Moving to Cyprus: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

6 facts — expand for details.

Population

1,320,525

Population Growth Rate

0.95%

Population Distribution

population concentrated in central Nicosia and in the major cities of the south: Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca

Urban Population

• population: 67% of total population rate of
• urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change

Population in Major Urban Areas

269,000 NICOSIA (capital)

Population: Male/Female

• male: 675,196
• female: 645,329

10 facts — expand for details.

Age Structure

• years: 15.6% (male 105,533/female 100,099) 15-64
• years: 70% (male 486,569/female 437,651) 65 years and
• over: 14.4% (male 83,094/female 107,579)

Median Age

• total: 39.5 years
• male: 38.2 years
• female: 41 years

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

10

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

7

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

1.49

Gross reproduction rate

1

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

54.5%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

30

Mother's mean age at first birth

30

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

• birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14
• years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64
• years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and
• over: 0.77 male(s)/female total
• population: 1.05 male(s)/female

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

6.3

Ethnic Groups

Greek 98.8%, other 1% (includes Maronite, Armenian, Turkish-Cypriot), unspecified 0.2%

Language Note

Greek (official) 80.9%, Turkish (official) 0.2%, English 4.1%, Romanian 2.9%, Russian 2.5%, Bulgarian 2.2%, Arabic 1.2%, Filipino 1.1%, other 4.3%, unspecified 0.6%; note - data represent only the Republic of Cyprus

Nationality Noun

• noun: Cypriot(s)
• adjective: Cypriot

6 facts — expand for details.

Literacy - total population

99.4%

Literacy - male

99.6%

Literacy - female

99.2%

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

6.1%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

• total: 16 years
• male: 16 years
• female: 16 years

12 facts — expand for details.

Life Expectancy at Birth

• population: 80.2 years
• male: 77.4 years
• female: 83.1 years

Infant Mortality Rate

• total: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births
• male: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

• total: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births
• male: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

68

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

3.14

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

3.4

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

8.1%

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.8%

Tobacco Use

• total: 35.1%
• male: 47%
• female: 23.2%

Alcohol consumption per capita

• total: 9.59 liters of pure alcohol
• beer: 2.85 liters of pure alcohol
• wine: 2.72 liters of pure alcohol
• spirits: 4.02 liters of pure alcohol other
• alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

• improved: urban: 99.7% of population
• rural: 99.8% of population
• total: 99.8% of population
• unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population
• rural: 0.2% of population
• total: 0.2% of population

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

• improved: urban: 99.7% of population
• rural: 98.8% of population
• total: 99.4% of population
• unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population
• rural: 1.2% of population
• total: 0.6% of population

4 facts — expand for details.

Economic Overview

The area of the Republic of Cyprus under government control has a market economy dominated by a services sector that accounts for more than four-fifths of GDP.

Tourism, finance, shipping, and real estate have traditionally been the most important services.

Cyprus has been a member of the EU since May 2004 and adopted the euro as its national currency in January 2008.

During the first five years of EU membership, the Cyprus economy grew at an average rate of about 4%, with unemployment between 2004 and 2008 averaging about 4%.

However, the economy tipped into recession in 2009 as the ongoing global financial crisis and resulting low demand hit the tourism and construction sectors.

An overextended banking sector with excessive exposure to Greek debt added to the contraction.

Cyprus’ biggest two banks were among the largest holders of Greek bonds in Europe and had a substantial presence in Greece through bank branches and subsidiaries.

Following numerous downgrades of its credit rating, Cyprus lost access to international capital markets in May 2011.

In July 2012, Cyprus became the fifth euro-zone government to request an economic bailout program from the European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - known collectively as the "Troika." Shortly after the election of President Nikos ANASTASIADES in February 2013, Cyprus reached an agreement with the Troika on a $13 billion bailout that triggered a two-week bank closure and the imposition of capital controls that remained partially in place until April 2015.

Cyprus' two largest banks merged and the combined entity was recapitalized through conversion of some large bank deposits to shares and imposition of losses on bank bondholders.

As with other EU countries, the Troika conditioned the bailout on passing financial and structural reforms and privatizing state-owned enterprises.

Despite downsizing and restructuring, the Cypriot financial sector remains burdened by the largest stock of non-performing loans in the euro zone, equal to nearly half of all loans.

Since the bailout, Cyprus has received positive appraisals by the Troika and outperformed fiscal targets but has struggled to overcome political opposition to bailout-mandated legislation, particularly regarding privatizations.

The rate of non-performing loans (NPLs) is still very high at around 49%, and growth would accelerate if Cypriot banks could increase the pace of resolution of the NPLs.

In October 2013, a US-Israeli consortium completed preliminary appraisals of hydrocarbon deposits in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which estimated gross mean reserves of about 130 billion cubic meters.

Though exploration continues in Cyprus’ EEZ, no additional commercially exploitable reserves have been identified.

Developing offshore hydrocarbon resources remains a critical component of the government’s economic recovery efforts, but development has been delayed as a result of regional developments and disagreements about exploitation methods.

Industries

• area: tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone and clay products Turkish Cypriot
• area: foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay, gypsum, copper, furniture

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$34,400.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

2.8%

13 facts — expand for details.

GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$33,670,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$34,400.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

2.8%

GDP - real growth rate note

Turkish Cypriot area: 2.3%

GDP - official exchange rate

$19,930,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 69.1% government
• consumption: 15.3% investment in fixed
• capital: 11.3% investment in
• inventories: 1.9% exports of goods and
• services: 60.9% imports of goods and
• services: -58.5%

GDP - note

Turkish Cypriot area: $1,829,000,000

GDP - per capita (PPP) note

Turkish Cypriot area: 11,700

GDP By Sector - note

• area: agriculture: 6.2%
• industry: 35.1%
• services: 58.7%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

2.3%

GDP by Sector- Industry

10.4%

GDP by Sector- services

87.2%

Industrial Growth Rate

1.5%

5 facts — expand for details.

Inflation Rate

-0.3%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

0.9214

Currency Name and Code

• area: euros (EUR); Turkish Cypriot
• area: Turkish new lira (YTL)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

4.5%

5 facts — expand for details.

Labor Force

415,100

Unemployment Rate

11.8%

Unemployment - note

Turkish Cypriot area: 9.4%

Major Industries

• area: tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone and clay products Turkish Cypriot
• area: foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay, gypsum, copper, furniture

Agriculture Products

• area: citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables; poultry, pork, lamb; dairy, cheese Turkish Cypriot
• area: citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes, olives, poultry, lamb

4 facts — expand for details.

Labor Force by Occupation - note

• agriculture: 14.5%
• industry: 29%
• services: 56.5%

Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

3.8%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

15.2%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

81%

Labor Force by Occupation - note

• agriculture: 14.5%
• industry: 29%
• services: 56.5%

4 facts — expand for details.

Annual Budget

$7,588,000,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

104.6%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-1.1%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

38.1%

7 facts — expand for details.

Full Country Name

Republic of Cyprus

Country Name

Cyprus

Local - Long

Kypriaki Dimokratia (Greek)/ Kibris Cumhuriyeti (Turkish)

Local - Short

Kypros (Greek)/ Kibris (Turkish)

Etymology- history of name

The derivation of the name "Cyprus" is unknown, but the extensive mining of copper metal on the island in antiquity gave rise to the Latin word "cuprum" for copper Note: the Turkish Cypriot community, which administers the northern part of the island, refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" or "TRNC" ("Kuzey Kibris Turk Cumhuriyeti" or "KKTC")

Independence

16 August 1960 (from the UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are recognized only by Turkey

National Holiday

Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as "Republic Day"

10 facts — expand for details.

Government Type

• Republic of Cyprus - presidential republic
• self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) - a parliamentary republic with an enhanced presidency Note: a separation of the two main ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963
• this separation was further solidified when a Greek military-junta-supported coup attempt prompted the Turkish military intervention in July 1974 that gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north
• Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government on the island
• on 15 November 1983, then Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTAS declared independence and the formation of the "TRNC,” which is recognized only by Turkey

Constitution

• history: ratified 16 August 1960; note - in 1963, the constitution was partly suspended as Turkish Cypriots withdrew from the government; Turkish-held territory in 1983 was declared the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"); in 1985, the "TRNC" approved its own constitution
• amendments: constitution of the Republic of Cyprus - proposed by the House of Representatives; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the "Greek Community" and the "Turkish Community"; however, all seats of Turkish Cypriot members have remained vacant since 1964; amended many times, last in 2020; constitution of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” - proposed by at least 10 members of the "Assembly of the Republic"; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and approval by referendum; amended 2014

Legal System:

Mixed legal system of English common law and civil law with European law supremacy

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (since 28 February 2023); the president is both chief of state and head of government; note - vice presidency reserved for a Turkish Cypriot but vacant since 1974 because Turkish Cypriots do not participate in the Republic of Cyprus Government
• head of government: President Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (since 28 February 2023)
• cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - under the 1960 constitution, 3 of the ministerial posts reserved for Turkish Cypriots, appointed by the vice president; positions currently filled by Greek Cypriots
• elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms); election last held on held 5 February 2023 with a runoff on 12 February 2023 (next to be held in 2028)
• election results: 2023: Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (independent) 32%, Andreas MAVROGIIANNIS (independent) 29.6%, Averof NEOFYTOU (DISY) 26.1%, Christos CHRISTOU (ELAM) 6%, other 6.3%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos CHRISTODOULIDS 52%, Andreas MAVROGIANNIS 48% 2018: Nikos ANASTASIADIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS (DISY) 35.5%, Stavros MALAS (AKEL) 30.2%, Nicolas PAPADOPOULOS (DIKO) 25.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS 56%, Stavros MALAS 44%
• note: the first round of the TRNC presidential election, originally scheduled for 26 April 2020, was postponed to 11 October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the second round was held on 18 October 2020; percent of vote in the first round - Ersin TATAR (UBP) 32.4%, Mustafa AKINCI (independent) 29.8%, Tufan ERHURMAN (RTP) 21.7%, Kudret OZERSAY (independent) 5.7%, Erhan ARIKLI (YDP) 5.4%, Serdar DENKTAS (independent) 4.2%, other 0.8%; percent of vote in the second round - Ersin TATAR 51.7%, Mustafa AKINCI 48.3%

Legislative Branch:

• Description: area under government control: unicameral House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots, but only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members directly elected by both proportional representation and preferential vote; members serve 5-year terms;
• Note: 3 seats each are reserved for the Latin, Maronite, and Armenian religious groups; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: unicameral "Assembly of the Republic" or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote using a hybrid d'Hondt method with voter preference for individual candidates
• Elections: area under government control; last held on 30 May 2021 (next to be held in 2026); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: last held on 23 January 2022 (next to be held in 2027)
• Election Results: area under government control: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - DISY 27.8%, AKEL 22.3%, DIKO 11.3%, ELAM 6.8%, EDEK-SP 6.7%, DIPA 6.1%, Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Cooperation 4.4%, other 14.6%; seats by party/coalition - DISY 17, AKEL 15, DIKO 9, ELAM 4, EDEK-SP 4, DIPA 4, Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Cooperation 3;
• Composition: men 48, women 8, percent of women 14.3%; area administered by Turkish Cypriots - "Assembly of the Republic" - percent of vote by party - UBP 39.5%, CTP 32%, DP 7.4%, HP 6.7%, YDP 6.4%, other 8%; seats by party - UBP 24, CTP 18, DP 3, HP 3, YDP 2; composition NA

Judicial Branch:

• office: Republic of Cyprus Supreme Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the Supreme Court judges; judges can serve until age 68; "TRNC Supreme Court" judges appointed by the "Supreme Council of Judicature," a 12-member body of judges, the attorney general, appointees by the president of the "TRNC," and by the "Legislative Assembly," and members elected by the bar association; judge tenure NA
• subordinate courts: Republic of Cyprus district courts; Assize Courts; Administrative Court; specialized courts for issues relating to family, industrial disputes, the military, and rent control; "TRNC Assize Courts"; "district and family courts"

Regions or States:

6 districts; Ammochostos (Famagusta; all but a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Keryneia (Kyrenia; the only district located entirely in the Turkish Cypriot community), Larnaka (Larnaca; with a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Lefkosia (Nicosia; a small part administered by Turkish Cypriots), Lemesos (Limassol), Pafos (Paphos); note - the 5 "districts" of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" are Gazimagusa (Famagusta), Girne (Kyrenia), Guzelyurt (Morphou), Iskele (Trikomo), Lefkosa (Nicosia)

Political Parties and Leaders:

• area under government control: Citizens' Alliance or SP [Giorgos LILLIKAS] (dissolved 2 December 2021)
• Democratic Front or DIPA [Marios GAROYIAN]
• Democratic Party or DIKO [Nikolas PAPADOPOULOS]
• Democratic Rally or DISY [Annita DIMITRIOU]
• Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Alliance [Charalambos THEOPEMPTOU]
• Movement of Social Democrats EDEK [Marinos SIZOPOULOS]
• National Popular Front or ELAM [Christos CHRISTOU]
• Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Stefanos STEFANOU]
• Solidarity Movement [Eleni THEOCHAROUS] area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Communal Democracy Party or TDP [Mine ATLI]
• Communal Liberation Party - New Forces or TKP-YG [Mehmet CAKICI]
• Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP [Mehmet BIRINCI]
• Democratic Party or DP [Fikri ATAOGLU]
• National Democratic Party or NDP [Buray BUSKUVUTCU]
• National Unity Party or UBP [Faiz SUCUOGLU]
• New Cyprus Party or YKP [Murat KANATLI]
• People's Party or HP [Kudret OZERSAY]
• Rebirth Party or YDP [Erhan ARIKLI]
• Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Tufan ERHURMAN]
• United Cyprus Party or BKP [Izzet IZCAN]

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: no citizenship by descent
• only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cyprus dual citizenship
• recognized: yes residency requirement for
• naturalization: 7 years

4 facts — expand for details.

Capital Name

Nicosia (Lefkosia/Lefkosa)

Capital - geographic coordinate

35 10 N, 33 22 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Daylight Savings Time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

4 facts — expand for details.

International Organization Participation:

• Australia Group
• CD
• CE
• EBRD
• ECB
• EIB
• EMU
• EU
• FAO
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICC (national committees)
• ICCt
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• IHO
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• IMSO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• IPU
• ISO
• ITSO
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• MIGA
• NAM
• NSG
• OAS (observer)
• OIF
• OPCW
• OSCE
• PCA
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNHCR
• UNIDO
• UNIFIL
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WCO
• WFTU (NGOs)
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Julie D. FISHER (since 21 February 2023)
• Embassy: Metochiou and Ploutarchou Street, 2407, Engomi, Nicosia
• Mailing Address: 5450 Nicosia Place, Washington DC 20521-5450
• Telephone: [357] (22) 393939
• FAX: [357] (22) 780944
• Email: ACSNicosia@state.gov
• Website: https://cy.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Evangelos SAVVA (since 15 September 2023)
• Chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
• Telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772
• FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
• Email: info@cyprusembassy.net
• Website: https://www.cyprusembassy.net/
• Consulate(s) General: New York honorary consulate(s): Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Kirkland (WA), Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco
• Note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is Mustafa LAKADAMYALI; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198

7 facts — expand for details.

Geographic Location

Middle East

Geographic Coordinates

35 00 N, 33 00 E

Total Area

3,572 Square Miles 9,251 Square Kilometers

Land Area

3,568 Square Miles 9,241 Square Kilometers

Water Area

4 Square Miles 10 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

93 Miles 150 Kilometers

Coastline

403 Miles 648 Kilometers

6 facts — expand for details.

Terrain

Central plain with mountains to the north and south

scattered but significant plains along the southern coast

Highest Point

1,951 Meters

Highest Point Location

Olympus 1,951 m

Lowest Point Location

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Natural Resources

Copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment

Irrigated Land

176 Square Miles 457 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

4 facts — expand for details.

Climate

Cyprus has hot, dry, dusty summers and moderately cool, damp winters.

Nicosia's maximum mean temperature is about 80°F, while the minimum mean temperature is 50°F.

From mid-June to mid-September, the temperature sometimes exceeds 100°F.

After sunset, it usually falls to between 60°F and 70°F.

The summer heat is tolerable because humidity is usually low and high temperatures are often tempered by westerly winds.

Nicosia's summer weather is generally more comfortable than in the seaside towns, where humidity is higher though temperatures are lower.

Rain falls almost exclusively from December through March.

Winters are usually cool and damp.

On the whole, Cyprus has an enjoyable Mediterranean climate.

Terrain

Central plain with mountains to the north and south

scattered but significant plains along the southern coast

Location

Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey

Total Area

3,572 Square Miles 9,251 Square Kilometers

Environment - Current Issues

• Water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to the island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north)
• water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes
• coastal degradation
• loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization

Environment - International Agreements

Party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

6 facts — expand for details.

Exports

$2,635,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$6,042,000,000 (USD)

Exports - note

Turkish Cypriot area: $68,100,000

Imports - note

Turkish Cypriot area: 1,200,000,000

Major Exports

• area: citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, clothing Turkish Cypriot
• area: citrus, dairy, potatoes, textiles

Major Imports

• area: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, machinery, transport equipment Turkish Cypriot
• area: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery

Top Export Partners

Greece 10.9%, Ireland 10.2%, UK 7.2%, Israel 6%

Top Import Partners

Greece 25.7%, UK 9.1%, Italy 8%, Germany 7.5%, Israel 5.5%, China 4.8%, Netherlands 4.1%

Export Partners

Greece 10.9%, Ireland 10.2%, UK 7.2%, Israel 6%

Import Partners

Greece 25.7%, UK 9.1%, Italy 8%, Germany 7.5%, Israel 5.5%, China 4.8%, Netherlands 4.1%

2 facts — expand for details.

Country Description

Cyprus is an island nation in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided between a government-controlled area, comprising the southern two-thirds of the island, and a northern third administered by Turkish Cypriots.

The United States does not recognize the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,” nor does any country other than Turkey.

Facilities for tourism in Cyprus are highly developed.

Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004.

Safety & Security

Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to enter the U.N. buffer zone at any place other than a designated crossing point.

This area is mined and militarized.

Never photograph military installations or anything that could be perceived as being of security interest (especially in the areas not under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus).

Pay particular attention to areas marked with “no photography” signs.

Police on both sides strictly enforce these restrictions.

The Embassy has received reports of instances of discrimination and sexual harassment against U.S. citizens of Eastern European or non-European descent, particularly against U.S. citizens of Asian descent.

2 facts — expand for details.

Crime

Although the crime rate in Cyprus is low, visitors in any urban area should take the normal precautions they would take in any large city.

Be alert and always vigilant of your surroundings and of your personal belongings.

Criminals often target persons who are distracted, alone in an isolated area, or impaired.

There has been a reported increase in the rate of home break-ins, particularly in Nicosia.

Although most home break-ins take place overnight, this type of crime can take place at any time of day or night, as perpetrators seek targets of opportunity whenever available.

As in any major metropolitan area, all travelers and residents should exercise care by locking all doors and windows to their homes, offices, and cars, and not leaving any valuables unattended or out in public view.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are these items illegal to bring back into the United States, by purchasing them you may also be breaking local law.

Avoid so-called “cabarets” or topless bars, as they reportedly employ women brought to Cyprus for sexual exploitation.

These establishments can also present foreign patrons with grossly inflated bar tabs, and customers who refuse to pay may be threatened.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Cyprus, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own, and criminal penalties vary from country to country.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States; for instance, you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods while traveling overseas.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in Cyprus, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go.

If you are arrested in Cyprus, authorities of Cyprus are required to notify the U.S.

2 facts — expand for details.

Medical Facilities

Medical care is available both at government hospitals and private clinics.

Emergency rooms offer adequate care to stabilize patients, most of who are then transferred to private hospitals.

Many of the private-sector doctors have been trained in the United Kingdom or the United States.

While fees are generally lower than those in the United States, medical supplies are often more expensive.

Paramedics do not staff ambulances.

The standard of medical care in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots is improving but still falls below that found in the government-controlled area.

The World Health Organization considers Cyprus to be one of the healthiest areas of the Mediterranean.

Water supplies are potable, and the refuse collection/sewage disposal system is adequate.

Communicable diseases such as typhoid are rare.

Respiratory ailments and allergies are sometimes exacerbated by the dry and dusty climate.

Traffic Safety

While in Cyprus, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

Driving conventions and practices in Cyprus differ from those you may be used to in the United States.

Speeding, tailgating, overtaking, and the running of caution lights are commonplace and major causes of accidents.

Emergency assistance is available in the Republic of Cyprus by calling 112 or 199.

Emergency assistance is available in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots by calling 155.

There are few public buses and no rail lines in Cyprus.

Taxis are widely available.

Traffic moves on the left side of the road, British style, and modern motorways link the major cities.

Secondary roads, especially in mountainous areas, tend to be narrow and winding, and not as well maintained as major highways.

Traffic laws, signs, and speed limits are consistent with the standards used throughout Europe.

Traffic circles (roundabouts) are often utilized at major intersections.

The use of seat belts (in front seats) and child car seats is required.

Motorcyclists are required to wear helmets and the use of cellular phones while driving is prohibited unless used with some form of hands-free kit.

Liability insurance is mandatory.

Road safety conditions in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots are similar to conditions in the south, except that the road network is less developed.

Insurance purchased in the government-controlled area is not valid in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, but insurance for that area may be purchased near the U.N. buffer zone checkpoints.

6 facts — expand for details.

Airports - total

15

Airports with Paved Runways

13

Heliports

9

Roadways- total

12,431 Miles 20,006 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

5,321 Miles 8,564 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos

7 facts — expand for details.

Telephones

414,500

Cell Phones

1,109,722

Internet Users

380,000

Internet Country Code

.cy

Internet Hosts

187,881

Broadcast Media

• mixture of state and privately run TV and radio services
• the public broadcaster operates 2 TV channels and 4 radio stations
• 6 private TV broadcasters, satellite and cable TV services including telecasts from Greece and Turkey, and a number of private radio stations are available
• in areas administered by Turkish Cypriots, there are 2 public TV stations, 4 public radio stations, and privately owned TV and radio broadcast stations

Telephone System

• assessment: excellent in both areas under government control and areas administered by Turkish Cypriots
• domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
• international: country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); a number of submarine cables, including the SEA-ME-WE-3, combine to provide connectivity to Western Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 8 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat)

4 facts — expand for details.

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

4,277,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

4,502,000,000

Natural Gas Production- Cubic Meters (cu m)

1

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

58,430

Anthem Lyrics

Segnorees apo tin kopsi too spathyoo tin tromeri; Segnorees apo tin opsi poo me vya metra tin yee.

Ap ta kokkala vyalmenee ton elleenon ta ye ra Ke san prawt' anthreeomenee hyer'o hyeri eleftherya.

Ke san prawt' anthreeomenee hyer'o hye r'eleftherya, Ke san prawt' anthreeomenee hyer'o hye r'eleftherya.

Anthem Lyrics English

I shall always recognise you By the dreadful sword you hold, As the earth, with searching vision, You survey, with spirit bold.

'Twas the Greeks of old whose dying Brought to birth our spirit free.

Now, with ancient valour rising, Let us hail you, Oh Liberty!

Now, with ancient valour rising, Let us hail you, Liberty, Now, with ancient valour rising, Let us hail you, Liberty!