Brexit: Most Frequently Asked Questions by UK nationals
in Cyprus
Following from our live Q&A session on Facebook, we
have gathered the most frequently asked questions by UK nationals in Cyprus in
a single note for easier access. We hope UK nationals in Cyprus find this
document useful.
1.
How do I regularise my status in Cyprus to ensure I can
continue to live and work here
Cypriot law states you have to register as a resident if
you spend more than 90 days in Cyprus. You will apply for what is called an MEU
1. This means you are accepted as someone with the same rights and entitlements
as a Cypriot national and you will have access to all the services and support
provided by Cyprus.
If you have already been registered as a resident for 5
years, you should apply for permanent residency known as an MEU3. You can find
both application form on the Ministry of Interior Civil Registry and Migration
Department’s website here:
You will need to apply at your nearest Immigration
Office. A list of address for these offices can be found here. Please note there may be long waiting times for
appointments (at least 2-3 months at the time of writing). It is best to start
the process now to ensure that you are registered as soon as possible. If you
have been waiting for more than four months then the advice is to contact the
Ministry as this might suggest there is a problem with your application.
In a No Deal, the Cypriot government has publically
committed to protecting the rights of UK nationals in Cyprus. We are working
with the Cypriot authorities to clarify further important details including any
deadlines for getting your residency documents. We remain confident that in the
event of a No Deal, the Cypriot government will allow a “Grace Period’’ to
allow UK nationals to apply for residency after 29 March 2019.
2.
How will I be able to access healthcare in Cyprus
post-Brexit?
In a Deal scenario, as long as you have regularised your
status in Cyprus by applying for residency (obtaining an MEU1 or MEU3), British
nationals will be able to continue to access the healthcare system in Cyprus on
the same basis as other EU citizens. This includes the use of the European
Health Insurance Card (EHIC) card for those of you who are studying in Cyprus
or who are not resident here.
The UK Government is seeking reciprocal arrangements to
maintain peoples’ healthcare rights in a no-deal scenario. We hope to formalise
an agreement shortly. But as a fall back, if you are planning to visit Cyprus
after 29 March 2019, you should continue to buy travel insurance so you can get
the healthcare treatment you need, just as you would if visiting a non-EU
country. More information on healthcare in Cyprus can be found at: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/healthcare-when-travelling-abroad/healthcare-in-cyprus/
Cyprus is soon to launch its new public healthcare
system.
After 29 March, Britons in Cyprus, who have regularised
their status and have either an MEU1 or MEU3 and who work will be able to
access the Cyprus’ new health system through social insurance contributions.
3.
Can I continue to use my UK driving licence in Cyprus?
If you are a resident in Cyprus (i.e. if you reside here
for more than 90 days), you are obliged to convert your British licence into a
Cyprus driving licence, which shows your address in Cyprus. Irrespective of
Brexit.
If you exchange your licence before 29 March there is no
need to pass a Cypriot driving test. Those of you with Cypriot driving licences
can drive in the UK on this licence in both a deal and no deal scenario.
Currently, Britons who come to Cyprus for temporary
visits can drive on their UK driving licence. If there is a signed Withdrawal
Agreement, the UK driving licence remains valid up until the end of the
Implementation Period, i.e. 31 December 2020. Agreements on mutual recognition
of licences between the UK and the EU after this point will form part of the
negotiations on the future relationship during the Implementation Period.
In the event of a No Deal, after 29 March, the UK driving
licence may no longer be valid by itself when driving in Cyprus. The Government
recommends that if you are coming to Cyprus for a short visit, that you will
need to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive after 29 March in
a No Deal scenario.
You will need to apply for the 1949 Convention
International Driving Permit, which is the relevant one for Cyprus.
Applications need to be made in person at a UK Post Office. More information is
available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-to-drive-in-the-eu-after-brexit
4.
Will I need a visa to travel to Cyprus after 29 March?
If the UK leaves with a deal, travel to the EU will
remain the same as now until at least 31 December 2020. Britons do not need to
apply for a visa to travel or work in the EU during this time.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the rules for
travelling or working in Europe will change after 29 March 2019. The European
Commission has proposed that in a no deal situation, if you are a British
Citizen, you would not need a visa for short stays in the EU. You would be able
to stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, if you are intending
to stay in Cyprus for longer than 90 days, and do not hold a residency
document, you may need to get a visa before you travel.
Deal or No Deal, from the 1 January 2021, the EU
Commission has confirmed that UK citizens will have to pay 7 euros to enter the
EU. Once received this will allow you to undertake multiple trips within a
three year period.
5.
Where can I find more information on Brexit?
More information on Brexit can be found in our Living in
Cyprus guide: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-cyprus.
We also encourage you to visit gov.uk/EUExit for further guidance on preparing for exit
day. The website has tools to help UK nationals in the EU, and EU citizens in the
UK, to find the guidance that they need. Please also follow the BHC’s Facebook
and Twitter pages to keep up-to-speed on developments.
