Cyprus (in Greek Kypros Κυπρος; in Turkish Kıbrıs), long name The Republic of Cyprus, is the country on the island of Cyprus in The Mediterranean Sea, 113 km south from Turkey.
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily and Sardinia. It is situated in its north-eastern part.

Geography

The area of the island is 9.251 km². From the total area of the island 3 355 km² belongs to the Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus, 5 896 km² belongs to the south part and remaining 3 % are territory of the British Sovereign Base Areas (BSBA).
It is located approximately 75 km southwards from  Turkey, 90 km from the coast of Syria and Lebanon, 380 km from the Greek island Rhodes and 483 km northerly from Egypt and Israel.
Cyprus was long time a crossroad between  Europe, Asia and Africa and still has many traces of consecutive civilizations – Roman theatres and villas, Byzantine churches and monasteries, Crusader castles and historic homes.
Since Turkish occupation of the northern part of the island in 1974 the Cypriot and Turkish communities have been separated by so called Green Line. Cyprus is known as the island of Goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite, which was born here according to a legend.

Basic information

Member of EU: 2004
Political system: republic
Political division: Cyprus is since 1974 divided into the north part – The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (recognised only by Turkey) and the south part – The Republic of Cyprus (internationally recognised, the member of EU)
The head of country – President: Dimitris Christofias
Capital: Nicosia
Area: 9 250 km2
Population: 0,8 million
Currency: euro
Official language: Greek, Turkish
Time zone: (UTC+2), summer (UTC+3)
International code: CYP / CY
Dialling code: +357
The number of sunny days per year: 340

Territorial division:

Cyprus is divided into six districts. (Greek and Turkish equivalent is stated in a bracket).

• Famagusta (Αμμόχωστος/Am¬mochostos – Gazimağusa)
• Kyrenia (Κερύvεια/Keryneia – Girne)
• Larnaka (Λάρνακα/Larnaka – Larnaka)
• Limassol (Λεμεσός/Lemesos – Limasol/Leymosun)
• Nikosia (Λευκωσία/Lefkosia – Lefkoşa)
• Pafos (Πάφος/Pafos – Baf)

Climate

Cyprus is in a subtropical climate zone. The weather is characterized by high summer temperatures from  May to October. Summer temperatures climb from July to August over 40 ºC and such temperatures sometimes persist for several weeks. Rainfall is rare, mainly in the winter season (November-March).

Population

The majority of the population of Cyprus (96%) are Cypriot Greeks (78%) and Turks (18%). Although the Cypriot Greeks and Cypriot Turks have much in common, they are of a different identity based on religion, language and are closely tied to their home country. Greek is spoken mainly in the south, where the major community is Cypriot Greek. Turkish language prevails in the north where  population of Turkish origin dominates. Widely used language on the island is English.

Transport

1. road transport

Cyprus has built modern road network. Road network in the south part of the island consists of approximately 7 206 km paved and 4 387 km unpaved roads. In the northern part the road network was in total 2 350 km.
Road network is in a good condition, there are highways without fees.People drive on the left in Cyprus, like in Great Britain.Possibilities of travelling on Cyprus are: buses, taxis or rented cars.
The best way how to get to a certain place is to rent a car at the airport or in the place of your stay.The only condition is to be older than 21 and have practice in driving more than 3 years. Renting a motorcycle is very popular nowadays because of its low renting price.

2. air transport

Cyprus has two international airports - in Larnaka and in Pafos. The main airlines are Cyprus Airways and for passenger transport company Eurocypria and others. Turkish part has an airport in Ercan where only Turkish planes are allowed to land and regular charter flights of Turkish and Cyprus Airlines KTHY. Air connection with Bratislava is only during the season by means of charter flights (May – October). Besides it you can use regular connection from Prague, Vienna and Budapest. Entering the EU, Cyprus is gradually becoming »bridge« between Europe and the Middle East.

3. water transport

Cyprus has a specific position in merchant shipping worldwide. At present it is on the 6th place in the world with 2000 registered trade ships. The ports are important in the region for passenger transport and also for the transport of the goods. The biggest port in Limassol is also one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean, which together with the ports in Larnaca in the city of Vassilikos and four oil terminals in Larnaca, Dekelei, Moni and Vasiliko forms the modern national system of ports. In the Turkish part the most important ports are Famagusta, Kyrenia, Karavostassi and Xerose with which Cyprus does not realize any activities.

Economy and employment

Cyprus is considered to be one of the fastest growing markets within Europe, it is characterized as modern economy with dynamic services, industry and agriculture, developed infrastructure. The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous and greatly benefiting from EU membership since 2004. The property market has experienced strong and sustainable growth for investment purposes. Cyprus is well-known as a holiday destination and centre of services.Two thirds of inhabitants work in services and this branch needs qualified and non-qualified seasonal workers.

Safety and health

Cyprus has a high standard in the providing of health care. It has enough national and private health care facilities, hospitals, private clinics and health centres are equipped with the most modern medical instrumentation. Doctors and dentists, specialists are available anywhere. Each provided health care must be paid for and the fees are comparable with other European countries – 20 Euros for treatment. Low-cost international private health insurance is also available for foreigners living in Cyprus.
Mandatory is health insurance, it is good to take out an insurance in Slovakia and we recommend to take with you the Slovak health insurance card. It is necessary to have the European health insurance card. It is recommended to arrange a commercial insurance. Health insurance covers medical care and treatment and transporting injured to Slovakia in the case of acute injuries and illnesses. Staying in  Cyprus is generally safe even at night, street crime is low, crimes against tourists are rare. The most visits in Cyprus are without any problems, confrontation of police and tourists are exceptional but extremely strict is proceeding against the possession of drugs. Cypriot authorities strictly prosecute the production, distribution, importation and possession of drugs (the treat of imprisonment is for up to 8 years or fine or both penalties at the same time and offender is becoming unwanted person for next visits to Cyprus).

Visas and necessary documents

The citizens of EU/EHP countries have the right to enter the territory of Cyprus with a valid passport or ID card without any restrictions. /valid Slovak passport with minimum of three months validity from the date of entry into the territory of Cyprus/. Confirmation of the vaccination is not necessary. Slovak citizen may stay in Cyprus as a tourist (not for the gainful activity) without registration at the Migration Office for a period of 90 days.

Tax heaven

Cyprus has the lowest value added tax which is from 0 % to 15 %. 0 % VAT is on food, baby clothes and shoes, books, magazines, newspaper, flight tickets, medical stuff, 10 % - 13 % VAT on alcohol.

Cuisine

Cypriot cuisine is the same as Greek cuisine. Traditional cheese Chaloumi is produced here. Traditional meals are mostly prepared from lamb (souvlaki, gyros), fish and salads (choriatiki). The sauce tsatsiki is called talatouri here. Cypriot pies like baklavas, loukoumia a koubes are also famous. Local wine which has a long tradition is of a high quality.

Cyprus and mythology

Mythology is connected with Cyprus very close. It is said that fabled Aphrodite Goddess of beauty, love and passion was born here. Legendary scene of Aphrodite´s birth of sea foam is at Petra tou Romi (Aphrodite´s rocks). These are large rocks in the sea near the coastal cliffs near Pafos. Through the ancient history was Cyprus prosperous centre of cultism of Aphrodite. You can enjoy white sandy beaches seamed by a beautiful sea. Between northern and southern part there is so called Green Line. It is the area which belongs to two different countries and it is a neutral zone.

Places of interest

Cyprus is an ideal holiday destination for travellers and tourists who like their comfort. Services are at a good level and you can speak English, Russian or German here. Delicious meals, traditional Cypriot wine, charming nature and pleasant warm weather make Cyprus an ideal place for holidays. The island offers a lot of activities for relax. Cyprus is also called „The Island of Lovers“. A lot of couples in love from all over the world come here to get married  or for honeymoon.
You can find romantic small villages in the middle of mystic mountains or restaurants,bars and clubs on the beach. You can spend time by exploring the ancient history of Cyprus in archaeologic fields. Stunning colourful mosaic will show you the ancient way of life. Being an island with such a varied and interesting history, there are many, many places to explore and delve into the past. There is wealth of archaeological sites, museums, castles, monasteries and old Cypriot churches, all are worth seeing. It is an island of diversity where potatoes are grown in the rich, fertile soil of the east and yet bananas are abundant on  many plantations in the west. Throughout Cyprus, the typically Mediterranean landscape is still blessed with the timeless beauty of antiquity. There are crusader fortresses framed by tall cypress trees, Greek-Roman theatres carved out of cliffs and Byzantine monasteries perched on mountaintops.
Beaches are one of the most worthwhile assets in the country. Some of the valued and recognized Cypriot beaches are Alagadi (very sandy beach), Diana (has a synthetic sandy beach), Escape (offers a numerous outdoors discos and variety of water sports), Fig Tree Bay (located in Protaras District), Governor's (sited between Larnaca and Limassol and the beach has a white rocks area), Nissi (sited in Nissi Bay and it offers cafes, pubs and wonderful views), Protaras (has different kinds of water sports for travellers to enjoy), and Ladies' Mile (features very calm and clear water).
Some of the national parks in the country are Troodos (located in south-east area of the island), Athalassa (sited near Lefkosia and offers several recreational facilities), Paedagogical Academy (located near Lefkosia), Rizoelia (sited near the town of Larnaka ), and Pegeia and Meleti Forests (national forest parks located in the Pafos area).
Other places that travellers may visit: Byzantine Museum (located in Nicosia region and has an art gallery which displays the oil paintings, lithographs, maps and also the largest collection of icons), Troodos Mountains (situated in Limassol and offer breathtaking scenery, bird watching and rich plant life), and St John's Cathedral (sited in Nicosia; built by Archbishop Nikiforos in 1662) .
 

Strategic location of Cyprus at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa together with the fact that Cyprus is a member of EU, its safe and protective legal system, infrastructure, banking and accounting services provided, the continuing development of island, the extensive use of English language, the excelent climate, hospitality and friendliness of the locals are some of the reasons that make Cyprus an ideal place for both business, investments and relax.

Acquirement of Property

Legal system in Cyprus is generally based on UK legislation. However, in the field of immovable property Cyprus legislation and the legal system is different to the one applied in the UK. The protection of ownership is safeguarded by the provisions of the Constitution, the ultimate Law of Cyprus which established the equality of all persons and respects human rights.

• The first step is the signature of the contract for property reservation. This step will ensure that the real estate will be withdrawn from the market for a certain period, usually one month. During the period of reservation, an authorized lawyer examines the required information, whether the seller is registered at Land Registry as the owner of the real estate in order  the buyer could acquire a legal title without the difficulties. In  Cyprus  a reservation fee is mostly 1% of the price of real estate. Reservation deposit is a part of the purchase contract, it is non-refundable, but it can be returned under the condition where a review at Land Registry will not be successful (that means e.g. if the lawyer discovers that the seller is not the owner of the property or property cannot be a subject to the transfer of ownership rights to the buyer for other reasons).The findings before signing the purchase contract /prior to the transfer of real estate/.
   

• The next step is investigation of Planning department which detects whether there is a planning permission that the developer can lawfully built and transfer the real estate to beneficiaries and company analysis – detailed analysis of the company shows that the developer has the authority to sign contracts on transfer of real estate and the company is not in liquidation.
   
• Signing the contract on the transfer of real estate – after the review procedure was successful and all findings, the next step is the signing of the Contract on transfer of real estate by both parties /seller and buyer/. After signing the contract the buyer has 6 weeks to pay the first instalment to the seller. If the buyer does not do it in specified period, contract on transfer is annulled and is void.
   
• After transferring the property to the buyer comes to the Possession of real estate. At this stage, the buyer pays provisional costs on management of the property and public charges and acquires all his rights in the country – residence, location, tax status, exemption from customs duty, domicile.
   
• When the property is finished and really exists the following step is the transfer of acquired legal title, then the both parties proceed to a transfer of the acquiring legal title /document establishing the acquisition of property ) and pay the outstanding balance. If  the property is new, it takes about three years, when Land Registry issues the acquiring legal title to the new owner. In this case the outstanding balance is paid buyer when transferring the property /acquisition seisin/. However, legal protection of the owner will start from the moment when the valid contract is signed, stamped and registered at Land Registry.

Tax and real estate transfer fees are paid in one single payment to Land Registry and are necessary for the purpose of transferring ownership to the buyer. For the payment of the tax is responsible a transferor.

• Cyprus is considered to be one of the fastest growing markets within Europe and investors are attracted by the potential growth in terms of returns on investment of property in Cyprus compared to other countries in Europe and the UK.
• The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous and greatly benefiting from EU membership since 2004.
• The property market throughout Cyprus is one of the fastest growing in the European Union and prices in some areas are increasing by an annual average of 20%.
• The high standard and low cost of living, the low crime rate, combined with the climate and relaxed lifestyle, has an added appeal for the potential buyer.
• Cyprus follows a European system of government, administration and everyday business practices that make most foreigners feel at home.
• The Taxation system, the lowest in Europe, with its numerous attractions for foreigners who invest and/or make their home in Cyprus has made the Island one of the most popular “tax havens” in Europe. Tax on pension income received in Cyprus for amounts more than €18,000 (approx.) is taxed at a flat rate of only 5%. Corporation tax is 10% which is the lowest in the EU.
• A high standard of living at relatively low cost (Cyprus has the 3rd highest standard of living among Mediterranean countries). A low cost of living often makes for an improved quality of life.
• Cyprus has adopted the Euro as its main currency and is a full member of the EU.
• Cyprus has a simple and efficient land registration system. The holder of a property title in Cyprus is protected by both the Government and also by the Cypriot Courts.

• Cyprus has a very modern, legally sound, stable and credible banking system.
• The acquisition of property provides the right to apply for a residents permit after 5 years citizenship. Although a temporary permit can be obtained very easily if you own a property.
• The island has over 340 days of sunshine a year. Winter temperatures rarely fall below 15 degrees. Cyprus is one of the three countries in the world where you can snow ski and swim in the same day!
• There is a very low crime rate, no vandalism, no pollution and no traffic congestion.
• Getting around is easy as highways link all of the major towns and cities.
• The law in Cyprus is based on British Law.
• The telecommunication systems are all very advanced. Cyprus Telecommunications Authority is one of the most technologically advanced companies in the world!
• Cyprus has excellent educational and medical facilities.
• Cyprus is rich in history and culture and offers diverse scenery and vegetation.
• There are excellent sports and recreational facilities. The completion in the near future of four new marinas will add to the diversity of water sports and the pending construction of 11 additional international golf-courses (total 14) will place Cyprus at the top of the list in terms of golf courses per person in the Mediterranean.