We successfully relocated a family and their business operations to Cyprus, sequencing immigration, banking, company registrations, payroll, schooling, and healthcare into one critical path. With a structured 60-day plan, every dependency was managed so that day one in Cyprus felt like day one at home.
It took 6 weeks from project start to the first compliant Cyprus payroll and VAT filings.
This ensured zero penalties, with all statutory registrations completed on time and a single master checklist covering immigration, banking, housing, tax, healthcare, vehicles, and schools.
The Opportunity
The client wanted to relocate their family and EU-facing company to Cyprus to benefit from stable 12.5% corporate tax, straightforward EU access, and non-dom planning for the founder – without losing a single sales cycle or missing school admission dates.
What determines whether a relocation succeeds or fails is sequencing. A bank account cannot open without KYC; payroll cannot run before Social Insurance and GHS; school enrollment requires proof of address; and immigration appointments must be booked weeks in advance. Our role was to turn these dozens of interdependencies into a clear, calendar-driven move.
The Solution
Pre-move roadmap (T-60 > T-15)
Residency route confirmed – selected the Companies of Foreign Interest (CFE) track for work & residence permits; considered Permanent Residency (Reg. 6(2)) for long-term settlement.
Company housekeeping – incorporated a Cyprus company (or regularised an existing one); completed board calendar, tax ID, VAT (if applicable), PAYE, Social Insurance and GHS registrations; engaged accountant/auditor.
Banking & payments – prepared full pre-KYC pack (UBO tree, source of funds, contracts, lease/utility proofs) and scheduled account opening.
Housing – lease signed in the applicant’s name; utility letters (electricity, water, municipal waste) pre-arranged.
Schools & childcare – applications submitted with vaccination records and transcripts; placements aligned with term dates.
Healthcare – arranged interim private health cover; GHS enrollment planned post-arrival.
Documents pack – apostilled civil certificates, degrees (where relevant), police clearance, biometric photos and scans uploaded to a shared vault.
Arrival week (T-0 > T-7)
Immigration filings – biometrics and applications submitted for all family members under the chosen route.
Bank account – in-person verification completed; corporate signatories activated; online banking live.
Payroll go-live – local employment contracts issued; Social Insurance numbers linked; PAYE/GHS caps applied in payroll software.
Utilities & municipality – EAC and Water Board accounts set up; municipal waste tax account opened.
Driving & vehicles – exchange of UK/EU licences initiated; car purchase and insurance quotes obtained, CO₂-based road tax budgeted.
Healthcare – GHS registration completed where eligible; family assigned to a personal doctor.
First 30–60 days
Residence permits issued; tax residency plan executed (183-day or 60-day rule).
Founder remuneration mix agreed (salary vs. distributions); non-dom status documented.
School enrolment finalised; pediatrician and dentist selected.
Lease stamped (if required) and utility payments automated via local bank.
Driver’s licence exchange completed; vehicle registered and insured.
First 90 days (stabilise & optimise)
Compliance calendar locked for VAT, PAYE, Social Insurance/GHS, provisional tax and audit deadlines.
Insurance sweep: home, car, and health top-ups.
Estate & succession basics: wills prepared where needed; beneficiaries registered on accounts/insurance.
Non-work admin: mobile, internet, community memberships to complete the family’s settlement.
The Impact
No operational downtime: invoicing, payroll and VAT ran on the same cadence as before the move.
Banking and KYC: account opened with a clean UBO/SoF file; payment rails live in week one.
Immigration certainty: permits granted on the planned route; dependants processed together.
Founder tax efficiency: non-dom file prepared; passive income streams structured with clarity on SDC/GHS exposure.
Family readiness: school places secured; GHS/GP selected; utilities and driving sorted.
What we deliver
- Relocation critical-path (T-60 to T-0 to T+90)
- Immigration pack (forms, appointment sheet, document checklist)
- Family setup pack (schools, GHS registration, doctors, utilities)
- Residency & substance file (board calendar, minutes, records location)
- Payroll & compliance calendar (VAT, PAYE, SI/GHS, provisional tax, audit)
- Banking KYC file (UBO, SoF/PoE, professional letters)