Q. As a non-Cypriot what I am allowed to buy?
A. Compared to many countries buying property in Cyprus is very easy. As a non-Cypriot you are entitled to buy a freehold property for your personal use either:
a) An apartment or a house or
b) A villa on a building site not exceeding 4000 sq.m or
c) A piece of land not exceeding 4000 sq.m for the purpose of erecting a house within a reasonable time frame.
Q. What are the prices and terms of payment?
A. Prices depend on size, location and specifications. To get more information you may contact our Sales Department.
Banks can offer mortgage facilities in connection with the purchase of the property. The maximum amount that can be borrowed is the equivalent of 70% of the purchase price. Facilities cannot be arranged in Cyprus Pounds.
A first mortgage will be required and the mortgage will be granted for 10 years maximum period. Normally the interest rate charged will be 2.5% above sterling rate or dollar prime rate. There is also an additional arrangement fee of 1% payable on the amount of the advance.
Q. Freehold or Leasehold?
A. It is freehold. The system of leasehold is almost unknown in Cyprus.
Q. How do I get transfer of the property purchased and what are the costs involved?
A. Transfer of ownership takes place by a simple process of registration at the Land Registry Office and the issuing of a title deed after completion and delivery. This can be done either by you personally or by a Power of Attorney to your Solicitor.
A prerequisite for registration, in the case of non-Cypriots, is evidence that the property has been paid for with foreign exchange and approval by the Council of Ministers of Purchaser's application to buy property in Cyprus. These formalities can be taken up by our company on behalf of our clients, free of charge, as part of the agreement.
However, before the registration of the completed property the purchaser should pay the transfer fees, which are payable to the Land Registry office.
The transfer fees range is shown on the following table:
Property Value CY £ Transfer Fees Accumulated Transfer Fees (CY £)
CY £ 0 - 50,000 3% CY £ 1500
CY £ 50,000 - 100,000 5% CY £ 4000
CY £ 100,000 and above 8%
Example: Property valued CY£ 50.000 the purchaser should pay CY£ 1.500 and for CY£ 100.000 the amount of CY£ 4.000
Q. After sales service?
A. These vary from company to company, but generally include the following:
· Car leasing or purchase
· Furniture & Appliance purchase.
· Interior decorating.
· Cleaning, Gardening and Pool maintenance services.
· Home Owners Insurance.
· Life and Medical Insurance.
· Car Insurance.
· Your move to Cyprus.
There are many other ways in which the developer has, and is prepared to help purchasers. These requests are considered on an individual case, by case basis.
Q. Are there any hidden costs or charges for things such as legal/agency work?
A. This depends to a very large extent on you the purchaser. If you wish to have your legal work carried out by a independent lawyer of your choice, then you pay the costs involved. However, some developers offer this service free of charge to their clients. The legal system in Cyprus is similar to the British legal system.
Q. If I purchase a flat, what expenses would I have to pay?
A. In Cyprus there are no rates as known in most countries in Europe. If a person has properties registered on his name where the market value exceeds CYP£ 100.000, there is a property tax on the excess value.
The annual immovable property ownership tax imposed by the government is levied on the market value of the property as of 1st January 1980 at the following rate:
Purchase Price % Payable Cumulative Property Tax (CY£)
CY£ 0-100,000 0.0% CY£ 0
CY£ 100,000-250,000 2.5% CY£ 375
CY£ 250,000-500,000 3.5% CY£ 1250
CY£ 500,000 and above 4.0%
The owner apart from the expenses of telephone, water and electricity for which there are separate meters, has to meet a proportion of the common expenses e.g. for the lightening and cleaning of the common facilities and the maintenance of the lift (and of course the upkeep of a garden and a swimming pool where there is one). Common expenses are comparatively insignificant - for a 2-bedroom flat they do not normally exceed £ 25 Cyprus pounds per month on average.
Common expenses administration can be arranged by a clients committe.
Q. Do I have any Duty Free Privileges?
A. These differ and the level of duty free privileges will depend, on your circumstances. As a guide, Personal effects, household goods and furniture can be imported free of any taxes by immigrant retirees, provided they are for personal use and have been used for a reasonable amount of time - approximately one year. There are no import duties on cars and for retired couples there is an additional concession of two duty free cars.
Q. Are there any Health Insurance schemes in Cyprus?
A. Yes there are several companies who operate schemes here. The level of cost, depends to a very large extent on the following factors:
· Your age and medical condition
· Level of cover required.
Q. Can I take out Insurance on my Property?
A. Yes. There are companies who will issue cover for fire and earthquake damage.
Q. Are there reputable International Schools in Cyprus?
A. Yes, all major towns have reputable international schools. These schools offer diplomas equivalent to GCE's for entry into British universities, and achieve high academic standards.
Q. Can I sell the property easily? Will I be able to take the proceeds from the sale out of Cyprus?
A. There are no restrictions on the selling of your property. Non-resident Aliens who purchase a holiday home with foreign currency may take out the proceeds of the sale in foreign exchange as follows:
· At point of sale, a sum equal to the purchase price
· subsequently the profit element at a rate of CY£50,000 p.a.
Property Sales in Cyprus are subject to Capital Gains Tax at a rate of 20% on the gain, however the first CYP£ 10.000 is exempted.
Q. Is there a double taxation relief-agreement between Cyprus and my country?
A. Agreements exist with most countries of the European Union, as well as other countries throughout the world. These are listed below.
Cyprus Double Taxation Treaties exist with;
Austria, Greece, Romania
Bulgaria, Hungary, Russia*
Canada, India, Slovakia
China, Ireland, Sweden
Czech Republic, Italy, Syria
Denmark, Kuwait, United Kingdom
Egypt, Malta, United States
France, Norway, Yugoslavia**
Germany, Poland
N.B. Out of the 26 treaties concluded by Cyprus, only 4 countries (Canada, France, UK and USA) have exclusions regarding Cyprus offshore entities. However, even these treaties can be used advantageously with some creative and careful tax planning. Further information can be obtained upon request.
* The treaty applicable is between Cyprus and the USSR, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrghystan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
** This treaty applies to the Republics of Serbia and Montenegro. Slovenia and Croatia have also adopted the double taxation conventions.
Q. What is the procedure for obtaining temporary residence in Cyprus?
A. Temporary residence is easily obtained after the fulfillment of certain investment and immigration requirements. Applications forms are available from any of the local immigration offices. On completion of these forms, they should be returned to the immigration office with the following supporting documentation:
· A certificate from a local bank confirming that the applicant holds an external account with that bank. This document should also indicate the current account balance.
· Passport
· Three passport photographs
· CY£ 20.00 (application processing fee)
· A copy of a sales contract, or a rental agreement.
· Letter of guarantee of CYP£300 obtained from your Bank in Cyprus
Q. Is my pension subject to taxation?
A. Yes. According to our tax system, you are obliged to declare your income from pensions to the tax authorities. There are two methods of choosing how your pension will be taxed. These are outlined below:
1st Method
CY£ 0- 2,000 0%
CY£ 2,001 and above 5% flat rate
2nd Method
CY£ 0 - 6,000 0%
CY£ 6,001-9,000 20%
CY£ 9,001-12,000 30%
CY£ 12,001 and above 40% flat rate
These methods are based on cash transfers to Cyprus.