Current Residency Requirements

The difference is the self employed pay SI you aren’t allowed to

Toon wrote:

The difference is the self employed pay SI you aren’t allowed to

So why not just declare as self employed?

Nothing stopping you in doing so. Stil have to go through the registration process for a self employed person and register for tax etc I don’t know what going self employed  involves. Maybe that’s the route you should explore. But if not true then That would be tax evaluation issues that may occur and twice Per year returns. Best bet is to speak to the tax people here or a tax adviser here they may be best suited to advise. Apologies for the correction phone died and just got power back

Toon wrote:

Nothing stopping you in doing so. Stil have to go through the registration process for a self employed person and register for tax etc I don’t know what going self employed  involves. Maybe that’s the route you should explore. But if not true then That would be tax evasion.

No tax evasion involved - actually paying more into the system surely?

Jim

See my amended reply. Lost power battery died . Maybe explore self  employment as the SI under self employment can easily be 300 per quarter.  see how it compares to GESY and private.Also see what it is you will be required to supply by way of proving self employment

i wiil try and find out what is involved for self employemtn as know a few people who are.... in the meantime it may be a good idea to read the following

https://www.pwc.com.cy/en/publications/ … h-engl.pdfhttp://www.mlsi.gov.cy/mlsi/sid/sidv2.n … enDocumenthttps://www.gesy.org.cy/sites/Sites?d … ge=home-enhttps://www.mof.gov.cy/mof/tax/taxdep.n … endocument

and this I found interesting as to the levels of payment per quarter for self employed... if ive read it correctly you probably would be better off paying/going private for healthcare... see what you think  http://www.mlsi.gov.cy/mlsi/sid/sidv2.n … enDocument

Enquiries made so far seem to confirm going self employed is expensive and may be problematic with your idea.

"Yes contributions are expensive for self employed and can only be reduced on provision of annual accounts showing relevant income/expenditure. You also need to show invoices/contracts etc. to get approved for self employed status. Definitely cheaper to have private health insurance!"

Thanks for that Toon

Jim

no worries Jim good luck

Toon - just read your new thread - how does the option of voluntarily paying into the Social Insurance Scheme affect our recent discussion?

Jim

CURRENTLY YOU CANT DO THAT AS PER GESY EMAIL BELOW

nfo@gesy.org.cy
Wed 2020-06-10 16:23
To: You
Dear Sir/Madame,
We would like to inform you that the option of voluntary contributions will be offer in the future, at the current moment this is not possible.
Thank you for contacting us, we remain at your disposal.

GHS Contact Centre
Health Insurance Organisation

Tel: 17000, calling from abroad: +357-22017000
Email: info@gesy.org.cy
Website: www.gesy.org.cy/contactus
Beneficiary & Provider Portals: Queries and Complaints Section

NB Jim, there is no timescale for the authorities to offer it.... but to me it makes sense to maybe allow it but with maybe a sliding scale of healthcare  cover until say 5 years contributions are made....

Toon wrote:

NB Jim, there is no timescale for the authorities to offer it.... but to me it makes sense to maybe allow it but with maybe a sliding scale of healthcare  cover until say 5 years contributions are made....

Does seem like the "ideal" solution - even if IMO the contributions were similar in amount to private surcharges - does seem a bit remiss of the high commission referring to non-existent options though?

Jim

Yes my thoughts exactly but they were probably told   it will be offered at some stage just not yet due to COVID I would imagine

"watch this space....."

Yes am afraid that will be the case.... just wait and see what happens just don’t leave it too late

You are welcome and thank you

jojorose wrote:

Thank you so much Toon! I will be using the lawyer, as they can open a bank account before arrival and guarantee the MEU1 on the same day as the appointment as they will prepare my paperwork to the exact requirements. I passed on your message and found that I DO QUALIFY FOR THE MEU1 before the 31st Dec - the other lawyer was aiming for after 31st Dec application!

I have the tenancy and aiming for arrival and appointment at the end of Nov. I will keep you posted.

Ace advice and support - much appreciated!

May I ask how much your lawyer is charging for this service?

Thanks

Jim

Hello
I am a new member and am planning to move to Cyprus in November 2020, I have an appointment with Immigration to apply for an MEU1 Cyprus Registration Certificate. I have a question if anyone can help?
Assuming the application goes well and we receive our yellow slip, do we have to stay in Cyprus for a period of time or are we free to return to the UK? The reason is I may have to give my current employer up to 3 months notice. (We have not told them our plans yet!)

At the moment myself and my wife have booked flights in November in order to meet with Imigration and then either one or both of us will return to the UK again after two weeks in order to complete the notice period needed by the company we work for. Alternatively my wife could stay there, she only has to give 4-weeks notice,  and I would then return again, probably in January 2021. Any information would be very helpful.
Neil

As an MEU1 holder you are free to have no more than 6months per year out of Cyprus - MEU3 holders can have upto 5 years outside of Cyprus

Got this tonight from tax office so this might be the answer Jim ....

If pension is less than 19500, no obligation to submit a tax return
If you have an exemption from the ministry of health you do not have to pay GeSY either
If you are not exempted from GeSY you may use the portal and pay gesy contributions on pension received without even submiting a tax return
What is required is that you are registered to the tax dept and have a TIC
Υπηρεσία TAXISnet Άμεσης Φορολογίας
TAXISnet Service For Direct Taxation

Toon wrote:

Got this tonight from tax office so this might be the answer Jim ....

If pension is less than 19500, no obligation to submit a tax return
If you have an exemption from the ministry of health you do not have to pay GeSY either
If you are not exempted from GeSY you may use the portal and pay gesy contributions on pension received without even submiting a tax return
What is required is that you are registered to the tax dept and have a TIC
Υπηρεσία TAXISnet Άμεσης Φορολογίας
TAXISnet Service For Direct Taxation

Sounds promising/interesting Toon.....

it does - for sure so this is a recent change...

and makes sense really

am just not sure how its going to work in practice - we shall have to wait and see how it all unfolds and develops over time

Three years ago when we first used an agent to register for tax, she said I didn’t really NEED to, but that if I had a tax number, it’d be easier if “anything “ happened to my husband (meaning if he was to die first!) as I wouldn’t have to have that to do as well as anything else.  (I would take on half of two of his pensions, so might go above the tax ceiling for not paying tax).   So I do have a tax number, even though I don’t pay tax myself.

Just an update  - a friend of mine who has private pensions, doesnt work and and is not on state pension declared his private pension income and has been charged GESY contributions via his tax return BUT cannot join GESY as he is not eligible....

Wow - surely a mistake?

No mistake .... as many have been caught in this “trap”.. I suspect its regarded as "unearned income"

I got this reply in July 2020

Dear Sir
We would like to inform that according to the criteria set by the GHS law, EU citizens who have their ordinary residence in the areas controlled by the Cyprus Government are beneficiaries when the following conditions apply:

1. Work in the areas controlled by the Cyprus Government (MEU1) or

2. Have acquired the right of Permanent Residence (MEU3 permit) or

3. Are Family members (spouse, child) of a GHS Beneficiary or

4. Meet the provisions of EU Regulation 883 (S1 holders)

Regarding your second question, according to the GHS regulations, all Cyprus tax residents who receive a pension or any income from the Republic of Cyprus or abroad are obliged to declare it and pay a contribution of 1,70% on their pension/income for the 1st phase of the GHS (1st March 2019) and 2,65% for the 2nd phase (1st March 2020). For more information regarding this you will have to contact the Tax Department.
Thank you for contacting us, we remain at your

AND

I got this reply n November 2020

Dear sir
We would like to inform you that the obligation of paying contributions for the GHS is independent from the right of being a beneficiary according to the legislation and every person that receives an income from Cyprus or abroad is obligated to contribute for the GHS. If you are not eligible according to the provided criteria, you will not be able to enroll as beneficiary in the GHS but since you receive an income you, as everyone else will contribute according to the set rates.

Thank you for contacting us, we remain at your disposal.
GHS Contact Centre
Health Insurance Organisation
Tel: 17000, calling from abroad: +357-22017000
Email: info@gesy.org.cy
Website: www.gesy.org.cy/contactus
Beneficiary & Provider Portals: Queries and Complaints Section

This is from GESY

General Health System (GHS) ENROLMENT PROCESS - A STEP BY STEP GUIDE
FOR NON–CYPRIOT NATIONALS
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER TO ENROL TO THE GHS
This guide is addressed to Non-Cypriot Nationals who wish to enrol to the GHS and who legally reside
in the areas controlled by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.
It provides information on
a. the GHS Enrolment Process,
b. supporting documentation requirements
c. main Beneficiary Eligibility Categories
 HOW TO ENROL TO THE CYPRUS GHS
BASIC STEPS THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED BY ALL NON-CYPRIOTS WISHING TO ENROL TO THE GHS
STEP 1a – Ensure that you are registered with The Cyprus Migration Department
In other words, you have an Alien Registration Certificate (ARC) and a relevant Residence
Permit, which is currently valid (not expired).
The Cyprus Migration Department will provide you with the legal residence permit
appropriate for your case. Your ARC number is printed on your permit and it is used for
identification purposes, as it is a unique number assigned solely to you by the Republic of
Cyprus
In addition to STEP 1a, if you are working in Cyprus you must also complete STEP 1b
STEP 1b – Ensure that you are registered with The Cyprus Social Insurance Services
Every person legally working in the areas controlled by the Government of the Republic of
Cyprus must be registered with the Social Insurance Services. It is very important that your
Social Insurance Services record also includes your ARC number. So, in case you have
registered with the Social Insurance Services using another identification document (e.g your
passport, or your national identity card) you must visit the district Social Insurance Services
office or a Citizen’s Service Center and ask to update your record by adding your ARC number.
To be able to do so, please ensure you have your permit with you.
Once you complete the above steps, and following an announcement by the HIO you can proceed to
submit a GHS enrolment request in the manner described below in Step 2.
STEP 2 - Submit a GHS enrolment request
Create a User Account
Visit the HIO website www.gesy.org.cy
Choose the Beneficiary Portal and create a User Account
You will be given instructions online how to activate your User Account.
STEP 3 - Sign in the Beneficiary Portal
Once you create and activate your portal User Account, you can sign in the Beneficiary Portal
and proceed with the submission of a GHS enrolment request following the simple
instructions in the system.
1
Note that the enrolment process requires that you fill in specific fields providing Personal
Data. This is necessary in order for the GHS system to be able to cross-check your identity and
residence status in the Republic of Cyprus and retrieve necessary Personal Data from the
Migration Registry and where applicable from the Social Insurance Services Registry.
In addition, you will be required to provide additional information with regards to your
residence address, and communication preferences.
In some cases, e.g. spouse of a beneficiary or other beneficiary family member, you may also
be required to submit additional supporting documentation by post, such as proof that you
reside in the areas controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus. In such cases, the
system will guide you to what documentation you need to submit to the HIO in order to
complete your enrolment. See section below on SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION for more
information.
IMPORTANT: If you do not have access to the Internet, you can enrol to the GHS with the help of a
third party e.g. a friend or a GHS contracted Personal Doctor, who has an account in the Beneficiary
Portal.
STEP 4 - Enrol to a Personal Doctor’s (PD) list following the completion of your enrolment
You should choose a PD and register to his/her list, either online via the Beneficiary Portal, or
by visiting him/her at his/her office.
IMPORTANT: Please note that in order to receive services under the GHS, it is necessary that you
complete STEP 4 above.
For more detailed information on the GHS enrolment process, including helpful “How To” videos,
please visit the GHS website at www.gesy.org.cy and under the Beneficiaries tab find all the useful
information.
 SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
During the process of submitting a GHS enrolment request, the system will provide you with clear
instructions and will guide you throughout the enrolment process.
Note that if you fall into the categories of family member of beneficiary and S1 document holder
you will be requested to print and submit via post your GHS enrolment request along with specific
supporting documentation.
Also, if you are an EU citizen temporarily unable to work you will also be requested to submit your
GHS enrolment request along with specific supporting evidence. To help you submit all that is
necessary to process your GHS enrolment request, the complete list of the supporting documentation
required to be submitted with your enrolment request, will be printed automatically by the system on
your enrolment request form.
If you do not fall into these categories you will not be required to send any additional supporting
documentation. However, please note that in cases were Ordinary Residence is questioned, HIO may
request the submission of ordinary residence evidence, such as recent electricity bills, water board
bills etc, for any of the Beneficiary Eligibility Categories.
2
 MAIN BENEFICIARY ELIGIBILITY CATEGORIES
If you are an EU or other third country citizen and you legally reside in Cyprus, you can enrol to the
GHS, provided you meet the requirements of one the major beneficiary eligibility categories below:
1. Working in Cyprus - I am a Non-Cypriot and I am working in Cyprus.
Citizens who are legally working and have their ordinary residence in the areas controlled by the
Cyprus Government are entitled to healthcare services under the GHS.
Major population groups falling into this category*:  EU citizens working in Cyprus with MEU1 permit
 3
rd Country nationals, i.e. domestic workers
2. Permanently residing in Cyprus - I am a Non-Cypriot and I live permanently in Cyprus.
Citizens who have the right of Permanent Residence according to National Legislation and who
have their ordinary residence in the areas controlled by the Cyprus Government are entitled to
healthcare services under GHS.
Major population groups falling into this category*:  EU citizens with MEU3 permit
 3
rd Country nationals with MEU3 permit
 3
rd Country nationals with Immigration permit
 3
rd Country nationals with long term residence permit
3. S1 holders residing in Cyprus - I am a Non-Cypriot and I have an S1 document.
Citizens who are S1 holders and who have their ordinary residence in the areas controlled by the
Cyprus Government are entitled to healthcare services under GHS. The S1 document is issued by
the EU member state where you are insured. The S1 document certifies your entitlement to
healthcare if you don't live in the country where you are insured.
Major population groups falling into this category*:  EU pensioners with S1 document
 EU posted workers with S1 document
 3
rd Country Nationals who are pensioners with S1 document
 3
rd Country Nationals posted worker with S1 document
4. Family members of Beneficiaries residing in Cyprus - I am a Non-Cypriot and I am a family
member of a GHS beneficiary.
Family members who are spouses, minors and dependent children under the age of 26 and who
do not fulfil any other GHS eligibility criteria, are entitled to healthcare services under GHS, as
family members of a person who is already a GHS beneficiary. These people must also have their
ordinary residence in the areas controlled by the Cyprus Government.
Major population groups falling into this category*:  EU citizens who are spouses of a GHS beneficiary (either Cypriot or Non-Cypriot)
 EU citizens who are minors or dependent children under the age of 26 of a GHS beneficiary
(either Cypriot or Non-Cypriot)
 3
rd Country Nationals who are spouses of a GHS beneficiary (either Cypriot or Non-Cypriot)
 3
rd Country Nationals who are minors or dependent children under the age of 26 of a GHS
beneficiary (either Cypriot or Non-Cypriot)
*Other population groups may fall into this category if they fulfil the criteria set by national and EU legislation
(i.e Alien and Immigration Law, The right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside
freely within the territory of the Member States Law and EU Regulation on the Coordination of Social Security
Systems).
3

Further  info

Additional evidence that must be submitted per Beneficiary Eligibility Category
Eligibility
Category Documents Description
CY –check residence
 Copy of Identity Card
 Signed GHS enrolment form
 Ordinary residence evidence

S1 Holder
 Copy of Alien Registration Certificate (ARC)
 Signed GHS enrolment form
 Copy of S1 Document

EU Inability to work
 Copy of Alien Registration Certificate (ARC)
 Signed GHS enrolment form
 Ordinary residence evidence
 Proof of inability to work, one of the following:
 Medical Report (Sustains the status of "worker" but is temporary incapacitated)
 Certificate R210(ES19) issued by the Department of Labour
 Certificate of attendance of professional courses
EU Family member of Beneficiary
 Copy of Alien Registration Certificate (ARC)
 Signed GHS enrolment form
 Ordinary residence evidence
 Copy of Identity Card or Alien Registration Certificate (ARC) of the family member who is a
beneficiary
 Proof of relationship with the beneficiary, one of the following:
 Birth Certificate
 Wedding Certificate
 Other relation or proof of dependency document

Third Country National Family member of Beneficiary
 Copy of Alien Registration Certificate (ARC)
 Signed GHS enrolment form
 Ordinary residence evidence
 Copy of Identity Card or Alien Registration Certificate (ARC) of the family member who is a
beneficiary
 Proof of relationship with the beneficiary, one of the following:
 Birth Certificate
 Wedding Certificate
 Residence Card for non-EU Citizens family members of Union Citizen (MEU2 card)
 Other relation or proof of dependency document|

Please note that in cases were Ordinary Residence is questioned, HIO may request the submission of ordinary
residence evidence, such as recent electricity bills, water board bills, last tax statement etc, for any Beneficiary
Eligibility Category (i.e CY Citizens, EU Citizens, Third Country Nationals)