www.talkcyprus.org

Bison · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Gloucestershire UK

Hi everyone,

My name is Andy, I am Eng/Cyp Born and always lived in the UK. My Father is Greek- Cypriot and lives in Cyprus with most of my family. I only have my mother left in England and want to move to Cyprus for a better life and to watch my little brother grow up.

I am 25 yrs old, well educated and a successful manager in a large Insurance Company. The only experience I have of living in Cyprus was one summer when I DJ'd in Ayia Napa for 6 months.

I would like some advice on the first steps to moving over.
Some Questions.

1.Will I have to do National Service, as I really don't want to.
2.Will I need Visa/Work permits, I only have a UK passport.
3.I will need Employment but do not speak Greek, will this be a major problem as I am looking for job in Insurance as that's my profession.
4 How do you find Jobs in Cyprus etc.

These are just a few questions, but I would appreciate advice and help on anything relating to the move. I also want to take my car, has anyone driven from the UK to Cyprus....

Your input and help will be much appreciated!

Andrew

city · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 3370 Location: Larnaca area

:welcome: Bison!

I can't be of any help, but I guess other members will soon answer your questions.

There was a thread already here somewhere about national service if I remember correctly.
In insurance business I would guess that Greek would be required as you would have to deal with local people.

brother · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 8920 Location: London/Cyprus

Hi Bison and welcome to the forum :welcome:

There is a large ex-pat community in cyprus, around 15,000 in the North and probably that much more in the south, unless you speak Greek/Turkish it would be tough going unless you open your own business and target the ex-pat community. :wink:

Dhavlos · Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 4697 Location: Birmingham

Quote:
1.Will I have to do National Service, as I really don't want to.

Sadly, i think you will cos your father was born in cyprus9i assume)...even then..i think it even stretches to your grandparents. However, the fact you dont know greek may mean it is pointless you going in since you will not understadn orders etc..i would contact the embassy and ask, but other people may know better than me.
Quote: 2.Will I need Visa/Work permits, I only have a UK passport.
no, cos cyprus is in the EU..that means anyone can work anywhere in the EU without limits(i think im right here)

Quote: 3.I will need Employment but do not speak Greek, will this be a major problem as I am looking for job in Insurance as that's my profession.
4 How do you find Jobs in Cyprus etc.

on eway of getting out of the language thing is trying to work for the British Bases...since that means you will need to just know english...i think a few expats do that cos their greek isnt good. Knowing english is a good thing, but greek will be vital, especially for day-to-day living. I would suggest you take some kind of night course...cos you will need to be able to read the language at least andknow the basics...unless you are planning to stay in some kind of 'english bubble?'

You can get your car shipped to cyprus...i know someone who drove to greece, and from there, got a ship to cyprus, with the car on board too!...(they even kinda had a tour of Europe as a holiday kinda thing on the way ;) )

good luck tho with the move

tcklim · Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:22 pm Post subject:

If you don't have a Cypriot passport you have no obligation towards the army at all.... you will be considered a foreigner or "alien"in Cyprus actually, so prepare to deal with a lot of bureaucratic annoyances.

Might be hard to find a job in insurance without Greek,but then again, maybe not.... good luck either way I dont know.

Crash Test Dummy · Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 4911 Location: London(ish)

Go be a DJ. Ask Dhavlos for more info, Hes off to Ibiza in the summer ask him :lol: :lol: :lol:

city · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 3370 Location: Larnaca area

Bison wrote: 4 How do you find Jobs in Cyprus etc.

Generally forget any websites. They do not usually have much availabilities or are outdated. Unless maybe some big companies have a 'career' section on their hompage.

However, I know a few, but can't say about the quality. Some require registering.

http://www.jobs.com.cy/
http://www.careersonweb.com/
http://www.job.com.cy/prcframe2.html
http://www.cyprusjobs.com/index.php

Usually it works best to move there, get to know the people, make friends and take it from there. This way you will have much better chances then when looking from abroad.

brother · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 8920 Location: London/Cyprus

Hi tcklim and welcome to the forum. :welcome:

tcklim · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 3:30 pm Post subject:

Thanks bro :) We actually met b4 back in that oh-so-luvely CF place....... was wonderin where half the ppl had gotten to :shock:

cypezokyli · Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 2344

:welcome: tcklim

brother · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 8920 Location: London/Cyprus

tcklim wrote: Thanks bro :) We actually met b4 back in that oh-so-luvely CF place....... was wonderin where half the ppl had gotten to :shock:

Cool and nice to have another member of the family together again. :wink: :D

Crash Test Dummy · Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 4911 Location: London(ish)

brother wrote: tcklim wrote: Thanks bro :) We actually met b4 back in that oh-so-luvely CF place....... was wonderin where half the ppl had gotten to :shock:

Cool and nice to have another member of the family together again. :wink: :D

:lol: :lol: :lol:

city · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 3370 Location: Larnaca area

tcklim wrote: Thanks bro :) We actually met b4 back in that oh-so-luvely CF place....... was wonderin where half the ppl had gotten to :shock:

Hi tcklim and welcome! So I was right, thinking I remembered your name from CF.... :-)

anna · Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 6

I know quite a few Cypriots born in the UK whose fathers were born in Cyprus and when they have permanently located over here, they have had to do national service. The length of time seems to vary between 3-6 months which may depend on age.

I understand that having a British Passport does not make any difference, if the father is born in Cyprus then the son is considered Cypriot.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Anna

Lewis Gerolemou · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Posts: 107 Location: UK

You really need to check this national service business out because my information is different but it does relate to the 60s and 70s so maybe the rules have changed. I was born in UK, my father in Cyprus. I have a UK passport but was offered dual nationality which I declined because that would have meant national service. More recently my cousin's son born in UK aged 30 has been to Cyprus on holiday but had no problems. Ask The Cyprus High Commission.