Locations · 8 min read
Moving to Cyprus: your first year
The administrative sequence that turns a purchase into a life: what to do in month one, month three and before month twelve.
Last updated 18 July 2026
Month one: identity and money
- Register your address and apply for residence documentation appropriate to your nationality
- Obtain a Cyprus tax identification number
- Open a local bank account — bring proof of address, income and source of funds
- Register with the social insurance system if you will work or be self-employed
- Get a local mobile number, which almost every service will ask for
Month one: the home working
- Transfer electricity into your name at the EAC
- Arrange the water connection with the local water board
- Order fibre internet — installation can take two to three weeks
- Set up refuse and municipal tax accounts
- Arrange buildings and contents insurance
Months two and three: healthcare and schooling
Beneficiaries register with GESY, the national health system, and choose a personal doctor; many residents also hold private cover for faster access to specialists. If you have children, complete school enrolment and vaccination records early — schools frequently ask for translated documentation.
Driving and vehicles
Cyprus drives on the left. EU licences are valid and may be exchanged; other licences can usually be exchanged within a defined period after taking up residence. Importing a car is possible but often costs more than buying locally once duty, registration and testing are counted.
Pets, shipping and the practical rest
Pets need a microchip, rabies vaccination and an EU pet passport or equivalent health certificate. Sea freight for household goods takes three to six weeks from northern Europe; keep an inventory with values, because customs may ask for it.
Before month twelve
Review your tax residence position. The Cyprus 183-day rule and the alternative 60-day rule both matter, and the choice you make in year one is easier to plan than to unwind. Take advice from a Cyprus tax adviser before the year end, not after.
Frequently asked
- Do I need to speak Greek to live in Cyprus?
- English is widely spoken in business, healthcare and services along the coast, so daily life is manageable without Greek. Learning some is still worthwhile in village communities and for official paperwork.
- How long does it take to get internet installed?
- Typically two to three weeks for a fibre connection in a serviced area, longer in a newly completed building where the connection is being brought in for the first time.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and rates change — take advice specific to your circumstances before you commit.
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