1. LIVING AND WORKING IN CYPRUS

2. INTRODUCTION
 Where is Cyprus?

3. INTRODUCTION
 Brief historical background

4. INTRODUCTION (cont.) 1878-1960: British rule 1960-Independent republic
1974-Military coup-Turkish Invasion
Population around
- 80% Greek Cypriots
- 11% Turkish Cypriots
- 9% foreigners

5. WORKING IN CYPRUS Migration and registration - Who can work?
·        EU Nationals need no visa or work permit
·        Alien’s Registration Certificate (ARC)
·        Registration Certificate
EU nationals have the same rights as Cypriots

6. WORKING IN CYPRUS (cont.)
- What will you need?
·        Apply for an ARC (at the local Immigration
Branch of the Police)
·        Apply for a Registration Certificate
Ø  Passport or ID card
Valid for 5 years
·    Apply for Social Insurance number (upon securing
employment)

7. FINDING A JOB
Public Employment Service
- Register at District Labour Office
·    Passport or ID Card
·   Certificates/diplomas/ qualifications

8. Private Employment agencies/job databases
- Especially managerial and highly specialized jobs
- Free to job seekers-complaints
- List of private agencies upon request – no website
-Own job database – CV online

9. FINDING A JOB (cont.) Newspapers/websites
  (link to main newspapers)
- National database
- EURES Database
Applying for a job
Letter of application accompanied by a CV
No standard letter or CV
Usually no references

10. PURSUIT OF PROFESSIONS WHICH ARE REGULATED
Different procedure
Labour Dept. as National Focal Point on procedures as well as informing on
“competent bodies”

11. Complaints Wages/collective agreements Agreed with employer, or
STARTING WORK
Wages/collective agreements
Agreed with employer, or
based on collective agreements
Minimum wage … €743 (…€789)
Complaints

12. STARTING WORK (cont.) Taxation
STARTING WORK (cont.)
Taxation
Apply for a Taxpayer’s Identification Code – fill in Form IR 163A
Personal income tax – according to level of income per year:
Up to €19.500….. …………… 0% tax rate
€ € …… 20% tax rate
€ € % tax rate
over € …………..….. 30% tax rate
Deducted monthly   

13. SOCIAL SECURITY
General earnings related Social Insurance Scheme, covering compulsorily every employed or self employed person (Social Insurance Department)
For employed:
6,3% paid by employee
6,3 paid by employer
4% by State
For self employed:
11,6% paid by self employed

14. Social Security (cont.)
Transferring your social insurance benefits
Reg. EC 1408/71 governs the retention and transfer of social security entitlements when moving from one member state to another
Reciprocal arrangements on social security with 4 non-EU countries

15. Social Security (cont.)
Kinds of benefits
Marriage
Maternity allowance
Sickness, etc
Free medical treatment to victims of industrial accidents and occupational diseases and to invalidity pensioners

16. Social Security (cont.)
Sickness benefit
Payable for 156 days. Waiting period of 3 days/6 days.
Unemployment benefit
Payable for max. 156 days. Waiting period of 3 days/30 days.
 Website:

17. Government provision of health care is funded out of general taxation
HEALTH SYSTEM
Government provision of health care is
funded out of general taxation
Three systems of health services:
Government (public) health sector
Private health sector
Special schemes

18. HEALTH SYSTEM (cont.) Government (public) health sector
Free of charge (through government facilities, according to earnings or disability criteria)
At reduced fees
Paying patients

19. HEALTH SYSTEM (cont.) 2. Private health sector 3. Special schemes
Issue of medical card:
Application form from public hospitals
Ministry of Health

20. LIVING IN CYPRUS Relocating from another country - Pets Owner identity
Vaccinated
European Pet Passport
EU origin

21. Relocating from another country (cont.)
- Car
Temporary importation, not obliged to register if accompanied by proper certificates of registration and valid circulation licenses
A European citizen holding a valid driving license of his country can drive on the roads of Cyprus.
Third party insurance cover
Inspection before registration

22. - Accommodation
Apartments, houses, villas
Rent depending on area
Advertisements in all newspapers/real estate agents
-Education system
Compulsory education until 15
Ministry of Education and Culture

23. - Shops
Winter period
Summer period
Summer afternoon recess (“siesta”)
Tourist areas
- Cultural and social life

24. - Transport
Private car
Public transportation network
Inter-city Service Taxi
Driving on left-hand side
CHEKLIST
(Before moving to take up employment)
EURES CYPRUS account:

25. Thanks for your attention!