The Legal System

The legal system in Cyprus is mainly based on the Anglo-Saxon legal system. The Land Registry Department in Cyprus is one of the most advanced and reliable systems in the world. All contracts and other paper work is in English, which is the most widely spoken language besides Greek among Cypriots. Purchasers of property in Cyprus will therefore be far more secure with regard to their title deeds, than they might be in another country. Furthermore legal fees/costs are reasonable and much lower than in other European countries.

Standard Of Living

Cyprus provides a fairly high, European level standard of living. The annual per capita income is about US 14,000. The overall cost of living averages about 1/3 to 2/3 of most parts of Europe, Japan or the USA. A recent international poll showed Cyprus towns to have one of the lowest costs of living within a developed nation.

The Banking System

The banking system in Cyprus closely follows the British pattern and is well developed and organized whilst being equipped with the latest technology in modern surroundings. Non-Cypriot citizens have the privilege to open foreign currency and local deposit accounts very easily. Many Cypriot Banks have branches throughout the world. International Banks also have branches throughout the island for the convenience of their customers, with major credit cards like Visa, Diners, American Express being widely used.

Medical Services

Cyprus has a very high standard of medical services. Hospitals, private clinics and medical centres are equipped with the latest facilities. The latest technology and operating techniques are standard, with heart bypass surgery and kidney transplantation now routine in hospitals. Many Cyprus doctors of various faculties jointly run polyclinics whose standard is comparable to other highly developed countries. High standards can also be judged by statistics which show that one in every 600 Cypriots is a qualified member of the medical profession.Doctors and dentists, both specialists and general practitioners, are available everywhere and their fees are quite low compared to European standards. Low cost international private medical insurance is available for non-Cypriot people living in Cyprus.

Language

The local population is Greek speaking. Cyprus was once a British colony resulting in over 80% of the population speaking English. It is also useful to note that all street signs, direction signs, shop signs etc. are written in English. Knowledge of German, French, Russian and other European languages is increasing with the Island tourist trade.

Transport and Telecommunications

Excellent communications have contributed to a large extent in the progressive development of the island. The two international airports in Larnaca and Pafos as well as the ports of Limassol and Larnaca, connect Cyprus with all countries of the world. More than 40 airlines operate over 260 flights weekly to and from Cyprus. More than 60 charter airlines fly to Cyprus. Both airports of the island are among the most frequented in the Eastern Mediterranean. Regarding inland communication, the short distances between cities are becoming even shorter due to a motorway network, which is constantly being extended and upgraded.There is public transport service with regular connections between cities with scheduled taxi services and comfortable coaches. Private taxis and rental cars are readily available.Cyprus ranks third in the world in having modern telecommunications facilities. CYTA (Cyprus Telecommunication Authority) has a network, which enables participants to have direct dial access to over 200 countries.

Recreation and Nightlife

Eating out has become a local habit and is part of entertainment in Cyprus. There is a wide variety of restaurants, catering for all tastes. Along with taverns, which provide local and Greek dishes, there are restaurants that offer international cuisine such as French, Chinese, Italian, Indian, Lebanese, Japanese, Russian, Mexican and others.Night clubs with good live music, discos and a variety of bars are some of the entertainment choices that can be found in all towns and tourist resorts. In the summer tourists and regular business visitors may visit the island's sandy beaches and enjoy sunbathing, swimming or any of the water sports (water skiing, windsurfing, sailing, parachuting etc). In the winter months, snow skiing facilities are available at the Troodos mountain resorts. Horse racing takes place in Nicosia and a number of sporting clubs exist which one can easily join. Sport Clubs offer tennis, squash, bowling, archery, shooting, sailing and waterparks.

In addition there are two international standard golf courses, the Secret Valley Golf Course and Tsada Golf Course, Secret Valley Golf Course is located 18km east of Pafos and 49km west of Lemesos. It lies in a scenic valley with big trees and natural rock formations. It plays to a par 72 and measures 6120 meters. The Tsada Golf Course is also situated near Pafos and plays to a par 72 and measures 6060 meters. Both club-houses have a restaurant, bar, shop with golfing accessories, changing rooms and showers. In addition the Tsada Golf Club provides a tennis court and an outdoor swimming pool. The local weather conditions permit an all the year round playtime. There are also a number of sites of historic and legendary interest on the island. The Troodos Mountains are rich in Byzantine monasteries and churches, many of which contain exquisite frescoes. Festivals and fairs take place all the year round. Visitors who happen to be in Cyprus in May are suggested to visit the International (State) Fair, while the Wine Festival (September) offers visitors an opportunity to try all sorts of Cyprus wines and food, free of charge or at very low prices. Other festivals include the Carnival (February), the Flower Shows, the Snow Ski games etc. In addition there are regular horse racing competitions, shooting clubs, aeronautics, sailing, diving, motorcar rallies (including the antique car rally), tennis, football games etc. There are also various international associations and cultural societies which include the Lions and the Rotary Clubs, Round Table, Toastmasters International, Armenian Center, British Council, French Cultural Center the Goethe Institute etc. There are T.V. (5 national channels) stations and numerous national and local radio stations. Approximately 50% of the T.V. programmers are British and American and all foreign films are broadcast in their original language. Availability of satellite dishes can provide international television connections. The radio broadcasts programs are mainly in Greek or English. In addition there is a British Force Radio in Cyprus, which broadcasts on a 24-hours basis.There are three local English newspapers, a number of local magazines, which are printed in English and almost all main international papers and well known magazines are available on the island.

RESIDENTIAL PERMIT

Residential Permit is easily obtained for persons living in Cyprus, who have purchased property.Temporary Permit: The granting of this permit requires the existence of a bank account in Cyprus and a sales agreement of the property purchased. Temporary residence status can be from one to four years.Permanent permit: In addition to the above requirements, the applicant must establish evidence of a secured annual income of not less than CYP 5 000 (five thousand three hundred Cyprus pounds) for a couple.