What You Need to Know When You’re Moving to Limassol

Relocating to Limassol

About the City

Located on the southern coast of Cyprus, the city of Limassol has an urban population of around 100,000, based on the census in 2011.

Upon moving to Limassol you will discover that the population comprises Greek and Turkish Cypriots. However, there is also a large Russian community (due to Russian nationals and Russian expatriates) and around 3% of the people living in the area speak Russian.

Limassol is an attractive and popular place amongst tourists, especially during the summer months. This can prove to be a welcome social change for expats moving to the area.

The Climate in Limassol 

Limassol has a subtropical Mediterranean climate, with plenty of sunshine and warm days. With a temperature that averages between 30 and 33°C in summer and from 13.5 to 18.5°C in winter, you certainly will be enjoying a warm environment for the majority of the year.

Despite December to March proving a little unsettled, there is nevertheless an average of six hours of sunshine on many days. The rainiest weather can be expected between March and April, albeit this period is short-lived. The summer in Limassol is the longest of all four seasons, lasting for on average eight months..

Visas for Cyprus

EU citizens do not need a visa to enter Cyprus, but citizens of many countries must apply for a short-stay visa. If you are moving to Limassol for a period of 90 days and longer, a long-stay visa is required. Applications must be completed at least one month before the end of the 90-day period. There are three different types of long-term visas: these are business, student and employment visas.

 Work permits double as a residence permit in Cyprus, and EU citizens are only required to apply for three things to get them: an Alien Registration Certificate at the local immigration branch of the police within eight days of arrival, a social insurance number and a residence permit.

For non-European citizens, the residence and work permits must be applied for before entering the country. For work permits, the main prerequisite is a signed work contract, stamped by the Department of Labor. This department has to examine whether there are any suitable and qualified applicants for the position to be found within Cyprus or the EU.

For more information, see our article on visas for Cyprus.