Cyprus Today
Cyprus has a population of 750,000. In Cyprus you can truly have the best of both worlds. A bright blue beach lines the outer rim of the island which leads inward to a mountain of forest pines. It is one of the only places you can go where you can snow ski in the winter while still having the gorgeous sandy beach at your fingertips. In May of 2004, Cyprus became a member of the European Union. Cyprus is also the third largest Mediterranean island in the world. Everything is done by metrics so be ready to get your metric converter out.
Living in Cyprus
If you decide to make a permanent move to Cyprus (who wouldn’t) there is a large variety of real estate agents on the island that will work to your advantage. Whether you are looking for a villa or if you want to build a house, Cyprus has a large abundance of supplies for you to use. There are lots of empty plots of land and many of them are sea side. Cyprus is known as the island of love due to how friendly everyone is. You will never meet a stranger in Cyprus. Many real estate companies only require a 20% down payment due to an increase in real estate prices that have happened lately.
Cyprus Government
In Cyprus, the legal age to vote is the same as it is in the U.S., that is 18 years of age. The House of Representatives carries the legislative control and is made up of 56 people who are elected on a 5 year basis. The President, also called the Head of State, is elected on a 5 year term as well. Cyprus is a member of the European Union, The Council of Europe, and a member of the United Nations. All private property and other rights are protected by the constitution.
Healthcare and General Medicine
If making a permanent move to Cyprus or even if you are visiting, the water is not safe to drink straight from the tap. As in most countries in Europe it is required that you either boil the water or buy bottled water. The sun is very harsh in Cyprus so it is very vital to protect your body no matter the season. Cyprus gets very little rain so sun is usually an every day thing. A medical insurance agent is also called a mojor insurer and will be important if you are staying in Cyprus. Larnaca and Pafos now house a state of the art hospital with doctors certified in the UK and the U.S..
One requirement if you are living or working in Cyprus is to open a Local Disbursement Account (LDA). The local banks that provide this type of account are:
| • | Alpha Bank |
| • | Bank of Cyprus |
| • | Co-op Central Bank |
| • | Cyprus Popular Bank |
| • | Hellenic Bank |
| • | Universal Savings Bank |
The LDA is intended for purchasing daily necessities on the island such as food, clothing etc. The Cyprus pounds can not be put into the account. The LDA acts as an account to convert other forms of currency only. However, you cannot use the funds placed in the account for a vehicle or other personal property such as a house. If you wish to open an account for large purchases such as these then an External Account will be required.
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