planning on starting a new life over in sun-drenched Cyprus? It’s a great expat destination and over 40,000 British nationals already live there.¹ In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about moving to Cyprus from the UK, including the cost of living, what has changed for Brits after Brexit and much more.

We’ll also point out a cost-effective way to manage your money across borders from the money services provider Wise. Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and Cyprus for low fees and the mid-market exchange rate.

Want to take your savings with you? Wise can also help you with large transfers.

Table of contents

Can you move to Cyprus from the UK? Moving to Cyprus from the UK after Brexit² How to get a Cypriot visa?² How to move to Cyprus from the UK? What’s the cheapest way to get to Cyprus from the UK? Options for retiring in Cyprus Retirement visas⁶ Pensions⁷ Living in Cyprus - what you need to know Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to Cyprus?⁹ Healthcare system¹⁰ Opening a Cypriot bank account¹¹ Finding a job in Cyprus¹² Renting or buying property in Cyprus¹³ Checklist for moving to Cyprus from the UK Save on your relocation costs to Cyprus with Wise

Can you move to Cyprus from the UK?

Yes, you can move to Cyprus from the UK, but the process might be more complicated than before.

Due to Brexit, UK nationals now have third-country status in the EU. However, there are still many options for moving to Cyprus from the UK.

Moving to Cyprus from the UK after Brexit²

Due to Brexit, UK citizens can now spend only up to 90 days in Cyprus without a residence permit. Although you don’t need a visa just to enter the territory of Cyprus, you need to apply for a Cypriot long-stay visa before you leave the UK if you plan on staying.

After you receive your visa, you can apply for a residence permit. There are multiple types of permits, but they’re most often issued for work or study purposes. For example, you can get a residence permit by signing a work contract in Cyprus, by being self-employed in certain professions or by having an independent annual income.

Cyprus also has a Golden visa program that provides long-term residence through investment in Cyprus. Since this program is only available to non-EU nationals, it can be a great route for British expats.³

How to get a Cypriot visa?²

UK citizens can enter Cyprus without an entry visa. However, those who plan on staying longer than 3 months must apply for a long-stay visa while still in the UK. The type of your visa depends on the purpose of your stay, some examples being the work visa or the student visa.

After your arrival, you should register your stay and get a temporary residence permit. They’re valid for a year, but they can be renewed.

How to move to Cyprus from the UK?

There are multiple ways to stay in Cyprus long term, but only one that gives you a permanent residence permit right away. That’s the Golden visa, which offers residence to investors.

You can qualify if you invest at least €300,000 in either real estate or a Cyprus-based company. You also must meet certain criteria, such as making at least €50,000 per year and having health insurance. If you receive the Golden visa, you’ll get a residence permit that’s valid for 10 years.³

If you wish to get a temporary residence permit for employment, it’s your employer’s responsibility to apply for it on your behalf. You can also get an immigration permit if you’re self-employed in certain fields, if you work in a high demand profession or have independent income. You can find detailed information and all categories on the Civil Registry and Migration Department website.²

What’s the cheapest way to get to Cyprus from the UK?

The most common and often cheapest way to get to Cyprus from the UK is by plane. At the moment, the cheapest month to fly is November, when you can get a one-way ticket for only £28.⁴

The average ticket prices are higher and it’s not always possible to find a good deal. A more realistic price you can expect to pay is between £80 and £140 for a one-way ticket.⁵

📚 Read more: How to use the UK-issued Wise card abroad?

Options for retiring in Cyprus

Whether you’re approaching retirement age or you just like planning ahead of time, you might be considering Cyprus as a potential retirement destination. There are many reasons to retire in Cyprus, from the relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle to high-quality healthcare.

But how easy is it to retire in Cyprus? Here are the things you should be aware of:

Retirement visas⁶

Cyprus doesn’t offer a specific retirement visa. Still, there are two ways for UK retirees to get residence - the Category F residence permit and the Golden visa.

The Category F temporary residence permit is given to those who have a secured annual income from abroad. Your pension needs to be at least €10,000 per year plus an additional €5,000 for any dependent family member.

If you have some money saved up and you’d like to get permanent residence in Cyprus, you can invest through the Golden visa scheme. The value of the investment should be at least €300,000, while your yearly income should be €50,000 or more.

Pensions⁷

If you retire in Cyprus, you can claim your UK state pension there. Your pension can be paid into your UK bank account or your new Cypriot account, in which case you’ll be paid in euros. You can also decide how often you’ll get paid - anywhere from 4 to 13 weeks. Make sure you contact the International Pension Centre to get the most recent information.

Living in Cyprus - what you need to know

Here are some basic facts for you to know about Cyprus if you’re considering moving there:

• Currency - Euro (EUR)
• Main languages - Greek, Turkish
• Population - 1,267,050⁸
• Number of British expats - over 40,000¹

Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to Cyprus?⁹

Ahead of moving to another country, it’s good to know what you can expect when it comes to living costs.

The cost of living in Cyprus is certainly lower than in the UK. On average, you’ll pay around 20% less for rent and around 12% less for groceries. However, the prices can vary depending on the city you live in.

Let’s take a look at a few average prices for common spending categories in Cyprus, compared with the UK:

• A three-course meal for two costs around £51 in Cyprus, while it’s £60 in the UK
• A loaf of bread is around £1.60, compared to £1.21 in the UK
• A draught beer is around £2.96, compared to £4.5 back in the UK
• A monthly public transport pass is approximately £42, compared to £68 in the UK
• Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is around £766, compared to £1,061 in the UK
• Utilities for a typical apartment are around £158 a month, compared to £251 in the UK

If you want to buy an apartment, this is also much cheaper in Cyprus. For instance, the price per square metre to buy a city centre apartment is over 50% lower than in the UK.

Healthcare system¹⁰

Cyprus is known for having stable, good quality healthcare. There are health centres all over the country, even in rural areas. What’s interesting is that many healthcare professionals are expats themselves.

Residents of Cyprus have access to public healthcare, regardless of nationality. The public healthcare sector is mostly funded through taxes and mandatory social services contributions.

Private healthcare is always a good additional option and many expats choose to invest in a policy. There are both international and local private insurance companies in Cyprus, the latter having more affordable offers.

Opening a Cypriot bank account¹¹

After moving to Cyprus from the UK, opening a Cypriot bank account should be next on your list of priorities. Having it is essential for everything from paying rent and utility bills to everyday expenses. Also, managing your money will be easier.

Both locals and foreigners can open different types of bank accounts in Cyprus, such as personal, corporate or merchant accounts. Depending on the account, you’ll need to provide certain documents, such as a notarised copy of your passport or a certificate of good standing for foreign companies.

Many banks in Cyprus will allow you to start the application process online. This way, you can save yourself some time and start applying while you’re still in the UK. You should also check whether you can keep your UK bank account while living in Cyprus.

And, as an alternative to a bank account, check out the Wise account. You can send, receive, and spend in multiple currencies, including British pounds and euros. It’s not a bank account but offers many similar features.

Learn more about the Wise account 💰

Finding a job in Cyprus¹²

Like we mentioned earlier, UK citizens can’t start working in Cyprus without a work permit. These permits are usually valid for a year, but they’re renewable. In order to get one, your employer must support your application.

If you’re the entrepreneur type, you can consider starting a business in Cyprus. In this case, you can find a solicitor who will back up your application.

You can also start working in Cyprus by getting an immigration permit. The condition is that you fall into one of the professional categories and have sufficient funds. Examples of some are self-employed agriculture, mining or scientific sector workers. You can find more information on the Civil Registry and Migration Department website.

Renting or buying property in Cyprus¹³

Looking for an apartment or a house in a new country is exciting, but often stressful. Whether you’re renting or buying property in Cyprus, finding what works for you will probably require patience and time.

Whether you’re renting or buying, consider hiring a real estate agent. Someone who knows the local market could help you find exactly what you need. In the meantime, here are some popular property websites:

• Spitogatos
• Bazaraki
• In Cyprus Property
• Buy Sell Cyprus

UK nationals are allowed to buy one property in Cyprus and they can’t rent it out. Since Brexit, some additional steps have been added into the buying process.

For example, you’ll need to ask permission from the Council of Ministers in order to buy property. Title deeds won’t be passed to you until that permission is officially granted.

📚 Read more: How to transfer large amounts of money from the UK?

Checklist for moving to Cyprus from the UK

Let’s go through the most important steps of moving to Cyprus:

• Go through available visa options, gather your documents and apply for your visa while still in the UK
• Find a place to live - this may require you to fly to Cyprus to view potential properties
• Do some research and get quotes for shipping your belongings to Cyprus
• Look into banks in Cyprus, find some that suit you and see if they let you open an account before arriving
• Look into taking out a private health insurance policy
• Tell HMRC that you’re leaving the UK
• Book your flight

Save on your relocation costs to Cyprus with Wise

Before moving to a new country, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders.

Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and Cyprus for low, transparent fees and the mid-market exchange rate. It’s not a bank account but offers many similar features.

You can also use Wise once you arrive in your new home. For starters, you can spend in EUR from the moment you step off the plane using your contactless Wise card. It works in 150+ countries and automatically converts your pounds to the local currency whenever you spend, only adding a tiny, upfront currency conversion fee.

Sign up with Wise today 💰

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Sources used:

1. Cyprus Mail - Brits in Cyprus urged to vote in UK elections
2. Immigration Advice Service - Moving to Cyprus from the UK
3. Visa Index - Cyprus Golden visa guide
4. Skyscanner - London to Cyprus
5. Skyscanner - Flights from London to Larnaca
6. George K. Konstantinou Law Firm - How much money do you need to retire in Cyprus?
7. Gov.uk - State Pension if you retire abroad
8. Worldometers - Cyprus population
9. Numbeo - Cost of living in the UK compared to Cyprus
10. Allianz Care - Healthcare in Cyprus
11. Lawyers Cyprus - Opening a bank account in Cyprus
12. Indeed - Work in Cyprus
13. Wise - Buying property in Cyprus

Sources last checked on date: 29-Apr-2024