Our friends from BrainRocket made a thorough reserch about all the perks of moving to Cyprus and shared their findings with us.
Useful things to consider before relocating to Cyprus
Since Cyprus is a member state of the European Union, the country has unrestricted entry into the single market and customs union. That shows that the island gives the same benefits as any other mainland European country. In addition, Cyprus, being an EU state, is an enormous advantage for people from CIS countries who want to start a new life there. Also, that provides a community of stability, democracy, security, and prosperity for all CIS-country nationals.
1. Why Cyprus?
Official data shows Cyprus became the most popular country for employment among Ukrainians in 2020. Last year, over 12,000 Ukrainians relocated and were employed there. Now, let’s see why.
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and a member of the European Union. The country has a high social status and lifestyle, apart from being safe with a low level of crime. It is ecological, with a vast assortment of beaches with Blue Flags. The entire island is very contemporary, with various IT companies. That is why Cyprus is believed to be the new Tech Island (or Silicon Valley). On top of all, it is a diverse and foreigner-friendly place. Limassol, a city on the southern coast of Cyprus, has many bilingual people speaking English, Russian, Greek, and other languages. As a cherry on top, Cyprus has a substantial IT community with organizations like Cyprus IT, Tech island, and others. These groups use telegram chats, Facebook groups, online and offline meetings to network and arrange different global projects, festivals, and forums. All the events and activities provide individuals with the feeling of not being alone and making the most of their interactions. In addition, relocating to Cyprus allows CIS-nationals to get Blue Card. This card enables holders to travel back to their country or other non-EU states for up to one year. Also, they can travel to other countries in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days per 180-day period as a tourist.
2. How can I get a VISA?
The VISA to apply for is the one with permission to work. Usually, the company supports its workers by gathering all the documents and sending them to Cyprus immigration. If you believe you might have immigration difficulties-either your company or you can take care of this matter.
The packages of the documents needed for the visa depend on the country, however the general one comprises:
⁃ A valid passport and its copy
⁃ Visa application form filled in
⁃ Health insurance
⁃ Rental agreement
⁃ Non-criminal record certificate/Certificate of good conduct
⁃ A medical certificate of good health
⁃ Employment contract
Large international companies can relocate their professionals along with their families and get them visas as well. Commonly, the procedure takes from 1 to 6 months, but you can still travel from and back to Cyprus in the meantime. You only have to show the Immigration and Border Control at the airport the document for Visa Request, which proves that your visa is in process.
3. What about Health Insurance?
When in Cyprus, you don’t need to worry about your well-being because of the local system GESY. Once registered in the GHS/GeSY, access to a general practitioner (GP) and in-patients healthcare is free. The GHS incorporates the medical care needs of beneficiaries, including chronic, rare, and severe illnesses. Anyone legally employed in Cyprus has access to these benefits, and either they or the company on their behalf covers the social insurance.
Health Insurance Organisation runs the system, while its financing comes from contributions taken from the monthly income of citizens. Contributions are 2.65% for employees, 2.9% for employers, 4.7% from the state, and 4% for self-employed individuals. (Figures applicable are from March 2020).
4. What are my options for public transportation and commuting?
The traffic jams are nonexistent in Cyprus since the time needed from home to the office is shorter than in most other countries. However, this also depends on the location of the individual. And, if you are traveling from one city to another or from the sea to the Troodos mountains, it will take you about 40 minutes. Car rental services are somewhere from 300 to 350 EUR depending on the model of the car. If you are a part of a big company, you might get a company car, which is a good option since petrol is only 1.30 EUR per liter. In addition, you can also exchange the CIS country driving license for the international one. You can easily find cost-effective tickets from Larnaca or Paphos international airports to CIS countries to visit your family and friends during the weekends. For instance, low-cost airlines such as WizzAir, RyanAir, UIA, Aeroflot, and others offer affordable deals.
5. Quality of life in Cyprus
The rental charge of the apartment can cost anywhere from 500 to 600 EUR for a studio, 1000 EUR for a single/double room apartment, and 1000 EUR to 1500 EUR for renting a house. However, this purely depends on the location and distance from the beach.
Cyprus allows you to finally feel good about your life, and not be controlled by external circumstances such as waiting for 1 hour in a traffic jam. After all, life is all about the small things. You can start your morning at the sandy beach, play volleyball, do morning exercises and yoga, or swim in the radiant sea where the average temperature is 20-22 degrees all year round. After work, you can do wake surf, wakeboarding, SUP, or go mountain hiking. There are so many individual trails for hiking through the open forest, with perfectly textured mountains and sparkling waterfalls. The nature and climate are breath-taking here. These are only some things that add to the magical feeling that attracts you to visit only for a month but will then have you stay and live in Cyprus forever.
The article is prepared by BrainRocket IT hub in Cyprus, with the team of over 400 of the professionals from all over the globe www.brainrocket.com