Public services and online portals

Key authorities

• Migration Department (Migration Department, Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection): registration certificate for EU citizens and residence cards for their family members, within 4 months of arrival (see CY-SEJOUR-TOUS-001). EURES still calls it the "Civil Registry and Migration Department"; the Directorate of Civil Registry (civil status) comes under the Ministry of the Interior.
• Tax Department (Tax Department, Ministry of Finance): TIC, income tax, VAT, non-dom status. Portals: Tax For All (returns from the year 2026), TAXISnet (until the year 2025), Tax Portal. See CY-NIF-TOUS-001 and CY-IMPOTS-TOUS-001.
• Social Insurance Services (Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance): registration of employees and self-employed people, contributions, benefits (unemployment, sickness, maternity), European coordination (forms A1, S1…).
• Health Insurance Organisation (GeSY): health system; information line 17000 (see CY-SANTE-TOUS-001).
• Public employment service and EURES Cyprus (eures.gov.cy): job vacancies.
• Road Transport Department (Road Transport Department, Ministry of Transport): driving licences and vehicle registration.
• Registrar of Companies (Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property): company formation (see CY-ENTREPRISE-TOUS-001).
• Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth: schools (see CY-ECOLE-TOUS-001).
• Municipalities: local services and local charges (household waste, sewerage…), set by each municipality: ask yours. There has been no national immovable property tax since 01/01/2017 (Tax Department).

Online services

• gov.cy: the state services portal (taxes, employment, benefits, education…). Some social benefits can be applied for online (sickness benefit, unemployment, maternity).
• Tax For All (TFA): income returns from the year 2026 and VAT; the Tax Department publishes video guides (creating a password, VAT return).
• Online payment of social insurance contributions: service of the Social Insurance Services.
• Residence permits: the Deputy Ministry of Migration announces the switch to online filing of certain residence permit renewals from 01/01/2027; initial online registration of an EU citizen is not confirmed by the sources read.
• CY Login digital identity: the secure personal account that opens most online state services (social benefits, Tax For All, companies registry…). On first use, you must "authenticate" it ("identify your profile"), that is, prove your identity: using the online banking codes of your commercial bank, if you have access to it; by video call with an agent of a citizen service centre, but only if you have a Cypriot ID card; or in person, by appointment, at an identification centre (citizen service centre ΚΕΠ or postal citizen centre ΚΕ.ΠΟ.), with the profile identification form and the original of your Cypriot ID card, your residence permit (with alien number ARC and photo) or your EU citizen registration certificate (MEU1, with number and photo). If you have just arrived, with no access to a Cypriot online bank and no Cypriot ID card, the in-person route therefore assumes you already have your MEU1.

Steps

Recommended order for an EU citizen:

1. Housing: lease or title deed, which will serve as proof of address.
2. Residence registration at the Migration Department, within 4 months.
3. Social insurance number: registration with the Social Insurance Services if you work (often done by the employer for an employee) or as self-employed.
4. TIC at the Tax Department if you have to declare income (see CY-NIF-TOUS-001).
5. GeSY: registration as a beneficiary and choice of a personal doctor.
6. Licence and car: your European licence remains valid; it must be issued by the country where you live at least 185 days a year (EURES). For an imported car: clearance within 10 working days, then registration at the Road Transport Department (€150) and annual road tax based on CO2 (details in CY-PERMIS-TOUS-001).

Common pitfalls

• Looking for the former "Civil Registry and Migration Department": the migration services have been regrouped under the Deputy Ministry of Migration; check the office address before travelling.
• Forms in Greek: tax legislation, for example, is only available in Greek.
• The north of the island: the administrations of the Republic of Cyprus do not operate there.

What changes by country of origin

• EU and EEA citizens: the steps above.
• Swiss people: same procedure as EU citizens: the Migration Department issues them the MEU1 certificate (see CY-SEJOUR-TOUS-001).
• British people (including Scottish): third-country nationals since Brexit: third-country residence permit first.