Climate
Cyprus enjoys an excellent climate, with an average of 340 days of sunshine per year. Winters are short and mild with temperatures rarely dropping below 16 C; summer temperatures reach the low 30's. The light rainy season lasts from November to March. For these reasons Cyprus is especially beneficial to people suffering from arthritic and rheumatic conditions where a mild and warm climate can significantly provide relief from problems relating to limited personal mobility.

Language
Language is another important consideration when one is considering living overseas. Cyprus was once a British colony resulting in over 90% of the population speaking English. Clearly, this factor means that is far less of strain living in Paphos than it would be in other locations in Europe. It is also useful to note that all street signs, directions signs and shop signs, etc. are written in both Greek and English.

Communications
Cyprus has a modern telecommunication system with direct telephone dialing to more than 120 countries. Fax, modem and mobile telephone facilities are extensively used on the island. The broadcasting system makes heavy use of English language programmes on both television and radio, and Cyprus is also within the footprint of existing and prospective new European television satellites. Additionally, the British military bases in Cyprus broadcast on their own radio and television stations.

Crime Rate
According to Interpol statistics, Cyprus has a crime rate, which is only 1/6 of the average of all other European countries. You will find that people rarely lock their car, leave windows and doors open and this is all due to the friendliness and honesty of the local population. Living in Paphos will mean that you enjoy personal security and not even think of turning your home into a fortress.

Medical services
Cyprus is well supplied with medical practitioners, most of whom have qualified in either the United Kingdom for the U.S.A. . Consultation fees for our patient services are low and the island has both government and private hospitals with competent physicians in all fields.

Diet
The local diet in Cyprus is healthy and inexpensive, based on fresh locally grown fruit and vegetables. The abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, the custom to make Cyprus diet especially healthy. These factors and the climate advantages outlined above, tend to increase longevity by as much as 4 - 5 years depending upon other personal factors. Local wines and spirits are also available at very low prices.

Cost of living
The cost of basic essentials such as food, drink and clothing is noticeably lower in Cyprus then in the United Kingdom. Luxury consumer goods such as hi-fi and video equipment are subject to high levels of import duty, and are therefore relatively expensive in Cyprus. However, the retiree can import his/her previously owned luxury possessions to Cyprus as used personal effects free of import duty to minimize this drawback.

A typical expatriate married couple retired in Cyprus and living in an owner occupied property can manage comfortably on a gross income of less than U.K. 8,000 per annum and this includes amongst other expenses the cost of 2 return airline tickets to London each year for holidays, foreign and local English newspapers, local income taxes and the cost of dining out some 2/3 nights each week.

Taxation
Cyprus is unique when it comes to the taxation aspects of living on the island.
Cyprus has conducted treaties for the avoidance of double taxation with: Austria, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greek, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, U.K., U.S.A. and Yugoslavia. Furthermore, there are negotiations for the ratification of treaties with Egypt, Malta, Syria, Belgium, Finland and the countries comprising the common wealth of Independence States. The main purpose of these treaties is the avoidance of double taxation of income earned in any of these countries.

There is substantial taxation for the United Kingdom citizens retiring to Cyprus. The United Kingdom Cyprus Double Taxation Treaty, which is unique in this respect, enables pensioners to remit both government as well as private sector occupational pensions to Cyprus free of withholding taxes in the United Kingdom. All the above taxation benefits also apply to citizens in other countries.

In particularly all other double taxation treaties, government's pensions are almost subject to withholding taxes at source. Hence the relief offered to British government pensioners resident in Cyprus is unique to Cyprus and generally not available elsewhere under the terms of other double taxation treaties.

Similarly foreign retirees living in Cyprus are taxed at only 1/10th of the local rate, and in practice most foreign retirees pay income tax at the rate of approximately 3% per year. The government Cyprus proposes to simplify its tax system from 1st of January 1991 onwards and charge foreign retirees a flat 5% tax on all imported pensions, with an annual exemption of the first 2,000 CYP. Additional investment income remitted to Cyprus from abroad by foreign retirees is to be taxed at flat rate of only 5% per annum bar the first 2,000 CYP per annum of which is exempt.

Cyprus levies taxation only on a remittance basis; that is, its taxes only assets that are brought in Cyprus, rather than the more punitive system of taxation on world raising income that is practiced in many other countries including the countries mentioned above as well as other 30 countries. Residents of Cyprus can thus legally hold assets tax-free in banks in tax havens such as the Isle of Man and Jersey, and suffer no taxation on bank interest or dividend income remaining outside of Cyprus. No capital gains tax is charged on the remittance of the capital assets to Cyprus such as money needed or the purchase of property and other similar capital assets such as motor vehicles.

Increasingly, Cyprus is used as a residential base for residents of the above mentioned countries who wish to restructure their personal assets in a favorable tax jurisdiction, where capital gains tax and income tax exposure can be effectively and legally minimized. The potential tax advantages for retirees are thus truly substantial and the use of Cyprus as a fiscal base for retirees of all nationalities should not be ignored.

Education
There are both junior and secondary schools in Paphos, of very high standards, catering for English and other students. The international school of Paphos achieves excellent "O" and "A" level results.
The schools accept day students have boarding facilities for up to 50 children. Additionally, there is a college of higher education offering business studies, Hotel Management and many other courses.
Numerous courses are available for mature students.

A number of institutions of higher education function under the general supervision of the government, either the object of satisfying the needs of he growing tourist and manufacturing industries for skilled personnel. Moreover, there is a thriving industry of private secondary schools, colleges and institutes. There is legislation in force regulating or accrediting these private institutions, which offer a variety of courses. Some of these private institutions also obtain endorsement of their relevant diplomas by U.K. and U.S.A. educational establishments or cater for external degree programmes examinations.

Work permit
Working regulations for Non Cypriots are very strict and in all cases permits must be obtained before engaging or attempting to engage in any kind of work. Applications for a work permit are made by prospective employer and are processed by the Aliens and immigration Department of the District in questions. It is advisable to ensure that employer is actually in possession of work permit, as prosecution and deportation is likely for non-Cypriots working without. Work permits are usually only granted when a particular job can not be filled by Cypriots, or for persons applying for work with offshore companies, which would be the most likely way of obtaining a work permit. They are usually granted on an annual basis, although for the tourist industry this can vary from three months upwards.