Move to Cyprus
from the UK

A Mediterranean island with strong British ties, Cyprus is home to roughly 60,000 Brits - and it's not hard to see why!

A former British colony that still drives on the left, speaks English almost everywhere, and boasts 300+ days of sunshine at a cost of living roughly 15% below the UK average - this destination has a lot going for it.

From a settling perspective, the cultural friction is famously low. The island was under British administration from 1878 to 1960, and even today, the influence shines through with a legal system rooted in English common law, Commonwealth membership, and a population where an estimated 75% speak English.

In Paphos, you can go weeks without needing a word of Greek.

Sadly it’s not all halloumi and harbour sunsets. Post-Brexit paperwork, oppressive summer heat, and a job market that pays 39% less than Britain mean this island has some significant downsides and it’s not for everyone.

Daily life is slower than what Brits are typically used to.

For example, government offices close by early afternoon. Tradesmen operate on "Cyprus time." Your summer dinner doesn't even hit the grill until 9pm. And since Brexit, in particular, the bureaucracy has become much more cumbersome. Even beyond that, you can expect multiple visits to migration offices for tasks that should probably only take one.

The UK has two Sovereign Base Areas (Akrotiri and Dhekelia) covering about 3% of the island - and this is reflected by some close ties with UK military families.

Overall, a move here offers a pace of life that feels like exhaling after years of holding your breath in the Blighty grind. Mornings are for coffee at a harbourside café. Afternoons are for the beach or the mountains. The Troodos range is less than an hour from the coast, and 64 Blue Flag beaches line the southern shore.

It’s a beautiful place to live.

Cyprus launched its universal public healthcare system - GeSY (General Healthcare System) - in phases during 2019–2020.

This system covers GP visits, specialist consultations, hospital care, prescriptions, lab tests, some preventive dental work, ambulance services, and other preventive care.

At the time of writing, it has around 933,000 beneficiaries - which is around 75% of the total population.

GeSY as a British expat

British nationals can access GeSY if they fall into an eligible category, which is usually limited to:

• legal employment in Cyprus
• qualifying permanent/long-term residence
• S1 entitlement
• qualifying family-member status.

Those receiving a UK State Pension or exportable benefits can register using an S1 form without additional contributions - the UK funds their care.

Employed or self-employed expats will typically contribute automatically: 2.65% of salary for employees, 4% for the self-employed, capped at €180,000 annual income.

The co-payment structure is quite impressive when you look at the numbers: €1 per prescription, €6 for a specialist visit with GP referral (€25 without), and €10 for A&E attendance.

GP visits are free up to a set annual quota… and then €15 each.

All very reasonable.

How good is the healthcare?

Quality of healthcare is considered decent but it is not NHS-equivalent for complex cases.

Cyprus ranked 29th globally for healthcare on the Legatum Index in 2023 and was named the 21st healthiest country by Bloomberg (back in 2019, two places below the UK).

As you’d expect in this part of the world, most doctors speak excellent English, and that is particularly the case in Limassol, Paphos, and Nicosia - given that many trained in UK medical schools.

Wait times for GeSY specialists are often 2-4 weeks, shorter than typical NHS waits for many similar cases.

However, for rare or highly specialised conditions, Cyprus lacks the depth of UK teaching hospitals.

Nursing numbers are below the EU average, and the relaunched health system is still maturing.

If you have a specific condition, it’s worth researching the health coverage in your city of choice before planning any move here.

Private healthcare

For those paying out of pocket, private healthcare fills the gaps efficiently and affordably.

There are over 70 private hospitals across the island, including Apollonion (Nicosia, robotic surgery), Ygia Polyclinic (Limassol), and Mediterranean Hospital (Limassol).

A private GP consultation costs approximately £26-£44, a specialist consultation £44-£70, and dental check-ups hover around £26-£44.

Dental work is a particular bargain - we’ve seen implants advertised at around £260 versus £1,000+ in the UK.

Insurance: mandatory and affordable

Health insurance is mandatory for residence permit applications.

If you need to take this path, local private plans start from £500-£700/year for basic cover for a single adult.

You can find comprehensive local plans starting at around £1,500–£3,100/year.

Likewise, you’ve got reputable international plans from Cigna, Bupa, or AXA which offer global portability and cost £2,000-£5,000/year.

We typically see that many advisers recommend a hybrid approach: use GeSY for routine care and prescriptions, and carry private insurance for hospital admissions, faster specialist access, dental, and optical coverage.

Keep in mind that GeSY doesn’t cover optical or extensive adult dental work.

Where Cyprus underperforms

Mental health care is one of the weakest areas.

GeSY offers only basic psychiatric consultations with long waits.

Private English-speaking therapists do exist in major cities (from around €60/session), but the infrastructure hasn’t really caught up with the UK here.

Either a good thing, or a bad thing, depending on your views on the UK’s mental health crisis!

Pharmacies are widely available, open mornings and evenings with night pharmacy services, and most UK medications can be acquired using their generic names.

UK prescriptions are no longer directly accepted post-Brexit.

For emergency services dial 112 or 199; operators speak English.

Cyprus is well regarded as one of the safest places in Europe to raise children. It was ranked the 13th safest country in the world by Global Finance Magazine in 2023.

As a general attraction, you’ve got endless water sports, hiking, archaeological sites, 64 Blue Flag beaches, and year-round outdoor play.

All of this helps to make it a childhood paradise for active families.

But, of course, the decision to move hinges heavily on schooling…

International schools

International schools offering British curriculum are the natural choice for expat families. And the good news here is that fees are dramatically lower than the UK - 60% cheaper on average according to Numbeo.

Some notable options include:

• Foley's School - Limassol, ages 3–18, British IGCSE and A-Levels. Current tuition runs from €6,900 in early years to €11,850 in Years 10–13, before extras.
• The Heritage Private School - Limassol, ages 2–19, 1,400+ students. From €7,020 in early years to €13,200 in Years 12–13, before extras. British Council International School Award holder.
• International School of Paphos - British curriculum with IB options, from €3,250 in kindergarten to €9,515 in Years 12–13
• The English School - Nicosia, the island's oldest and most prestigious English-medium school, current tuition is €9,200 for Form 1 and €9,100 for Forms 2–7, selective entrance

There are several schools that offer both IB Diploma and A-Level pathways, including the American International School of Cyprus in Nicosia.

State schools

State schools are free and open to expat children, but instruction is in Greek.

You have to be realistic if you are moving here with older kids.

For children under 6 or 7, immersion can work well - young children absorb Greek remarkably fast.

But for older children, and particularly teenagers, the language barrier makes state schooling unrealistic without extensive preparation. Not to mention, the facilities generally lag behind UK standards.

For most Brit expats, international schools are the way to go.

Childcare

Big savings here.

Childcare is really affordable: 70% cheaper than the UK per our latest Numbeo data.

Private nurseries charge around €300–€600/month for full-day care (£260–£520), compared to the eyewatering £1,280 average in the UK.

Public kindergarten is free from age 4 years and 8 months, with the caveat that instruction is in Greek. Babysitters are cheap to hire, usually available from €7-€16/hour.

The adjustment period

Teenagers face the hardest adjustment in Cyprus. The inevitably smaller social circles, fewer entertainment options, and extreme summer heat can limit outdoor socialising - and the sense of being far from the cultural pulse they'd have in a UK city.

If your children are 14+, we suggest you involve them seriously in the decision and consider timing the move around school transitions.

What else do you need to consider before making the jump to Cyprus?

Here are some extra practicalities to keep in mind:

Driving and transport

Cyprus drives on the left.

Your UK driving licence is valid immediately, and you can exchange it for a Cypriot licence within six months of making residency at a cost of €40 (it’s free if over 65) - there is no test required.

If we’re being honest, driving is damn near essential in Cyprus. It’s hard to get around without a car.

Public transport does exist, but it consists almost entirely of random, infrequent bus services… and there is no rail network. Monthly bus passes cost just €40-€50, but your ability to use it is not great.

Our advice: Budget for a car from day one.

Phone and internet

Infrastructure, as a whole, is pretty solid.

Fibre broadband is widely available in urban areas, with average speeds of 100-145 Mbps and 5G coverage reaching 100% of the population through Cyta and Epic.

Home broadband is priced around €10-€50/month depending on speed. The main providers are Cyta (the reliability leader), Epic (best peak speeds), and PrimeTel (budget option).

For mobile plans, expect to pay €10-€40/month.

One warning to keep in mind: UK SIM cards no longer benefit from EU roaming here - so get a local SIM to avoid some nasty bills.

Banking

The main banks are Bank of Cyprus and Hellenic Bank.

Opening an account takes 1-3 weeks and requires your passport, proof of address, a reference from your UK bank, and proof of funds.

Banks close early - typically by 1–2pm - so don’t be leaving your visit until after lunch!

Most Brit expats take advantage of a UK-based Wise or Revolut account alongside a Cypriot bank account - we recommend this combo for efficient GBP-to-EUR transfers.

Language

Language is the least of your worries in Paphos or Limassol, where daily life is perfectly doable in English.

Admittedly, government offices are more Greek-dominant, and learning basic Greek is worthwhile for full integration with the locals.

Looking further afield, in Nicosia and rural areas, knowledge of at least some conversational Greek will help considerably.

Property ownership post-Brexit

This issue has once again been muddied by Brexit.

As non-EU nationals, British citizens need permission to acquire immovable property in Cyprus using Form COMM.145.

The official rule is broader than “one residential property”: the permitted units can actually be two dwellings, or one dwelling plus a shop up to 100 m², or one dwelling plus an office up to 250 m².

Applications are routinely approved… but the process takes several months… so be prepared for a bit of a slog if you take this route.

Bringing pets

Bringing pets from the UK requires a microchip, rabies vaccination (at least 21 days before travel), tapeworm treatment for dogs (24–120 hours before travel), and an Animal Health Certificate issued by an APHA-authorised vet within 10 days of travel.

UK Pet Passports are no longer accepted post-Brexit.

And while there is normally no quarantine if all entry requirements are met; get this wrong and Cyprus can require re-export, quarantine or other measures at the owner’s (considerable) expense.

We suggest you export via a specialist agency if you can afford the extra payment for peace of mind.

Air transport costs range from £1,000-£2,600.

Note: Cyprus currently bans the entry of Pit Bull Terrier / American Pit Bull, Japanese Tosa / Tosa Inu, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and certain crosses.