Removals Service to Cyprus
Whether you are moving to Nicosia, Limassol or Paphos, Central Moves Ltd has the expertise and the local knowledge to tailor the move to your individual needs. We can provide small vehicles for residences with tight access, arrange extra men to help with unpacking and unloading and offer a full door to door removal to Cyprus.
Your personal belongings will be safe with us
During the course of the removal, every item will have its own protective cover using high quality packing materials. In short, this relates to TV covers, sofa covers, mattress protectors, wardrobe cartons, carpet runners, protective cases for fine art and sturdy coverings for fine furniture ( extra service ). Even your plants will receive expert care with our professional full packing service.
We are a highly professional company who are members of The Association Of Independent Movers ( AIM ) and The European Movers Network and are one of the only companies specialising in removals to Cyprus that are accredited with the BS EN 12522 standard proving our commitment to our customers.
Central Moves are a English owned company with multilingual Greek staff who are highly connected after working in removal companies in mainland Greece and the Greek islands, translation services are available to our customers at any time they should be required.
Feel Free to Call for Free Friendly advice and assistance spoken in Greek or English.
Our Moving Services Explained
Full Container Load (FCL) – Sole use container
This category ensures that the container carries only your goods and under normal circumstances these can be loaded directly into the container, and the container sealed, at your residence. This leaves the container ready for delivery direct to the departure wharf without the need for any further handling of your goods in the origin country. As a rule, because the entire container is utilised, this is the most economical method of shipment. It also generally provides the fastest transit times as there are no delays in waiting for other freight to fill the container.
Less than Container Load (LCL) Consignments
This method is used when there is insufficient cargo to justify the use of an entire container. Shipping companies and freight consolidators provide this service by consolidating freight from different shippers, to a common destination, into container loads. When shipping via LCL, the goods are required to be crated to ensure their protection during transit. This is necessary, as there is no guarantee as to what other cargo may be consolidated with your household effects in the container. Unfortunately, due to the necessity of crating the goods, and the higher freight cost involved, this can be an expensive means of forwarding goods overseas.
Groupage Service – Shared use container
This is an alternate service provided by Central Moves, whereby we consolidate several household and personal effects shipments into containers destined to common destinations. This allows us to pass the freight savings on to you and because only household and personal effects are loaded into our groupage containers there is not the necessity to crate the goods prior to shipment. This of course alleviates the additional cost involved in crating the consignment. Whilst this is an economical alternative to LCL, longer transit times may be experienced whilst awaiting the receipt of other consignments needed to complete the loading of the container prior to despatch. However normally savings exist by the use of this service.
Transit Times Explained
Groupage or share load consignments to Cyprus will usually take 6 to 9 weeks door to door, depending on volumes being shipped, immigration delays and prevailing weather conditions. Sole use containers normally take 3 to 6 weeks, and there is a weekly service to Limassol.
Importing Personal Effects to Cyprus
Cyprus is a member of the EU, and The UK has now left the EU, new rules apply to movement of goods between the UK and EU Countries. Please bear in mind that all shipments to the EU from the UK will now have to clear customs on arrival and you must ensure you can provide all relevant customs documents required at destination. Your contact at our Central Moves office will assist you with which forms are necessary along with what supporting documentation you will need to provide. However, the responsibility for completion and submission of these forms now falls with the customer and it is advisable that all these formalities are prepared for prior to the move to avoid potential delays in transportation and additional charges.
Prohibitions and Restrictions
In general it is in your interest not to import the following items:
- Firearms & ammunition
- Inflammable goods & substances
- Plants & plant material
- Foodstuffs, perishables or otherwise
- Narcotics and dangerous goods
- Offensive materials
- Alcohol & Tobacco
What You Need To Know About Moving To Cyprus
The Best Hotspots For Expats In Cyprus
All over the world, expats often prefer the bigger and more economically vibrant cities when searching for the best locations to settle or live in. Notably, Cyprus has numerous stunning options for prospective buyers looking for various types of new homes on the island. The number of property investment opportunities you find in Cyprus is incredible, considering this island’s size and population.
Undeniably, personal taste and preferences and specific factors like the reason for settling in Cyprus, such as looking for a retirement home or a foreign assignment, will influence your stay on the island. The section below shows the two main expat destinations in Cyprus. Nonetheless, you will find expats living in almost all parts of the island.
- Cyprus has one of the most favourable climates in the European region.
- However, the existing disunity between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Republic is still a vital issue causing political tension in the area.
- You can expect to be enthralled by the rich cultural heritage in the cities of Nicosia and Limassol.
- To register for a work permit and residence requires non-EU citizens to follow several steps. Nonetheless, the process is much more straightforward for citizens of countries in the European Union.
You are welcome to Cyprus, often christened as the “outpost” in the southeast! All expats relocating to the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea can expect plenty of adventure and fun, as long as they remain within the island. The fantastic weather and the diverse cultures are the main attributes that pull most of the expats to Cyprus.
Nicosia, Cyprus’s Exciting Capital
Nicosia, sometimes called Lefkosia, is the biggest city in Cyprus. In addition, it also serves as the country’s capital city and is a special place to be. The capital’s governance is divided into two; the Republic of Cyprus controls one section of the capital, and the other is under military control by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Notwithstanding the power separation, Nicosia city has excelled as the country’s central financial and business hub. The high number of expatriates in the city has necessitated the provision of a highly international and cosmopolitan environment, thus buoying the city’s economic vitality. For this reason, the city’s administration has constantly ensured expats can set up their business or housing plans quickly. For example, the Official City Portal has valuable information about many things that new people in the city might be interested in.
Nicosia has provided adequate space and support for economic activities, and other land uses such as education, retail, religion, and culture. All Cypriot banks and several international organisations have headquarters in the capital city. In addition, there is a vast student population due to the eight universities operating in the city, such as the University of Cyprus (UCY).
There is much more to explore in Nicosia. For instance, culture lovers can learn about Nicosia’s history, which dates back to the pre-historic period. You may not be primarily interested in learning about the city’s entire past; however, there are other things to explore, such as the beautiful architecture of the Old Town, taking an afternoon stroll in the A.G. Leventis Gallery, or enjoying a play at the Theatre Odin.
Limassol, Cyprus’s Southern Gem
With a population of about 185,000 people, Limassol ranks as the second-biggest urban jurisdiction in Cyprus. It is also home to one of the busiest ports in Europe. Read more in our article on “Working in Cyprus”. We have focused on the prominence of Limassol as a major seaport and trading centre in Cyprus.
Other factors attract many expats, tourists, and Cypriots to the city. For instance, Limassol has made a name for itself as a tourist hub, as shown by the number of tourists going to Limassol. Statistics show the number of visitors to Limassol has been increasing continually in recent years, with about 36% of the visitors coming from the UK.
Furthermore, Limassol stands out as Cyprus’s necessary migration and urbanisation centre. This is why Cyprus has a high proportion of city dwellers, now at 67% of the entire population.
Limassol is also a critical educational centre in Cyprus, with over 100 educational institutions of all sizes in the city, like the Cyprus University of Technology. Before the emergence of most of the universities in Cyprus, many people sought education abroad and only came back after completing their studies. However, the country has massively improved its education system, resulting in a rise of highly educated and bilingual graduates.
Applying For A Residence And Work Permit
If the reason for moving to Cyprus is to accept paid employment, your residence permit for Cyprus is inseparably tied to your work permit. Like with entry visas, the process for applying for a residence permit is very different for countries that are not in the EU.
The application process is relatively simple and easy flowing for EU member states. On the other hand, you will need to go through several other steps and meet other requirements if you come from the so-called third countries. You must pass several evaluation criteria and submit the documents required to acquire a residence and work permit. Additionally, you have to contend with the fact that you cannot make the application in Cyprus. Read more from the Department of Labour’s website.
Registration Of Aliens
Citizens from non-EU and EU states who want to settle in Cyprus for a more extended period than three months and accept an employment offer need to register as residents formally. This means they must have a registration certificate when applying for a residence permit. You may follow these steps:
Begin by applying for an Alien Registration Certificate (ARC). This application is made at the Immigration Office of the local police within the first eight days of arrival and after paying the required fee.
Secondly, you are required to apply for a social insurance number to be allowed to work in Cyprus. You are given the three months that follow to submit your formal application for a residence permit to the Civil Registry and Migration Department. Often, processing of the permanent residence permit takes between six and eight months. However, you will likely wait longer (between eight and ten months) if you already have a temporary residence permit.
