Cyprus

Southern Europe / Mediterranean

EuropeEU

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.

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

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown
69
Access
17%
68Residence12%
73Citizenship and passport5%
74
Earning power
25%
69Salary and work12%
79Buying power13%
74
Business and wealth
20%
82Taxes7%
72Business8%
64Investment5%
82
Daily life
25%
79Quality of life18%
88Education7%
81
Rights and institutions
13%
94Freedom6%
70Rule of law7%

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
How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence
Openness to residents
Good
68
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
Citizenship accessibility
Good
66
Years required8 years standard; reduced periods can apply to eligible high-skilled workers
Dual allowedYes
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
Passport power
Excellent
91
181 / 198
Mobility
#14
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free132
  • On arrival40
  • eTA9
  • Visa required17

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Good
69
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
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
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
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
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 companiesCFC rules apply (ATAD)
Personal tax
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
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 companiesCFC rules apply (ATAD)
Business
Business friendliness
Good
72
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 companyYes: full foreign ownership; popular holding jurisdiction
Local companyPrivate LTD in ~1–2 weeks; common IP & holding structures
FreelanceSelf-employed register; favorable non-dom treatment on some income
Investment
Investing environment
Moderate
64
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
Wealth accumulation
Good
70
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
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

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Excellent
82
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
Average cost€400–900 / yr private cover
Environment
Environment score
Excellent
82
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
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
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 universityPublic 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
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
Freedom in the World94 / 100 (Free)
Sources
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Good
70
Rule of Law percentile70 / 100
Sources
Resources
Official references
Civil Registry & Migration Deptmoi.gov.cyCyprus Tax Departmentmof.gov.cyPwC: Cyprus corporate taxestaxsummaries.pwc.comUNDP Human Development Report 2025hdr.undp.orgInternet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Indexpulse.internetsociety.orgWorld Bank World Development Indicatorsdata.worldbank.orgILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)ilostat.ilo.org
Quick links
Cyprus visa & immigrationgoogle.comCyprus tax residency rulesgoogle.comCyprus citizenship requirementsgoogle.comCost of living in Cyprusgoogle.com

Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.