| Citizens of EU Member States who transfer their normal residence to Cyprus can bring their personal property into the country without having to pay import duty, excise duty and VAT. A citizen of Europe is deemed to have moved his normal residence (namely the place where he usually lives for at least 185 days in a calendar year because of personal and occupational ties) to Cyprus. Personal property, as referred to above, means items of a non-commercial nature which are transferred into the country for personal / household use. It should be mentioned that it is not necessary to hire the services of a customs agent when transferring personal property into Cyprus.
The transfer of such property to Cyprus with exemption from excise duties and VAT requires the furnishing of proof of the Community status of the items by the production of a T2L document or by the marking of the loading list with the symbol 'T2L' or by the production of other commercial documents.
Private motor vehicles and motor cycles of EU citizens intending to become established in Cyprus are subject to excise duties when the engine size exceeds 100 cc. Used vehicles with European registration plates are assumed to be from the European Union and are subject to excise duties and other luxury taxes.
In the case of some items, such as tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, the quantities which travellers may bring in personally from EU Member States are restricted. The limits per EU citizen travelling to Cyprus are as follows: 800 cigarettes, 400 cheroots (cigars with a unit weight not exceeding three grammes), 200 cigars, one kilo of smoking tobacco, 10 litres of alcoholic beverages, 20 litres of intermediate products (koumantaria, muscat, madeira, vermouth, sherry, etc.), 90 litres of wine (of which no more than 60 litres may be sparkling wine) and 110 litres of beer.
It must be emphasised that the transfer to Cyprus of certain items, such as narcotics, nuclear, chemical, toxic and biological weapons, biological items and related substances, obscene publications and objects, forged banknotes and certain types of firearm, is prohibited.
- Department of Customs and Excise
Tel: (00357) 22 601 657 and (00357) 22 601 658
- Europe Direct
Tel: (00357) 00 800 6789 1011
European citizens can go to the Europe Direct website free of charge from any of the 25 countries of the EU. The number 8000 11 12 can be phoned from within Cyprus, and the Eurodirect number + 357 8000 11 12 can be phoned directly from EU countries. |
