To work in Cyprus a full ten-year a UK/EU passport is essential.
EEA citizens are free to enter Cyprus for up to three months to look for work or to try to set themselves up in business.
However on arrival you must apply within 8 days for an Alien’s Residence Certificate (ARC) at the local Immigration Branch of the Police (just a formality).

Residence Permits EU/EEA citizens intending to work, study or engage in business in Cyprus for more than three months will require a residence permit. They must apply for such a residence permit before the expiration of this 3-month period to the Civil Registration & Migration Dept.

To apply for a residence permit, you must turn up personally at the Civil Registration and Migration Department (this service is for the time being, provided at the local Immigration Branch of the Police) and submit the following documents:

A duly completed standard form (obtainable from Civil Registration & Migration Dept or from the local Immigration Branch of the Police) depending on the category of residence permit applied for (employed activity, self-employment, after having been employed, students etc.)

Valid Passport or ID Card 2 photos Document of engagement of employment from the employer, stamped by the Labour Dept. (standardized form available from Civil Registration & Migration Dept or from the local Immigration Branch of the Police) to be completed and signed by the employer.

A fee of £5 (Cyprus) The residence permit is issued within 6 months from the date of application and the submission of the required documents by the applicant and is valid for a 5-year period, which is renewable.

It should be noted that the conclusion of formalities for acquiring a residence permit is not an obstacle for the immediate commencement of employment. More information can be obtained from the: Civil Registration and Migration Department

Tel: 00 357 22804401
Fax: 00 357 22804405

Email: migration@crmd.moi.gov.cy

Health

A reciprocal agreement between the Member States enables you to get urgent medical treatment free elsewhere in the EU.

In order to claim this entitlement, you will need to have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which replaced the E111 from 1 January 2006.

For more information, and to apply for an EHIC online, please check the Department of Health website Health services in Cyprus  are provided through three systems: 

Public Health Sector

The right to public health care in Cyprus is subject to an income test as follows:

Free health care is provided through government facilities to government employees, single persons whose annual income does not exceed C£9,000 and members of families whose annual income does not exceed C£18,000 (increased by C£1,000 for each dependant child).

It is also provided to members of families with 4 or more children, persons in receipt of public assistance and people suffering from certain chronic diseases;

Health care at a reduced fee is provided for people whose annual income is between C£9,001 and £12,000 or to members of families whose annual income is between £18,001 and £22,000 (increased by £1,000 for each dependant child); Persons not coming under above categories can make use of the Government medical services against payment of the fees prescribed from time to time.

Paying patients may have the fees for costly in-patient treatment reduced, taking into account the level of their income.

Free medical care is provided at the accident and emergency departments irrespective of the economic situation or the nationality of the person involved, including visitors.

However, if these cases need hospitalization, subsequent care fees have to be paid.

Private health sector:

This open to all those who can afford to pay for their treatment.
Private medicine is dominated by a large number of physicians in individual practice.

Special Schemes:

A number of special schemes cover specific sections of the population.

These include: 

Medical Services provided by the Trade Unions to the employed persons and their dependants and A number of employer-sponsored arrangements, all of which provide free medical care mainly through public health facilities.

Health care free of charge or at reduced fees is provided to those who satisfy the referred income criteria and who are issued with a medical card after submitting an application on  the prescribed form.

One can get these forms from the public hospitals and deliver them  duly completed, either to the same place or directly to the Ministry of Health.

Transferring UK Sickness Benefit

If you are in receipt of Sickness Benefit in the UK, you may be able to transfer payment to another Member State.
Ask at your local jobcentre, Jobcentre Plus office or Social Security office in the UK for more information.

Further information For further information on your health rights while still in the UK contact:

DWP International Pension Centre Room TC001
Tyneview Park
Whitley Road
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE98 1BA
Tel: 0191 218 7547

The Department of Health produces a leaflet ‘Health Advice for Travellers Within the EC’(T2) which is available from post offices.

More information is available from the Department of Health website

Social Security

Your Social security rights in Cyprus are the same as those that apply elsewhere within the EEA.

When you start work in Cyprus, you will contribute to the Cypriot social security system  and consequently, gain the right to benefits.

In Cyprus there is a General earnings related Social Insurance. This scheme applies to every person gainfully occupied in Cyprus, either as an employed or Self-employed person.

The Scheme is financed by earnings related contributions payable by the insured person, The employer and the State.

In the case of employees the contribution is 16.6% of his/her earnings, 6.3% of which is Payable by the employee, 6.3% is payable by the employer and 4% by the State.
For self-employed persons the contribution is 15.6% of income, 11.6% of which is paid by the self-employed  person and 4% by the State.

For more information please contact:

Department of Social Insurance
7, Byron Avenue
1465
Nicosia,
Cyprus
Tel.: 00 357 22401632
Fax: 00 357 22674982

Email: interrel@dsi.mlsi.gov.cy


Pensions Under EEA regulations, if you work in two or more EEA countries you can combine state pension contributions paid in each state in order to qualify for a state pension.

For more information contact the Centre for Non-Residents at the above address.
Taxation When living or working abroad, where you pay tax depends on a number of factors.
The main factor is whether you are resident in the UK or not during a particular tax year. Residence in the UK is defined as spending more than 183 days a year in the UK or visiting the UK for 91 days a year or more on average over a four years period.

However tax is payable on UK earned income for those who are not resident in the UK. Double taxation agreements are in force between the UK and over 100 countries across the world, including Cyprus, to prevent the risk of double taxation where income could be taxable in two countries.

Further information is available from the HM Revenue & Customs:

HM Revenue & Customs International Division (Double Taxation)
Victory House
30-34 Kingsway
London WC2B 6ES

Tel: 0207 438 6622

Website: www.hmrc.gov.uk/international

A person is liable for tax in Cyprus if they spend more that 183 days per year in the country and are considered tax residents. All tax residents are taxed on their worldwide income.
All persons not residents will be taxed in Cyprus on income earned in Cyprus.

Personal income tax is levied at different rates from 0%-30% as follows:

For an income up to C£10.000 (€17.000) …0% tax rate

For an income up to C£10.001 – 15.000 (€17.001-25.500) .… 20% tax rate For an income up to C£15.001 – 20.000 (€25.501-34.000) ..…25% tax rate For an income over C£20.000 (€34.001). … 30% tax rate Employment Issues United Kingdom employment protection legislation does not extend to work wholly or mainly outside the UK.

The terms and conditions of employment are a matter of agreement between the employer and yourself.
Contracts It is advisable, where possible, to obtain terms and conditions of employment in writing before you leave the UK.

Minimum Wage

Though Cyprus has no statutory national minimum wage, the Law on Minimum Wage Levels provides for minimum salaries and wages to be set for six occupations - sales staff, clerical workers, auxiliary healthcare staff and auxiliary staff in nursery schools, crèches and schools.

At present the minimum wage for these occupations is €594 per month, increased to €630 after a continuous service of 6 months. Working Hours In 2003 average collectively agreed weekly working time was 38 hours.

In the metal products, banking and local government sectors, the figures were 38, 37.15 and 37.5 hours respectively.

The maximum working hours per week are 48. Holidays On average workers in Cyprus are entitled to a minimum of 20 days paid annual leave, negotiated by collective agreements, with a further 15 days of public holidays.

Self-employment EU legislation gives every EEA national the right to set up as a self-employed person anywhere in the EU. If you are a self-employed person you may be exempt from paying social security contributions for up to 12 months providing you continue to pay UK national insurance and hold the exemption certificate E101.

The form E101 is issued by DWP (Non Residents Helpline).
Centre for Non-Residents Room BP 1301
Benton Park View
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE98 1ZZ
Tel: 0845 915 4811
Fax: 0845 915 7800

Accommodation

Renting accommodation
In most cases accommodation in Cyprus is found through the private housing sector, either through agents or advertisements in the press. Estate agents handle both sale and renting of properties.

You can get a list of agencies from the Cyprus Government Tourist Office.
The availability of accommodation is good and includes apartments, houses and villas.
The rent depends largely where the flat is situated (town, area) and the menities/equipment in the house. Roughly speaking, the rent of an average flat will range from €425-€600.
It is advisable to contact the Cyprus Estate Agents Association for information.

Cyprus Real Estate Agents Association
P.O.Box
1455,
Lefkosia,
Tel: 00 357449500
Fax: 00 357 449048

Buying Accommodation

To purchase a property in Cyprus foreigners must first obtain the necessary permit from the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cyprus, you can apply though the local District Office or the area where the property is located.

Removals For advice on moving possessions abroad contact:

The British Association of Removers
3 Churchill Court
58 Station Road
North Harrow
Middlesex
HA2 7SA
Tel: 0208 861 3331

Website: www.removers.org.uk

Education For British families moving to Cyprus

To continue your or your child’s education, there are two main possibilities.
Firstly it is possible to study within the Cypriot system and the second option is to study at an international school, where it may be possible to follow either a UK or international curriculum.

The best source of additional information on all aspects of education in Cyprus is the European Commission PLOTEUS portal:

  www.europa.eu.int/ploteus

The PLOTEUS portal provides information about the educational system and learning opportunities as well as further contacts and background information about moving to Cyprus.

Pre-School Pre-school education is available for children between the ages of 3 years and 5 years and 8 months.

Attendance at public-sector and private-sector schools (Nipiagogeia) is optional and a fee must be paid.
Education Compulsory education is divided into two phases, Dimotiko Scholeio (primary school) for children aged 5 years to 11 years, and Gymnasio (general lower secondary school) for children aged 11 years to 15 years.

Admission to public-sector schools is free of charge for all pupils. Admission to Gymnasia is based on the primary school leaving certificate. The school year is divided into three trimesters. The pupils are assessed by the teachers throughout the school year (oral and written tests).

At the end of a primary school year, pupils having difficulties may need to repeat the year. This desciosion is taken by the teachers, the inspectors of each school, the parents and the psychologist.

At the end of the sixth year, the pupils receive the primary school leaving certificate (apolytirio).
The final internal examinations of the Gymnasio (telikes exetaseis) are compulsory for all pupils.

The certificate awarded at the end of compulsory education is based on the pupil’s results in these examinations and on continuous assessment.

Post compulsory education is available to those who have successfully completed compulsory education.

There are three types of post compulsory education:
Lykeio Epilogis Mathimaton (LEM, or general upper secondary school with specialization in five combinations of subjects); Eniaio Lykeio (comprehensive upper secondary school) and Techniki Scholi (technical and vocational upper secondary school)
All are for pupils of 15 to 18 years of age.

The first two offer courses that lead to the leaving certificate (apolytirio).
This allows pupils to take the entrance exam for higher education.

Higher Education

There are three types of higher education institutions: Panepistimio (university) offering courses that last for four years; Dimosies Scholes Tritovathmias Ekpaidefsis (public-sector non-university institutions) offering courses of three years duration and Idiotikes Scholes Tritovathmias Ekpaidefsis.

(private-sector institutions) offering courses of one to four years duration International Schools It is also possible to study in English at private International Schools in Cyprus.

A small number of schools follow a British curriculum.
Others may teach iin English and follow an international curriculum or offer the European Baccalaureate.

For details contact the European Council for International Schools:

ECIS
21 Lavant Street
Petersfield Hampshire
GU32 3EL
United Kingdom
Tel: 01730 268244

Website:www.ecis.org

Culture

You should remember that the way of life, customs, educational methods and standards in other countries can be very different from those at home and you may feel at  a disadvantage if you do not speak the language.

The laws governing personal and business relationships, trade unions, driving, personal freedom, internal travel, buying and selling and other aspects of daily life can be quite different from what you are used to.

You should be prepared to thoroughly research the current situation in Cyprus and contact some of the organisations listed throughout this booklet for more information before leaving.

For cultural information on Cyprus contact:

Cyprus High Commission
93 Park St London
W1K 7ET
Tel: 0870 005 6711
Fax: 0207 491 0691

Legal Matters Once in Cyprus you will be subject to the laws of Cyprus.

In the event of any legal problems you should contact the British Embassy in Cyprus or one of the British Consulate-General offices.
These offices cannot offer legal advice but will know where appropriate advice can be obtained.
British High Commission
Alexander Pallis Street
PO Box 21978 1587
Nicosia Cyprus
Tel: 00 357 22 861100

Email: infobhc@cylink.com.cy