Emergency
Living in Cyprus
www.gov.uk/government/world/cyprus
Checklist for
British citizens
In an emergency (fire, police,
ambulance) call: 112
Emergency Words
Help = Voithia
Look out = Prosekse
Ambulance = Asthenoforo
Doctor = Yiatros
Police = Astinomia
Fire = Fotia
Firemen = Pyrosvestes
Do you speak English? = Milate
Anglika?
BRITISH CONSULAR NETWORK
Emergency and out of hours
contact. Please call the High
Commission’s switchboard
0035722861100
and listen for instructions.
Residence
requirements
EU Citizens who wish to reside in
Cyprus for more than 3 months are
required to apply for a residence
permit (yellow slip) through the local
immigration office of the Ministry
of Interior Republic of Cyprus using
form MEU1A. A fee is payable but
the permit does not need to be
renewed. A permanent registration
certificate can be applied for after 5
consecutive years of residence using
form MEU3A. More detail can be
found at: www.moi.gov.cy. (this
website is in Greek) you can search
under the form names - Instructions
on how to complete, and documents
required, can be found at the bottom
of the application form. Contact
details for Immigration Offices can be
found at www.police.gov.cy.
Pensions/
Benefits
British
High Commission
Nicosia
Our website
www.gov.uk/government/
world/cyprus
(‘Help for British Nationals’
section) provides lots of
information for British
nationals planning to live or
living in Cyprus. This leaflet
provides a summary of the
information on the website
UK State Pensions can be paid to you
when in Cyprus. You may also be
entitled to other benefits, including
sickness and bereavement benefits,
depending on your individual
circumstances. For more information
on how moving to Cyprus will
affect your pension/benefits visit
www.gov.uk/state-pensionif-you-retire-abroad or call the
International Pension Centre (IPC) on:
0044 191 218 7777
Healthcare
If you are not paying into the Cypriot
social security system you may be
able to get state healthcare if:
> You are in receipt of a UK State
Pension, long term contribution
based Incapacity benefit or
Bereavement Benefit. In order
to apply for state healthcare you
must apply for a S1 Form from the
Int. Pension Centre on
0044 191 218 7777
> You are an early retiree and have
been resident for less than 2
years – apply for a S1 Form from
the Overseas Health Care Team 0191 218 1999 (www.nhs.uk/
nhsengland/healthcareabroad/
pages/healthcareabroad.aspx)
> You are a posted worker for a
UK Company apply for a S1 Form
from Centre for Non Residents,
HMRC, Tel: 0044 191 203 7010
> You are a dependant of someone
who falls into one of these
categories
> You spend less than 6 months of
the year in Cyprus and have a valid
UK European Health Insurance
Card (EHIC)
If you do not fall into one of the
above categories and are not paying
into the Cypriot Social Security
System then you will not be entitled
to free treatment and should look to
take out private health insurance.
What the consulates can and
cannot do for you
can
> Issue Emergency Travel
documents. Information can be
obtained from www.gov.uk/
emergency-travel-document
> Provide help if you are a victim
of crime, have suffered rape or
sexual assault or are in hospital.
Help people with mental health
needs and contact friends and
family if you wish.
> Make every effort to contact you
within 24 hours of being advised
that you have been detained or
hospitalised.
> Offer support and help in a
range of other cases such as
child abduction, death of a
relative overseas, missing person
and kidnapping.
> Register and issue birth / death
certificates for British nationals
who are born or die in Cyprus
> Provide information on how to
transfer funds. We can contact
relatives and friends who may
be willing to transfer money to
you or buy you a ticket back to
the UK.
> Make special arrangements in
crises e.g. acts of terrorism, civil
disturbances or natural disasters
cannot
> Get you better treatment in
hospital or prison than is given to
local people.
> Get you out of prison, prevent local
authorities from deporting you
after a prison sentence or intervene
in criminal or civil court proceedings
> Issue standard passports.
> Help you enter/leave Cyprus if
you have lost or damaged your
passport or are travelling on an
expired passport.
> Assist you in leaving Cyprus on
a Cypriot ID card where your
nationality states British or
British/Cypriot.
> Give legal advice, become
involved in specific property/land
disputes, investigate crimes or
carry out searches for missing
people. We can give you details
of people who may be able to
help you in these cases, e.g.
English speaking lawyers.
> Pay any bills or give you money
from public funds.
> Make travel arrangements for you,
or find work or accommodation
> Notarial work. As Cyprus is a
Commonwealth country the
British High Commission are
restricted in the services they can
provide. For further information
please visit our website
www.gov.uk/notarial-anddocumentary-services-guidefor-cyprus
Tax
Britain has a double taxation
agreement with Cyprus to ensure
people do not pay tax on the same
income in both countries. However,
taxation is a complex issue and advice
should be sought from the local
authorities. Residents, including
retirees, are liable to pay tax on income
earned in Cyprus or from property held
in Cyprus. For more information please
refer to Inland Revenue Department,
Ministry of Finance Republic of Cyprus
– www.mof.gov.cy/mof/ird/ird.nsf
Employment in
Cyprus
EU nationals are entitled to work
in Cyprus. You need to apply for a
residency permit as early as possible.
Without this you will not be able
to pay National Insurance or Social
Security payments or get a health
card. For more information visit
www.mlsi.gov.cy
Buying a
property in
Cyprus
Buying a property in Cyprus is different
to the UK. Time and care should be
taken when looking to make such a
large investment. You should always
make sure you seek appropriate
independent legal advice before
purchasing. For more information,
including our lists of English speaking
lawyers, visit www.gov.uk/how-toproperty-in-cyprus (Living in Cyprus
section). British citizens considering
purchasing a property in the north
of Cyprus are advised to thoroughly
examine the legal ownership status of
the property concerned.
Schools
Cypriots take education very
seriously and school attendance
is compulsory up to the age of
16 irrespective of race or culture.
Registered European citizens are
entitled to state education all tuition
in the state school is conducted in
Greek. All English language school
are fee paying – it is vital that you
research the school to ensure it
meets the requirements of your
child’s educational and social needs.
For additional information contact
the Ministry of Education Republic
of Cyprus on: +357 22 800 600 or
e-mail: moec@moec.gov.cy
Bank accounts
UK residents can open a bank
account with a residence permit or
with a passport and proof of address
in Cyprus.
The Central Bank of Cyprus
regulates all banking. It publishes a
list of all regulated banks – including
branch and representative offices
of foreign banks – operating in the
country. www.centralbank.gov.cy
Animals/pets
For information on bringing pets to
Cyprus from the UK, please refer
to the Animal Health and Welfare
Section of:
Ministry of Agriculture Republic
of Cyprus Natural Resources and
Environment
Tel: + 357 22 805 152
animal.health@vs.moa.gov.cy
website: www.moa.gov.cy
For information about taking pets from
Cyprus to the UK, please refer to:
Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs
www.gov.uk/defra
(Pet Travel Scheme)
Driving in
Cyprus
Drivers must be 18 years old and hold
a valid driving licence. If you allow
an underage driver, or a person with
no licence to drive your vehicle, you
may face charges. You can drive on
your UK or EU driving licence whilst
it is still valid or apply for a Cypriot
driving licence after 6 months of
residency. For information on driving
with your DVLA licence in Cyprus go
to www.gov.uk/driving-abroad
Voting in
Cyprus
Elections in the UK
British residents in Cyprus can vote
in UK General Elections for up to 15
years while they are abroad. For more
information:
www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Elections in Cyprus/Europe
All EU citizens living as residents in
Cyprus are legally entitled to vote in
certain Cypriot elections, specifically:
Local Municipal Elections and
European Parliamentary Elections.
Registration must be made separately
for each.
Police
Cyprus has a strict policy of zero
tolerance towards drugs.
Should you require a criminal record
check from the Cyprus Police you
must hold a valid residency permit
for the period in question. For more
information, include Police Ethics and
Citizens Rights Charter please visit:
www.police.gov.cy
Citizen Service
Centres
The Ministry of Finance Republic
of Cyprus operate Citizen Service
Centres at main cities in Cyprus.
These centres offer a wide range of
information and staff speak good
English. Further information can be
found via their website:
www.mof.gov.cy
(Search for Citizen Service Centres).
Useful tips
For general advice and information
on living in Cyprus please visit
www.gov.uk/living-in-cyprus
and
www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/
living-abroad/help-for-britishnationals-living-overseas
To ensure the best access to public
services apply for your residency
permit (yellow slip) as early as
possible and register at your local
health centre.
Make every effort possible to
integrate in Cyprus by learning
Greek, joining local associations and
respecting local culture and customs.
When family and friends visit, ensure
they have read our travel advice
pages www.gov.uk/foreign-traveladvice, have appropriate travel
insurance and have a valid European
Health Insurance Card www.nhs.
uk (search EHIC) in order to access
emergency medical treatment at a
state hospital.
Other useful
contacts
The following websites/ organisation
provide additional information you
may find useful:
United Kingdom Cyprus
Association – www.ukca.com.cy
Anglo Info Cyprus –
www.Cyprus.angloinfo.com
Cyprus Expat:
www.cyprusexpat.co.uk
Advice on buying property
www.cyprus-property-buyers.com
Royal British Legion Cyprus
www.britishlegion.org.uk
SSAFA - Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen
and Families Association
www.ssafa-cyprus.org
Cyprus Mail – daily English speaking
newspaper
www.cyprus-mail.com
Cyprus Weekly – weekly English
speaking newspaper
www.incyprus.com.cy
AGE CONCERN – advice for retired
UK residents considering retiring
abroad
www.ageuk.org.uk
Main Police Station
Famagusta +357 23 803 030
Ayia Napa +357 23 803 200
Larnaca +357 24 804 040
Limassol +357 25 805 050
Paphos +357 26 806 060
DISCLAIMER
The inclusion of contact
details for organisations and
institutions within the Foreign
& Commonwealth leaflet
should not be taken as an
endorsement of them or their
aims by the FCO. The FCO
cannot be held responsible for
any incorrect or incomplete
information provided by a
third party or any action taken
on that advice.
Every care has been taken to
ensure the accuracy of this
information is correct at time
of printing (2012). If you
have any feedback on this
leaflet, please e-mail us at:
nicosia.consular@fco.gov.uk