Import Duty and VAT Relief for Transfer of Normal Residence to the Republic of Cyprus

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moving to cyprus - questions about import procedures
  • Reliefs are available for individuals transferring their normal residence to the Republic of Cyprus from another member state of the EU or from a country outside the EU.
  • Normal residence is defined as the place where a person lives for at least 185 days in a 12-month period due to personal and occupational ties. Personal property includes household effects, vehicles, household provisions, and portable instruments for a trade or profession.
  • To prove the Union status of personal effects and motor vehicles when transferring from another member state of the EU, you will need to produce a T2L or T2LF document or the number plates and original vehicle registration document from the previous member state.
  • When transferring your normal residence to the Republic of Cyprus from a country outside the EU, you may be eligible for relief from import duty and VAT on personal effects and a motor vehicle for private use if you have owned and used them for at least six months before the transfer.
  • To be eligible for relief, you must have owned and used the personal effects and motor vehicle for at least six months before the transfer, and you must have been resident outside the EU for at least 12 months before the transfer.
  • You must also provide evidence of ownership and use, such as receipts or insurance documents, and you will need to complete an SAD form and pay any applicable import duty and VAT.
  • Motor vehicles imported under relief must be registered with the Department of Road Transport before they can be licensed for road tax purposes.
  • For more information, contact the Department of Customs and Excise or the Department of Road Transport.

In plain words , If you are moving to the Republic of Cyprus from another country and you have some of your personal belongings and a car or motorcycle with you, you might have to pay some money to the government called “import duty” and “VAT”. But if you have owned and used your belongings and vehicle for at least six months before moving, and you lived outside the EU for at least 12 months before moving, you might not have to pay the import duty and VAT. You will need to show some papers to the government to prove this, and you will have to fill out a form called an SAD form. After you have paid any import duty and VAT, you will need to register your vehicle with the Department of Road Transport before you can use it on the roads.