Companies & Businesses | Cyprus Legislation | Cyprus Lifestyle | Licenses & Permits
5 years March 1, 2019
Recently moved to Cyprus? An Overviews of Expat Life in 2019
Cyprus allows residents the freedom to enjoy life at a slower pace in a welcoming environment. The island is small enough to ensure that you feel a sense of familiarity, and large enough to allow entertainment for all ages and lifestyles, Cyprus offers life’s simple pleasures under almost guaranteed sun year round.
With approximately 330 days of sunshine per year, and the option to ski in the mountains for two to three months of the year in winter; Relax at the beach, swim in clear mild water, explore unspoiled nature trails and visit the some of the islands many ancient landmarks. Cyprus really does have something for everyone.
Education & Schooling in Cyprus
Cyprus offers a variety of respectable public and private schools, all providing excellent levels of education. The local Colleges and Universities are recognised internationally but for those wishing to further their education abroad, schools following the British Education System, or preparing candidates for entry into Universities in Europe or the United States, are also available.
For more information on higher institutions in Cyprus click here.
Have a family or children? Read more about pre-schools on the island.
Living & Accommodation on the Island
There is a wide range of properties for foreigners available for renting or purchasing. Should you wish to purchase a house, all property in Cyprus is freehold and may be passed on to your descendants without the burden of paying inheritance tax. You control the property from the moment you sign the contract of sale and immediately deposit it with the Land Registry in Cyprus.
Property prices in Cyprus are much lower than the average in Western Europe, making it possible to own a second home for holidays or retirement, or solely to take advantage of a sound investment opportunity due to the value of steady appreciation over time.
Click to view our portfolio of properties.
Communication & the Language Barrier
Greek is the official language spoken in Cyprus, however English is the second most spoken language and is taught to an extremely high standard, English is also the official business language on the island. Additionally, due to the growing Russian population and increasing number of Russian businesses in Cyprus, Russian is also widely spoken.
Healthcare
Cyprus offers excellent public and private healthcare services; and any Europeans with an EHIC card are eligible for free treatment, while third country nationals can find treatment for significantly lower costs than most EU countries. Private and specialist clinics are widely available and are usually of much higher standard and lower waiting times however these are significantly more costly. If you plan on working for an employer, many of the reputable companies will pay healthcare insurance.
Click here to read more about the healthcare system in Cyprus.
Safety & Crime Rate in 2019
Cyprus is generally a safe country and experiences less violent crime, especially in comparison to other countries in Europe of a similar size, nothing has dramatically increased for 2018 and opportunistic crime is predicted to stay the same at a moderate level, with the number of organised crimes remains low for 2019. The island always reaches the top 5 spot in the safest places to reside Eurostat Quality of Life Surveys.
Cost of living in Cyprus
If you are moving to Cyprus in order to maintain a career, as a start-up. you are thinking of registering a company here, or just planning a holiday, and are wondering about how much you will spend on day-to-day goods on average. Click to view table depicting average prices for general goods and services. This is the one European country where the comparatively low cost of living allows for a high standard of living.
While imported food and drink can be quite pricey, real savings can be made on energy bills which are low due to the water towers being highly elevated to catch the sunlight on all buildings. The cost of water heating is close to nothing, especially in the summer months. Generally speaking, rental prices have seen a sharp increase in the last year, however they remain quite low compared to the average standard in Europe.
If you are thinking of relocating to Cyprus for the creation of a start-up or subsidiary, click for more information.