LIVING AND WORKING IN CYPRUS

 Where is Cyprus?

INTRODUCTION

 Brief historical background

INTRODUCTION

1878-1960: British rule 1960-Independent republic 1974-Military coup-Turkish Invasion

Population around 805.500

- 80% Greek Cypriots

- 11% Turkish Cypriots

- 9% foreigners

INTRODUCTION (cont.)

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

WORKING IN CYPRUS

- What will you need?        Apply for an ARC (at the local Immigration Branch of the Police)        Apply for a Registration Certificate   Passport or ID card

Valid for 5 years

    Apply for Social Insurance number (upon securing employment)

WORKING IN CYPRUS (cont.)

Public Employment Service

- Register at District Labour Office

    Passport or ID Card

   Certificates/diplomas/ qualifications

 

 

FINDING A JOB

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

 Newspapers/websites www.cyprus.gov.cy (link to main newspapers)- National database www.pescps.dl.mlsi.gov.cy - EURES Database http://ec.europa.eu/eures

Applying for a job• Letter of application accompanied by a CV• No standard letter or CV• Usually no references

FINDING A JOB (cont.)

PURSUIT OF PROFESSIONS WHICH ARE REGULATED

Different procedure Labour Dept. as National Focal Point on

procedures as well as informing on

“competent bodies”

Wages/collective agreements

• Agreed with employer, or• based on collective agreements• Minimum wage … €743 (…€789)

• Complaints

STARTING WORK

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• €19.501-€28.000 …… 20% tax rate• €28.001-€36.300 ........ 25% tax rate• over €36.301 …………..….. 30% tax rate

• Deducted monthly

  

  STARTING WORK (cont.)

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• 4% by State

SOCIAL SECURITY

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

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

 

Social Security (cont.)

Sickness benefitPayable for 156 days. Waiting period of 3 days/6 days.

 

Unemployment benefitPayable for max. 156 days. Waiting period of 3 days/30 days.

 Website: www.mlsi.gov.cy/sid

Social Security (cont.)

Government provision of health care is funded out of general taxation

Three systems of health services:

1. Government (public) health sector2. Private health sector3. Special schemes

HEALTH SYSTEM

Government (public) health sector

• Free of charge (through government facilities, according to earnings or disability criteria)

• At reduced fees • Paying patients

HEALTH SYSTEM (cont.)

2. Private health sector

3. Special schemes

Issue of medical card:• Application form from public hospitals• Ministry of Health

HEALTH SYSTEM (cont.)

Relocating from another country 

- Pets

• Owner identity• Vaccinated• European Pet Passport• EU origin

LIVING IN CYPRUS

- 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

Relocating from another country (cont.)

- Accommodation Apartments, houses, villas• Rent depending on area• Advertisements in all newspapers/real estate

agents

-Education systemCompulsory education until 15• Ministry of Education and Culture

www.moec.gov.cy

- Shops

• Winter period• Summer period• Summer afternoon recess (“siesta”)• Tourist areas

- Cultural and social lifewww.visitcyprus.org.cy

- Transport• Private car• Public transportation network• Inter-city Service Taxi• Driving on left-hand side

CHEKLIST(Before moving to take up employment)

EURES CYPRUS e-mail account: eures@dl.mlsi.gov.cy

Thanks for your attention!