Can I live in Cyprus as a UK citizen?

Yes, but you need a residence permit if you stay longer than 90 days. Since Brexit, UK-only passport holders apply as third-country nationals: the usual routes are a temporary residence permit, Category F for retirees and people with independent income, an employment permit or the digital nomad visa. After 5 years of legal residence you can look at permanent residence.

How much money do I need to move to Cyprus?

It depends on your residence route. Category F asks for a secured income of at least €9,568 a year, plus €4,613 for each dependant, and the Immigration Control Board can ask for more. The digital nomad visa needs €3,500 a month net. On top of that, cover the one-off setup costs in the table above (an EAC deposit of up to €350, Plan A insurance from about €175 per adult, €40 for the licence exchange) and your rental deposit. Our Paphos cost calculator estimates the monthly side.

Can UK citizens get a yellow slip?

Only if you also hold an EU passport or you lived in Cyprus before 1 January 2021. The yellow slip (MEU1) is the registration certificate for EU citizens. UK-only passport holders apply for a third-country permit instead, such as temporary residence, Category F or the digital nomad visa. See the yellow slip guide for who qualifies.

How long does it take to settle in Paphos?

Most of the practical setup takes 4–8 weeks. Utilities are usually running within 2–3 weeks, a bank account takes 3–4 weeks, and broadband installation 5–14 business days. Residence permits take longer; Category F can take many months.

Do I need a Cyprus bank account?

Yes, in practice. You need one to pay EAC bills, to receive a Cyprus salary and, for many residence routes, to show Cyprus bank statements. Keep Wise or Revolut for currency transfers alongside it.

Is healthcare free in Cyprus for UK expats?

Not automatically. GESY covers you if you work in Cyprus, hold permanent residence, or have an S1 from the UK. GP visits are free and other co-payments are capped at €150 a year. If you're on a temporary permit and not working, you need private health insurance.

Can I use my UK driving licence in Cyprus?

Yes, for up to 6 months after you become resident. After that you must exchange it for a Cypriot licence at the Road Transport Department. The fee is €40, or free if you're 65 or over. No driving test is needed for a UK licence.

Do UK plugs work in Cyprus?

Yes. Cyprus uses 240V, 50Hz electricity with the same 13 amp, 3-pin plugs as the UK. Your appliances, extension leads and chargers work without adaptors.

Is there mains gas in Paphos?

No. Cyprus has no mains gas network. Homes that cook with gas use LPG bottles, sold at supermarkets and petrol stations or delivered. Most homes use electric hobs and solar water heaters.

Can I bring my dog or cat to Cyprus from the UK?

Yes. Your pet needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and an animal health certificate from a UK vet, issued no more than 10 days before you arrive. UK pet passports issued in Great Britain are no longer accepted for travel into the EU.

Residential street in Paphos with limestone apartments, bougainvillea and a glimpse of the sea

Settling in

Settling In Cyprus: Your First 90 Days in Paphos

Settling in Cyprus comes down to about ten jobs: a residence permit, a tax number, a bank account, electricity, water, broadband, healthcare and, by month six, a Cypriot driving licence. UK passport holders have a hard deadline, because visa-free stays end at 90 days. Here is the order that works and what each step costs.

Get my relocation plan See the 90-day timeline

The short version

UK passport only? You can stay 90 days visa-free. Apply for a residence permit before day 90. The yellow slip (MEU1) is only for EU passport holders and pre-2021 UK residents.

Order matters: rental contract first, then tax number (TIC), then bank account. Almost every other step asks for one of those three.

Electricity: EAC asks for a refundable deposit. Its published table shows €200 for EU tenants and €350 for non-EU tenants, which includes UK nationals.

Healthcare: GESY is open to you if you work in Cyprus, hold permanent residence (for example Category F) or have a UK S1. Otherwise you need private insurance.

Driving: your UK licence works for 6 months after you become resident. After that you must exchange it (fee €40, free at 65+).

Budget 2–3 weeks to get utilities running and 3–4 weeks for a bank account.

Settling-in guides

Each guide covers one job in full: documents, costs, timelines and what goes wrong.

Hands sorting a folder of paperwork at a cafe table in Paphos

Money

Open a Cyprus bank account

Which banks take UK arrivals, the KYC documents, the TIC question and realistic timelines.

Explore

Bright clinic waiting area in Paphos with an olive tree and palm trees outside

Healthcare

GESY healthcare guide

Who qualifies after Brexit, how to register, choosing a personal doctor and the co-payments.

Explore

Rooftop solar water heaters on a whitewashed village house near Paphos

Home

Utilities in Paphos

EAC electricity, EOA Paphos water, broadband providers, gas bottles and monthly costs.

Explore

Coastal road near Paphos with a car driving on the left above a turquoise sea

Transport

Driving in Cyprus

UK licence exchange, road rules, fines, road tax and whether to bring your car.

Explore

What settling in Cyprus actually involves

Settling in Cyprus means getting ten or so accounts and registrations in your name. None of them is hard. The problem is that they depend on each other, and each office wants a document the last one hasn't given you yet.

House keys on a sunlit windowsill with a view over Paphos rooftops to the sea — The lease comes first: everything else hangs off your address.

The chain looks like this. The rental contract gives you an address. The address gets you a Tax Identification Code (TIC), the Cyprus tax number. Banks now ask for the TIC, and you need a bank account to pay the electricity bill and to show income for most residence permits. Your residence permit then unlocks the Alien Registration Certificate (ARC) number that GESY, the national health system, and the Road Transport Department use to identify you.

Get the first three links right and the rest follows. Get them in the wrong order and you'll make the same trip to Paphos town twice.

I moved my family from the UK to Paphos in 2025. The paperwork wasn't difficult, but it rewarded anyone who turned up with two photocopies of everything and punished anyone who didn't. I've written up the realities of Cyprus bureaucracy separately.

Watch out

UK passport holders: the 90-day clock

Since 1 January 2021, UK nationals are third-country nationals in Cyprus. You can stay 90 days without a visa. If you overstay, you risk being put on a stop list and refused entry for up to 5 years.

The yellow slip (MEU1) is the EU citizen registration certificate. It is not for you unless you also hold an EU passport (Irish, for example) or you lived here before 2021 under the Withdrawal Agreement. UK-only movers usually apply for a temporary residence permit (often called the pink slip), a **Category F permit, an employment-based permit or the **digital nomad visa. Our relocation route finder tells you which one fits.

Settling-in numbers to know

90 days

Visa-free stay for UK passport holders

Apply for residence before it runs out

€350

EAC deposit for a non-EU tenant

€200 for EU tenants; refundable

6 months

Driving on your UK licence after becoming resident

Then exchange it

€150

Annual cap on GESY co-payments

€75 for children and low-income pensioners

Your first 90 days: a week-by-week timeline

This is the order I'd follow again. Durations are typical for Paphos in 2026; your residence route may add steps.

1
Before you fly: paperwork you can only get in the UK
Weeks −8 to 0
- Ask your UK bank for a reference letter (Cyprus banks want it dated within 3 months).
- Get 12 months of UK bank statements and proof of income or pension.
- Order apostilled birth and marriage certificates and an ACRO police certificate if your permit route needs them.
- State pensioners: ask NHS Overseas Healthcare Services about an S1.
- Line up Plan A private health insurance from a Cyprus-licensed insurer. Immigration units want it, and GESY doesn't count.
2
Sign the lease and move in
Week 1
Sign a rental contract of at least 12 months; immigration units ask for one. Stamp duty on leases was abolished from 1 January 2026, so new leases no longer need stamping. Buy a local SIM on day one; prepaid SIMs need no contract. Ask the landlord for the EAC account number and last water bill before you hand over the deposit.
3
Transfer electricity and water into your name
Week 1
Email or visit EAC with your lease and passport. Pay the deposit. Water in Paphos town, Geroskipou, Peyia and Polis is run by EOA Paphos, in person only. In Chloraka, Emba, Tala, Lemba and Kouklia you go to the community council. Full details in our utilities guide.
4
Get your Tax Identification Code (TIC)
Weeks 1–2
Register with the Tax Department at the Paphos district office or through the Tax For All portal. It's free. New TICs start with 6. You'll need it for the bank, your employer and your tax return.
5
Apply for a bank account
Weeks 2–5
Book a branch appointment with your passport, lease, TIC, UK reference letter and source-of-funds evidence. Expect 3–4 weeks to a working account. See how to open a Cyprus bank account.
6
Book and attend your residence appointment
Weeks 3–10
Book 3–4 weeks ahead with the Paphos Aliens and Immigration Unit. Many routes want Cyprus bank statements, so the bank account needs to be open first. You must attend in person.
7
Broadband, gas and the small stuff
Weeks 2–4
Fixed broadband takes 5–14 business days to install. Use a 4G/5G data SIM until then. There is no mains gas; buy LPG bottles if your hob uses them.
8
Register with GESY and choose a doctor
When eligible
Once you have an ARC and qualify (employment, permanent residence or S1), enrol online and register with a personal doctor. Read the GESY guide first.
9
Exchange your UK driving licence
Around month 6
Get a DVLA check code, then apply at the Paphos District Driver Examiner Office with form TOM 7D. Fee €40, free at 65 and over. Details in driving in Cyprus.

Paphos rooftops stepping down from the old town to the sea at golden hour

Before you leave the UK: the admin to close down

Settling in Cyprus starts with four UK jobs that most moving checklists skip. Each one is quick if you do it before you fly and awkward once you're gone.

UK job	What to do	Why it matters
Tell HMRC you're leaving	Send form P85, or complete the residence pages (SA109) if you file Self Assessment	HMRC works out any refund and taxes your UK pension correctly. You can't do this through HMRC's online services
Healthcare	State pensioners: call NHS Overseas Healthcare Services on +44 (0)191 218 1999 for an S1	The S1 is your route into GESY. You then register it in Cyprus
Your GHIC	Stop relying on it once you're resident	GOV.UK says residents can't use a UK EHIC or GHIC in Cyprus
Voting	Register as an overseas voter	You must renew every 3 years to stay on the register

The tax side matters most. Leaving the UK doesn't end UK tax residence on its own: the Statutory Residence Test decides that, and Cyprus has its own 183-day and 60-day rules. Read the UK to Cyprus tax guide before you pick a leaving date.

Bringing a dog or cat

Pets travelling from Great Britain to Cyprus need a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel, and an animal health certificate from a UK vet. The certificate is valid for 10 days for entry into the EU, so book the vet appointment for the week you fly. A UK pet passport issued in Great Britain no longer works for this.

Money: tax number first, then the bank

Open a Cyprus bank account in your first month. You'll need it to pay EAC, to receive a Cyprus salary, and to produce the Cyprus bank statements that immigration asks for on routes like Category F.

Person with a coffee and a closed folder at a café table in Paphos old town — Old-town cafés are handy between appointments.

Most banks now want your TIC before they'll open an account, so register for that first. Bank of Cyprus and Eurobank are the two largest banks. Eurobank is the former Hellenic Bank: the Central Bank of Cyprus register lists it as Eurobank Limited (previous name: Hellenic Bank). Alpha Bank Cyprus and Ancoria Bank are the other realistic options.

Two things catch UK movers out. Bank of Cyprus says it doesn't offer consumer products to people in the UK, so you can't open an account through its app before you move. And the EU right to a basic account applies to people legally resident in the EU, which a UK national on a tourist stay is not. Plan to open the account once you're here.

Keep Wise or Revolut, but not as your only account

Wise and Revolut are good for moving pounds to euros. Keep them. But immigration units have been known to reject fintech statements, and some landlords and employers want a Cypriot IBAN. Use both.

If you'd rather not go in cold, we can introduce you to a bank that takes UK clients.

Healthcare: GESY or private cover

GESY (the General Healthcare System, also written GHS) is Cyprus's national health system. It covers GP visits, specialists, hospital care, prescriptions and tests, with small co-payments capped at €150 a year.

The catch for UK movers is eligibility. The Health Insurance Organisation's rules say a third-country national living in the government-controlled areas is a beneficiary if they are employed, have permanent residence, have refugee or supplementary protection status, are a family member of a beneficiary, or are insured in another country (the S1 route for UK state pensioners).

Early morning swimmers in a calm sea off Faros beach in Kato Paphos — A morning swim at Faros beach, Kato Paphos.

That leaves one group out: people on a temporary residence permit who don't work here. If that's you, private health insurance isn't a stopgap. It's your healthcare until your status changes.

Your situation	GESY?	What to do
Employed or self-employed in Cyprus	Yes	Register with Social Insurance, then enrol online
UK state pensioner with an S1	Yes	Register the S1, then enrol
Category F or other permanent residence	Yes, with proof of habitual residence	Enrol with utility bills and lease as evidence
Temporary residence permit, not working	No	Keep private health insurance
Family member of a beneficiary	Yes	Enrol by post with proof of residence

The GESY guide has the full registration steps. For private cover, see our health insurance referrals.

Myth

Myth: "My GHIC covers me until I sort out GESY"

Reality

It doesn't, once you live here. The UK Global Health Insurance Card is for temporary stays. GOV.UK's Cyprus guidance says residents can't use a UK EHIC in Cyprus. Between landing and qualifying for GESY, your cover is the private policy you bought, so buy it before you fly.

Free relocation plan

Get your first-90-days plan for Paphos

Tell us your move date, passport and who's coming. We'll send a dated checklist for your situation and flag anything that needs a lawyer or tax adviser.

Which residence permit fits a UK-only passport
The order to do tax number, bank and utilities
Introductions to vetted local partners, free to you

Founder-led. Replies within one working day.

Utilities: electricity, water and broadband

Plan on 2–3 weeks from moving in to having everything in your name. Cyprus uses 240V, 50Hz electricity with UK-style 3-pin plugs, so your kettle and chargers work without adaptors.

Bright Paphos apartment living room with a ceiling fan and an open balcony door to the sea — An afternoon breeze through a Paphos apartment.

Electricity (EAC)

The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) supplies homes across the island. Send your lease or title deed and passport to the Paphos supply mailbox, or visit a customer service centre. Tenants pay a refundable deposit when they sign. EAC's deposit table lists €200 for EU tenants and €350 for non-EU tenants. Transferring an existing supply usually takes 1–3 business days. Bills come every two months. A Paphos apartment typically runs €60–120 a month, more in August when the air conditioning never stops.

Water

Since the July 2024 local government reform, the Paphos water board is part of EOA Paphos. It supplies Paphos, Geroskipou, Peyia and Polis. Several villages, including Chloraka, Emba, Tala, Lemba and Kouklia, still get water from their community council. Water bills are modest, typically €15–40 a month. In apartment blocks, water is often in the communal charges.

Broadband and mobile

The main providers are Cyta, Epic, Cablenet and PrimeTel. Packages start around €25 a month. Installation takes 5–14 business days. Epic is the former MTN Cyprus, so older guides may still call it MTN.

The full walkthrough, with the EAC Paphos office details, is in setting up utilities in Paphos. If you'd rather someone else did the running around, our utility setup support can help.

Driving: your UK licence has 6 months

Cyprus drives on the left, like the UK, so a right-hand-drive car feels normal from day one. The paperwork is where it differs.

GOV.UK's February 2026 guidance says you can drive in Cyprus on your UK licence for up to 6 months after becoming resident. To keep driving after that, you must exchange it for a Cypriot licence. The UK is on Cyprus's list of countries whose licences can be exchanged without a test.

The exchange costs €40 (free if you're 65 or over), uses form TOM 7D, and needs a 45 × 35 mm photo, your passport, your ARC and residence permit, and a DVLA check code. You apply in person at the Paphos District Driver Examiner Office.

If you're shipping a car, the key date is different: you have 12 months from moving to claim transfer-of-residence relief from import duty and VAT. The driving in Cyprus guide covers road rules, fines and road tax, and our car import support covers the customs side.

Fresh produce stall at the Paphos municipal market with a shopper holding a basket — The first big shop at the Paphos municipal market.

What it costs to get set up

The government fees are small. The deposits and professional help are where the money goes.

Most of the costs below are one-off. Deposits come back when you close the account, less anything you owe.

Typical settling-in costs in Paphos

One-off costs for a couple renting an apartment, 2026. Ranges, not quotes.

EAC electricity deposit (tenant)€350 for non-EU tenants such as UK nationals

€200–350

Water deposit (EOA Paphos or council)Not published; ask at the counter

€0

UK licence exchangeFree at 65 and over

€0–40

Bank account openingBanks normally charge nothing to open

€0

Rental depositUsually one to two months' rent

€0

Plan A health insurance (per adult, per year)Immigration-grade cover; fuller private plans cost much more

€175–250

Total one-off

€375 – €640

EAC deposits from EAC's published deposit table. Plan A premiums are ranges reported by local insurers; ask for quotes. See our [renting guide](/property/renting-in-paphos) for rental costs.

From experience

What I'd tell a friend

Carry a folder with originals and two photocopies of your passport, lease, TIC certificate and bank letter. Every counter in Paphos seems to want a copy of something you didn't think to bring. Arrive at opening time: morning queues build fast and many offices only take documents before lunch. If several offices land in the same few weeks, a Cyprus government liaison can book the appointments and come with you.

— Jason

Settling in Cyprus: frequently asked questions

Sign a 12-month lease, then get a Tax Identification Code, then apply for a bank account. The lease gives you an address, the TIC is now asked for by most banks, and the bank account is needed for bills and for most residence applications. UK passport holders should book their residence appointment early, because the visa-free stay ends at 90 days.

Couple carrying moving boxes into a whitewashed apartment building in Paphos

Start here

Get a relocation plan built around your passport and move date

Answer a few questions and we'll send a free plan covering residence, tax number, banking, utilities and healthcare, with introductions to vetted Paphos partners where you need them.

Get my relocation plan Get a bank introduction

Sources checked for this page

1.Migration Department (gov.cy) — Frequently asked questionsGovernment
2.GOV.UK — Living in Cyprus (updated 5 February 2026)Government
3.GESY — Beneficiary eligibility FAQGovernment
4.GESY (Health Insurance Organisation) — Financing, contributions and co-paymentsGovernment
5.Road Transport Department — Conversion of a foreign driving licenceGovernment
6.Cyprus Customs and Excise — Guide: Transfer of normal residence from outside the EU (Dec 2024)Government
7.Central Bank of Cyprus — Register of credit institutionsGovernment
8.Bank of Cyprus — Open your first account through the appGovernment
9.Central Bank of Cyprus — Payment accounts law (basic accounts, fees, switching)Government
10.Electricity Authority of Cyprus — Connections, reconnections and transfersGovernment
11.EOA Paphos (District Local Government Organisation) — water supplyGovernment
12.EURAXESS Cyprus — UtilitiesProfessional
13.GOV.UK — Tell HMRC you're leaving the UK (P85 / SA109)Government
14.GOV.UK — Healthcare in Cyprus (S1, GHIC, co-payments)Government
15.GOV.UK — Voting when you're abroadGovernment
16.GOV.UK — Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroadGovernment

Written by

Jason

Founder, Paphos Advisor

British founder who moved his family from the UK to Paphos in 2025. I write down what I learned doing it properly — the tax, the residency and the living-here detail — and introduce people to the specialists I’d use myself.

How I research and fact-check

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Settling In Cyprus: Your First 90 Days in Paphos