Emigrate to Cyprus

According to its constitution of 1960, the Republic of Cyprus is a presidential democracy in which executive power is exercised by the president as head of state and head of government. Since February 2023, this office has been held by the independent Nikos Christodoulides. The House of Representatives is elected every five years and currently consists of 56 Greek Cypriot MPs. The 24 Turkish Cypriot seats have been vacant since 1964. Since Turkey's military intervention and the subsequent occupation of a third of the island in 1974 following a coup against President Makarios, Cyprus has been divided into a Turkish Cypriot north and a Greek Cypriot south. The "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", unilaterally proclaimed in 1983, is only recognized internationally by Turkey. The entire island has been a member of the European Union since 2004, although the application of EU law has been suspended in the occupied north of Cyprus. Efforts to resolve the Cyprus conflict have so far been unsuccessful. In January 2024, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed María Angela Holguín Cuéllar as his personal special envoy for Cyprus. She is currently exploring whether talks to resolve the Cyprus problem can be resumed under the auspices of the United Nations. Anyone wishing to emigrate to Cyprus should be aware of the political situation, but the country offers an attractive quality of life for expats. Emigrating to Cyprus is an interesting option for many due to the warm climate and cost of living.

In Cyprus, the healthcare system is a high priority, which is an important factor for many people looking to emigrate to Cyprus. Preventative medicine is actively promoted and locals as well as foreign nationals emigrating to Cyprus for health reasons appreciate the quality of medical care in the country. There are a significant number of expats currently living in Cyprus who appreciate the high level of professionalism of the healthcare providers. Many of the medical professionals have received their training in the UK, which boosts confidence in medical expertise.

The healthcare system in Cyprus is of a high standard and is recognized by the World Health Organization as being comparable to developed countries. Foreign nationals are not required to be vaccinated when entering Cyprus as there are few cases of infectious diseases and epidemics throughout the country. Food and water safety is strictly monitored by the Medical and Public Health Services Department.

There are government hospitals in all major cities, while smaller government hospitals and clinics can be found in other parts of the country. There are also a number of private hospitals throughout the country. In general, healthcare is low-cost and is provided by three sectors: the government, the private sector and various other schemes that cover specific population groups. Government hospitals offer free services and private health insurance is also very popular, which makes emigrating to Cyprus particularly attractive.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, which is an interesting historical and political aspect for many who wish to emigrate to Cyprus. The north-eastern part of the island was proclaimed by the Turkish president as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. However, Northern Cyprus is only recognized by Turkey, while the UN continues to regard Northern Cyprus as part of the Republic of Cyprus.

The northern part is considered the Turkish part of Cyprus, while the southern part of the island is known as the Republic of Cyprus and is a member of the European Union. For people emigrating to Cyprus, the southern, Greek-dominated part in particular offers attractive living conditions due to its EU membership and stable conditions. The southern part is predominantly inhabited by people of Greek descent, which is why it is considered the Greek part of Cyprus.

The so-called Green Line, which also divides the capital Nicosia into two halves, separates the two parts of the island. This line is monitored by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and is a fascinating feature of the divided island for many who emigrate to Cyprus.