After Britain’s exit from the European Union, the life of citizens of this country living in Cyprus has changed in many ways. Before Brexit, they enjoyed the same rights as other Europeans: they could live freely, work, open business, acquire real estate and use the state healthcare system. However, from January 1, 2021, when the UK officially left the unified space of the EU, its citizens lost automatic right to live in the countries of the Union, including Cyprus.
Those British who already lived on the island before this date had to go through the registration process and issue a new type of residence permit - Meu3 or a resident card on the basis of an exit agreement. This ensured the preservation of basic rights, but added bureaucratic red tape. The new arrivals British were in the position of citizens of the third country: now they need to go through strict procedures that were previously unfamiliar to them. The owners of real estate were especially felt, who before Brexit could stay in Cyprus without restrictions all year round, and now limited to only 90 days for six months (without a residence permit).
The situation with medical care has also changed: British pensioners, previously automatically covered by the local HESI health system through European insurance, now need private insurance or must meet certain criteria for access to the system. Some restrictions affected banking services, tax agreements, as well as the transportation of pets and personal belongings when moving.
Despite the close historical and cultural ties between the two countries, after Brexit it became clear that the foundation of Great Britain outside the EU gives rise to many new difficulties and requires British more planning, resources and legal literacy. These changes are especially acutely perceived among pensioners, whose ideas about a carefree life on the island are faced with the reality of new rules.
Of course, Brexit did not destroy the connections between Cyprus and Great Britain, but significantly complicated their maintenance. British citizens are still an important part of Cyprus society, especially in tourist and coastal regions, but now they are forced to act in a different legal context-with less rights, more dependence on local decisions and the constant need for a new reality, where the status of the “European” is no longer guaranteed by default.
