Personal Migration Isssues
Cyprus

Cyprus has become a magnet for people who want a clean break from high-tax complexity without giving up access to Europe, but the real story is more nuanced than a single “low tax” headline. We sit down with Theodora Alexandrou of Elias Neocleous Co. in Limassol to explain how Cyprus tax planning actually works when you zoom in on the rules that matter: immigration permission, tax residency tests, treaty access, and the incentives that can stack together if you plan the move early.

We walk through the practical immigration routes a UK national typically considers today, including the Cyprus golden visa with a €300,000 investment, temporary residence permitting employment, and the Business Facilitation Unit pathway for companies of foreign interest. From there, we break down the Cyprus 183-day rule and the Cyprus 60-day rule, including the “permanent home” and employment or office requirements, the limit on spending more than 183 days in another country, and why treaty tie-breakers may still decide the outcome if another jurisdiction also claims you as resident.

Then we dig into the big-ticket incentives people ask about most: the Cyprus non-dom regime (and how the 17 out of 20 years lookback really behaves), employment income exemptions that can dramatically reduce effective tax rates for senior hires, and the common exemption for gains on the disposal of securities, including the important caveat around Cyprus immovable property. We also cover how to obtain a tax residence certificate and the foreign pension option that can tax pension income at a flat 5% after the first €5,000, while noting when progressive rates might be better.

If you’re considering Cyprus relocation, listen and share this with someone considering a move.