Cyprus

Cyprus

Southern Europe / Mediterranean

EuropeEU
76
Overall score
Strong overall · 95% data coverage
Language
Greek
Currency
EUR
Citizenship
8 years (standard route)
Personal tax
0–35%
Cost of living
€1,500 / mo (single)
Overall scoring rubric
69
Access

How easy it is to get in, stay, and build status.

17% of Overall
68Residence12%
73Citizenship and passport5%
74
Earning power

How far local income goes after prices.

25% of Overall
69Salary and work12%
79Buying power13%
74
Business and wealth

How friendly the country is for taxes, companies, and investing.

20% of Overall
82Taxes7%
72Business8%
64Investment5%
82
Daily life

How comfortable everyday life is for families and long stays.

25% of Overall
79Quality of life18%
88Education7%
81
Rights and institutions

How reliable freedoms and institutions are.

13% of Overall
94Freedom6%
70Rule of law7%

Safety (78) clears the 40 floor, so no penalty applies.

Healthcare (82) clears the 40 floor, so no penalty applies.

Environment (82) clears the 35 floor, so no penalty applies.

Rights and institutions (81) clears the 30 floor, so no penalty applies.

Overall score
Final weighted result
76

A low-tax, English-friendly EU island: 15% corporate tax, no capital gains on most securities and a non-dom regime, though it is outside Schengen and citizenship is slow.

Pros

  • 15% corporate + non-dom regime
  • 0% CGT on most securities
  • English widely spoken

Cons

  • Not in Schengen
  • Citizenship is slow
  • Smaller job market

Best for

Holding companiesInvestors & tradersNon-dom relocators

Score profile

Access
Residence
68
Citizenship
66
Passport
91
Earning power
Salary & work
69
Buying power
79
Cost of living
60
Economy
83
Business and wealth
Taxes
82
Personal tax
36
Corporate tax
57
Business
72
Investment
64
Wealth building
70
Daily life
Safety
78
Healthcare
82
Environment
82
Infrastructure
76
Education
88
HDI
91
Rights and institutions
Freedom
94
Rule of law
70

Access

Residence

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any residence / visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Openness to residents
Good
68
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines international migrant stock (40%), regulatory quality (20%), the breadth of named residence pathways (25%), and time to permanent residence (15%). Available indicators are reweighted.

Migrant stock14.9% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality0.74 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
Permanent Residence by investment (€300k)Digital Nomad VisaWork permitCompany employee (ICT)
StudentStudent permit; limited part-time work in approved sectors.
WorkPermits via 'companies of foreign interest' route for skilled hires.
Self-employedSelf-employment & business permits; substance requirements.
PermanentFast PR via €300k property/investment; citizenship later by naturalisation.
Citizenship

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any citizenship decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Citizenship accessibility
Good
66
Years required8 years standard; reduced periods can apply to eligible high-skilled workers
Dual allowedtrue
LanguageBasic Greek (B1) for standard naturalisation
ResidenceEight years of qualifying legal residence under the standard route
NotesThe former cash-for-passport CBI scheme was abolished in 2020; only standard naturalisation remains.
Passport

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any travel or visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Passport power
Excellent
91

Passport-index style mobility for the Cyprus passport. The score above is its world reach: the share of 198 destinations reachable without a prior visa.

181 / 198
Mobility
#14
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free132
  • On arrival40
  • eTA9
  • Visa required17

Passport Index style mobility data (2024–2025 estimate). Placeholder figures; verify current entry rules with each destination’s authority before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Good
69
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines output per worker (a proxy for wage potential at 40%), unemployment (35%) and labour-force participation (25%). Available indicators are reweighted; the curated profile fields remain below.

Output per worker$70,318 PPP (2024)
Unemployment4.9% (2025)
Participation67.0% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees
Overall$2,265 · $3,543 PPP (2024)
Tech (IT & comms)$3,064 · $4,791 PPP (2024)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

FreelanceGrowing: many relocated tech & forex/gaming firms
Job marketLimassol tech & fintech cluster; English-friendly workplaces.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Good
79
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score estimates how far money goes for the typical person here. It combines GNI per capita at PPP (30%) and actual household consumption per person at PPP (15%) with a price-advantage term from the local price level (25%) that rewards lower prices, then adjusts for income equality via the Gini index (20%), so unequal economies don't ride a high average, plus price stability via consumer inflation (10%). Available indicators are reweighted; it is a comparison, not a personal budget estimate.

GNI / person$57,390 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$24,592 PPP (2024)
Price level67 (US = 100) (2025)
Income inequality31.8 Gini (2023)
Inflation0.1% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Moderate
60

Our 0–100 affordability score is derived from the local consumer price level (World Bank, US = 100): the cheaper everyday prices are, the higher it scores. Lower price level means your money goes further here.

Price level67 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent€900–1,500 (1BR Limassol)
Monthly€1,500
CitiesNicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos
Economy
Economic strength
Excellent
83
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines income level (GDP and GNI per capita, output per worker), growth momentum (real GDP growth), price stability (inflation) and labour utilisation (unemployment). Available indicators are reweighted; the sector split and industry profile below are descriptive, not scored.

Output & income
GDP$41.2B (2025)
GDP / person$41,783 (2025)
GNI / person$57,390 PPP (2025)
GDP growth3.9% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation0.1% / yr (2025)
Unemployment4.9% (2025)
Output per worker$70,318 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture1.1% of GDP (2025)
Industry11.1% of GDP (2025)
Services76.8% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
TourismFinancial & professional servicesShippingReal estate
Top exports
Services (tourism, finance, shipping)PharmaceuticalsRefined fuels
TypeHigh-income, services-led
Key sectorsTourism, International business & funds, Ship management
SummaryA services-driven island economy built on tourism, international business and ship management.
CurrencyEuro (eurozone member)

Business and wealth

Taxes

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Tax friendliness
Excellent
82
Personal0% up to €19,500, then 20–35%; non-dom exemptions on dividends/interest
Corporate15% from 1 January 2026
Capital gains0% except on Cyprus-situated real estate (20%)
Dividends0% for non-doms (17% SDC otherwise)
Exit taxLimited; EU ATAD exit tax at corporate level
Foreign cosCFC rules apply (ATAD)
Personal tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Personal tax
Limited
36
Personal0% up to €19,500, then 20–35%; non-dom exemptions on dividends/interest
FreelanceSelf-employed register; favorable non-dom treatment on some income
Capital gains0% except on Cyprus-situated real estate (20%)
Dividends0% for non-doms (17% SDC otherwise)
Exit taxLimited; EU ATAD exit tax at corporate level
Corporate tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Corporate tax
Moderate
57
Corporate15% from 1 January 2026
Capital gains0% except on Cyprus-situated real estate (20%)
Dividends0% for non-doms (17% SDC otherwise)
Foreign cosCFC rules apply (ATAD)
Business
Business friendliness
Good
72
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures the operating environment without counting tax a second time: company formation and ownership rules contribute 40%, regulatory quality 30%, and government effectiveness 30%. Available indicators are reweighted; the values are shown below.

Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality0.74 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness0.87 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign co.Yes: full foreign ownership; popular holding jurisdiction
Local co.Private LTD in ~1–2 weeks; common IP & holding structures
FreelanceSelf-employed register; favorable non-dom treatment on some income
Investment

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any investment / tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Investing environment
Moderate
64
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures market access without counting tax a second time: broker availability contributes 50%, equity-market depth 30%, and private credit depth 20%. Available indicators are reweighted.

Market cap68% of GDP (2025)
Private credit57% of GDP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains0% CGT on securities; non-dom: no tax on dividends/interest for 17 yrs
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxNone
BrokersGood: many EU/forex brokers based in Limassol
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax / investment decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Wealth accumulation
Good
70
How this score is calculated

How favourable Cyprus is for building wealth: earnings and business/investment upside, tax drag, and how much a typical income keeps after living costs. Estimated from the factors below.

Salary & work
Good
69
Business
Good
72
Investment
Moderate
64
Tax friendliness
Excellent
82
Cost of living
Moderate
60

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Good
78
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines personal safety (intentional homicide rate at 50%), political stability and absence of violence (30%), and control of corruption (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below. Always check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Personal safety
Homicide rate0.8 per 100,000 (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption0.53 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability0.39 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Excellent
82
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines health outcomes (life expectancy at 25% and under-5 mortality at 20%) with system capacity (physicians at 20% and hospital beds at 15% per 1,000 people) and health spending per capita (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below.

Outcomes
Life expectancy81.8 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality5.0 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians3.56 per 1,000 (2022)
Hospital beds2.15 per 1,000 (2022)
Health spending$4,538 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemUniversal public (GHS/GESY) + private
InsuranceGESY contributions for residents; private common
Avg cost€400–900 / yr private cover
Environment
Environment score
Excellent
82
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines annual population-weighted PM2.5 exposure at 60% with freshwater stress at 40%. Lower exposure and lower water stress score better. Air quality alone can produce a score because it covers most countries; water stress alone cannot.

Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure16.1 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress30.5% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Good
76
How this score is calculated

The score combines digital access, resilience and download performance (30%), electricity access and network losses (30%), and transport infrastructure covering rail, logistics and aviation (40%). Available inputs are reweighted, but a country needs both digital and transport data to receive a score.

Digital infrastructure
Internet use89.6% (2024)
Internet resilience70 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed84 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed71 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access100.0% (2023)
Grid losses3.0% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality2.80 / 5 (2022)
Air connectivity4,972 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Excellent
88
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines attainment (expected schooling at 30% and mean schooling at 25%) with participation (tertiary enrolment at 25%) and public investment (government education spending at 20%). Available indicators are reweighted; tuition and study rules remain separate profile fields below.

Attainment
Expected schooling16.2 years (2023)
Mean schooling12.6 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment121% gross (2024)
Education spending4.7% of GDP (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition€3,500–9,000 / yr
Public uniPublic universities charge moderate tuition; many English programs
LanguagesGreek, English
Student workLimited part-time work for non-EU students in approved sectors
HDI
Human development score
Excellent
91
How this score is calculated

The UN Human Development Index is the geometric mean of three dimension indices (a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living), shown on a 0–100 map scale (HDI × 100). The 2023 UNDP inputs behind each dimension are listed below.

HDI0.913 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy81.6 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling16.2 years (2023)
Mean schooling12.6 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$45,394 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Excellent
94
How this score is calculated

The score weights Freedom House’s 0–100 Freedom in the World score at 60% and its Freedom on the Net score at 40%. If either report does not cover a country, the available score is used alone. Scores of 70 and above are rated “Free”, 40–69 “Partly free”, and below 40 “Not free”.

Freedom in the World94 / 100 (Free)
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Good
70
How this score is calculated

The World Bank’s Rule of Law indicator captures how well contracts are enforced and how independent and effective the courts, police and property-rights regime are. We show its 0–100 percentile rank, where higher means stronger, more predictable institutions.

Rule of Law percentile70 / 100
Resources

Mock data for demonstration only. Not legal or tax advice.