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Settling-in checklist

Living in Cyprus: your first 90 days, one step at a time

Twelve things every newcomer has to sort out, in the order that saves you queues. Tick them off; the page remembers.

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By Volha Bendzik, relocation editorLast updated 23 September 2026 · 4 min read

The short answer (September 2026)

In your first week in Cyprus, sort transport, a place to live, a Migration Department appointment and a bank account. In the first month, connect electricity and water, apply for your residence permit, register with GeSY and place the kids in school. After that it is upkeep: a car of your own, road tax, permit renewal and the house.

I moved here in August 2022 with three children, and the thing I wanted most was a list in the right order. This is that list. Each card has one link: the guide that explains the step properly.

Your settling-in checklist

Three phases, one next step per card. Tick a card when it is done and it folds away, so the list only ever shows what is left.

0 of 12 done

Next up: Rent a car for the first weeks

Week 1

The four things everything else depends on.

  1. 1

    Rent a car for the first weeks

    There is no railway and buses thin out fast beyond the town centres. Viewings, banks and offices are far easier on four wheels.

    Car hire prices and monthly rentals
  2. 2

    Find a place to live

    An address is the first thing the bank, the permit office and the school will ask you for.

    What rent costs, city by city

    Full guide coming soon.

  3. 3

    Book the Migration Department

    The appointment is the slowest part of any permit, so ask for a date before your paperwork is finished.

    How to book: one mailbox per district

    Full guide coming soon.

  4. 4

    Open a bank account

    Rent, utilities and salary all expect a Cyprus IBAN, and opening an account takes longer than most people plan for.

    What banks ask for, and how long it takes

Month 1

Utilities, your permit, healthcare and school.

  1. 5

    Connect electricity (EAC)

    The account carries a deposit, and electricity is the bill newcomers most often underestimate.

    Why bills run high, and what to budget

    Full guide coming soon. Official site: eac.com.cy

  2. 6

    Connect water and sewerage

    Water is billed by your local water board, separately from electricity and with its own deposit.

    What water and electricity cost a month

    Full guide coming soon.

  3. 7

    Apply for your residence permit

    EU citizens register for the Yellow Slip; everyone else needs a different permit. Find yours before you collect documents.

    Find out which permit you need
  4. 8

    Register with GeSY

    You choose a personal doctor when you register. You want one before the first fever, not during it.

    How to register and pick a doctor
  5. 9

    Place the kids

    With three children, this is the step I would start first. Kindergarten, school and university each run on their own calendar.

    State, private or international school

Ongoing

What keeps coming back once you are settled.

  1. 10

    Buy and register a car, pay road tax

    When a long rental stops making sense, buying brings registration, insurance and annual road tax with it.

    The four running costs of a car

    Full guide coming soon. Official site: Road Transport Department

  2. 11

    Renew your permit on time

    Put the expiry date in your calendar the day the permit is issued, and check your documents well before it.

    Check your documents for free
  3. 12

    Keep the home running

    Air conditioning, repairs and the summer electricity bill are the costs of a Cyprus home that never appear in the rent.

    Why summer bills run high

    Full guide coming soon.

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The 90 days at a glance

Settling in, in four stretches

  1. 1

    Days 1 to 7: car, home, appointment request, bank

    Your move. Everything later asks for an address or an IBAN

  2. 2

    Weeks 2 to 4: electricity, water, permit application, GeSY, school places

    Your move. Keep copies of your passport and tenancy agreement to hand

  3. 3

    Weeks 4 to 12: your permit application is with the office

    Waiting on the office. Your part is answering any follow-up quickly

  4. 4

    Month 3 onward: a car of your own, renewals, the house

    Your move. The recurring dates: road tax, permit expiry, AC service

The order that avoids repeat trips. The stretches are planning ranges, not official deadlines; each linked guide carries the dated, sourced figures.

If you would rather not do it all yourself

  • The relocation concierge on this site, run by the same owner, can do the utility, car, home-search and school legwork with you; the relocation plan is free.
  • For the permit, the free document check comes first, and a review by Koufettas Law is an optional paid upgrade, never the default.
  • If you want a car without committing to buy, Rentals in Cyprus is a sister company under the same ownership as this site.
  • Health, car and home insurance come from DigiCare, the parent company of New to Cyprus, and only once the step itself is done.

What this list does not cover: buying property, tax residency and removals. Each deserves a qualified adviser, and I would rather send you to one than guess.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do first after moving to Cyprus?
Sort four things in your first week: transport, a place to live, a Migration Department appointment request and a bank account. The address and the IBAN are what nearly every later step asks for, and the appointment is the slowest thing to get.
How long does it take to settle in Cyprus?
Plan on about 90 days for the essentials. Most of the first month is in your hands; the permit is the part that runs on the Migration Department's timetable, which is why the appointment request sits in week 1.
Is the checklist the same for EU and non-EU newcomers?
The steps are the same; the permit is what differs. EU citizens register for the Yellow Slip (MEU1), non-EU family members of an EU citizen apply for MEU2, and other non-EU newcomers usually need a Pink Slip or a work or student permit.
Do I need a car in Cyprus?
Almost certainly, unless you will stay inside one town centre. Cyprus has no railway and rural and evening buses are thin. Most newcomer families rent monthly at first and buy once they know where they are staying; the driving guide covers licences and road rules.
Does this page save my progress?
Yes, in your browser only. Ticks are stored on your device and nothing is sent to a server. If you want the list somewhere safer, use the email option after your third tick.
Can someone do these steps for me?
Yes. The relocation concierge on this site handles the utility, car, home-search and school legwork. For permits, start with the free document check; a lawyer review by Koufettas Law is an optional paid upgrade.
What does this checklist not cover?
Buying property, tax residency and removals. Each of those needs a qualified adviser, so they are deliberately left off rather than covered badly.

Volha Bendzik

Relocation editor

Moved to Cyprus in August 2022 with three children, and wrote this list in the order she would do it again.