A Message
for UK nationals in Cyprus from the British High Commissioner
As I am sure you
know, the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill has been approved by the UK Parliament.
The UK will leave the EU on Friday 31 January at 11pm UK time. I am writing now
to explain what this means for UK nationals in Cyprus.
The Withdrawal
Agreement between Britain and the EU contains some really important protections
for UK nationals living in the EU, including the right to live, work and access
services, such as healthcare, as you do now. These rights will be protected for
as long as you live in Cyprus, provided that you are legally resident here by
the end of 2020. I know that many of you have already applied for residency
documents (MEU1s and MEU3s). If you have not yet applied, I strongly urge you
to do so now. Please also remember to make sure your passport has not expired
as this is a requirement when you apply for residency.
UK nationals who are
legally resident in Cyprus should register with GESY, in order to access state
healthcare on the same terms as now. This includes people who are covered by
the S1 scheme. If you are a tourist or short-term visitor to Cyprus after 31
January we strongly advise you to have comprehensive travel insurance.
An issue which I
know is important to UK residents in the north of the island concerns future
arrangements for crossing the Green Line. On 1 February, we begin the
Implementation Period following our exit from the EU. This lasts until 31
December. During this time there will be no change to the rules on travel
to/from or within Cyprus for UK nationals, including motorists crossing the
Green Line. We will continue to engage with the Republic of Cyprus on
arrangements beyond the end of 2020 and keep you updated.
Please continue to
follow our Living in Cyprus guide on gov.uk and social media channels – we will
let you know when you need to take further action.
