Cyprus

This page is a Work in Progress and is mostly still a Stub. Stay tuned for more information!

Cyprus is an EU member state located in the Eastern Mediterranian with some legal protections for trans people.

Why Cyprus?

• Legal gender recognition: Cyprus does recognize gender changes, and has a procedure that citizens can use to request a change their name and gender
• Affordable rent: In most districts rental prices are significantly less expensive than in the USA. To check current rental prices in the district you are interested in, (https://www.bazaraki.com) is a good resource.
• Relatively English friendly: Although Greek is the official language, As a former British colony, English is widely spoken in Cyprus, and many websites and even government forms are bilingual. Likewise, it is generally possible to interact in English to get most day to day tasks done.
• Public healthcare: Cyprus has a national universal healthcare system known as GESY, which is available to citizens of Cyprus, other EU member states, and their immediate family members, as well as some long term residents. It is paid for by employment taxes and is otherwise nearly free to access for those who qualify.
• Private healthcare: In addition to GESY, Cyprus has a robust and fairly affordable (especially by USA standards) private healthcare system, Insurance is available and generally fairly inexpensive. Prescription medication is much more affordable in Cyprus than in the US, generally costing less than a standard copay in the US
• EU Member Status: Cyprus is an Eu member state with all the advantages that entails
• A beautiful Island with warm weather and beaches: Cyrus has beautiful beaches and warm clear, blue waters that can swum in for most of the year
• Anti-discrimination laws:
• A
• Expat Friendly: Cyprus has an extremely large expat community ( especially from the UK and Russia, but also from other Eu member states, India, Israel, and numerous other countries.)

Why not Cyprus?

• The immigration system: Cyprus' immigration system is more or less universally considered to be an absolute disaster. Some of this is that due to the large number of refugees that enter Cyprus due to it's status as an EU member state in close proximity to countries like Syria putting stress on the immigration system of a very small country, of course, however, the greater portion of the issues with the immigration are absolutely the fault of the government.
• Poor to No Renter Protection: Although housing is relatively affordable and plentiful, Cyprus has essentially zero rental protections, so your experience is entirely dependent on finding a decent landlord (which is obviously difficult if you are newly arrived int he country)
• Cyprus Post and other Delivery services: Courier services often will refuse to deliver packages to your home, instead demanding that you deliver to their depot to collect them in person. This is true, even if you live in the city. The postal service also does this, and packages sent to and from Cyprus can take weeks to arrive, even when sent from another EU member state.
• Difficulty accessing specialty goods and services: Cyprus is a very small country with a population of under a million people. Certain specialty goods and services are simply not available within Cyprus. This extends to certain highly niche medical services, so if you have a rare medical condition, it is worth checking to be certain that there is a specialist that works with it
• Cyprus does have some issues with bigotry, especially towards people who are black of Muslim

Access to Trans Healthcare

Currently, access to things like HRT lags well behind actual legal recognition of trans people in Cyprus. The difficulties are logistical rather than legal, but logistics in Cyprus can be challenging.

Immigration Policy

US +citizens need/don't need a visa to move to COUNTRY for. Which languages are the processes don+ in? What are the options/limitations/etc? Examples are below

• Family-Route: As an Eu member state, EU citizens and immediate family members (spouses and children under age 21) may move to Cyprus under Eu freedom of movement.
• Work Visa: Work Visas are available, especially in the financial, tech, and hospitality sectors, and this is probably the most accessible way to immigrate to Cyprus for most people
• Other Visas:
• Visa Waiver: US citizens may visit Cyprus for up to 90 days without a Visa. As Cyprus is nto currently part of the Shengan treaty area, tiem spent in Cyprus is on a different "timer" so to speak, and it is possible to spend 90 days in cyprus eithe rbefore or after gign

Medical Inadmissibility

Does the COUNTRY in question have immigration laws that would find people with disabilities or health challenges inadmissible to emigrate there?

Permanent Residency

What's the pathway if there is one?

Citizenship Pathway

How do you get to be a citizen if at all?

Main Cities

• Paphos
• Limissol
• Larnaca
• Nicosia

City vs Village

Community & Support Resources

• What local communities and support structures are there?

National Organizations

• please add

Cost of Living

• The cost of living in Cyprus is generally lower than in the majority of the USA
• Rent is significantly lower in most districts (https://www.bazaraki.com) is a good resource to check current rental prices.
• Public transport Cyprus has a bus system, both in the cities and between them, as well as taxis, but Cyprus' public transit is rather poor by EU standards
• Public healthcare: Cyprus has a national universal healthcare system known as GESY, which is available to citizens of Cyprus, other EU member states, and their immediate family members, as well as some long term residents. It is paid for by employment taxes and is otherwise nearly free to access for those who qualify.
• Private healthcare: In addition to GESY, Cyprus has a robust and fairly affordable (especially by USA standards) private healthcare system, Insurance is available and generally fairly inexpensive. Prescription medication is much more affordable in Cyprus than in the US, generally costing less than a standard copay in the US
• Grocery prices : Grocery prices vary a fair bit. For local produce and pork, prices are lower than in the US. beef, dairy, and
• Education is available, both public and private3 English language schools

Housing Access & Cost

• add details on discrimination in rentals if applicable
• also how easy is it to rent/buy etc

Law Enforcement ("How bad are the cops?")

• please add details, especially around safety for trans people

Censorship & Digital Privacy

• please add details

Ease of Travel to Other Countries

• What about neighboring countries, visas for those, airports to travel etc.

Animal Policies

• Cyprus is a relatively pet friendly country, and many Cypriots have dogs or cats. Vetrenary services are well distributed and less expensive than in the US
• What do you need to do to bring a pet? Coming from the US, you need USDA pet export paperwork. Additionally, you need to arrange for a government veterinarian to sign off on your pet's importation paperwork upon arrival ( which you need to arrange in advance.) pets need to be microchipped and have an up to date rabies vaccination.
• Consider adding a section on the Traveling with pets page

Links:

(Cyprus Gender change policies) https://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/cr/cr.nsf/changegender_en/changegender_en?OpenDocument

(The exact regulations regarding bringing pets to Cyprus) https://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/vs/vs.nsf/vs07_en/vs07_en?OpenDocument