Not only blessed with beautiful weather and a stunning landscape, the Republic of Cyprus is culturally rich and perfectly placed for working and travelling, both within the EU and beyond. The Greek-speaking Orthodox Christian community and the Turkish-speaking Muslim community are the two major ethnic and religious groups in Cyprus. The members of both groups cohabited in peace and celebrated their festivals together until 1974, when Turkey invaded the north in response to a military coup on the island backed by the Athens government. Since then the island has been effectively partitioned with mostly Turkish Cypriots occupying North Cyprus, and mostly Greek Cypriots occupying the Republic of Cyprus. Even though the two communities have been separated since the events in 1974, they still share lots of things in common, such as customs, mannerisms, values and cuisine. Reunification talks have proceeded gradually and some progress has been seen recently.
Today, modern Cyprus is an independent sovereign Republic with a presidential system of government. After a series of negotiations lasting more than three decades, the Republic of Cyprus became a full member of the EU in 2004. The accession to the EU contributes markedly to the democracy, freedom and economy of Cyprus. In 2008, Cyprus joined the European Monetary Union and the euro became its official currency, replacing the old Cyprus pound. Cyprus is also a member of the United Nations and its specialised agencies, the Council of Europe, the British Commonwealth, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and many other international organisations, playing an increasingly significant role in the globalized world.
The Cyprus Permanent Residency Programme offers residency to high-net-worth investors who make a significant property investment. Family members can accompany the applicant, and residents of Cyprus are free to travel the Schengen area. Cyprus is also a favourable location to do business, with a central geographic location and a business friendly government. Not to mention the fabulous weather and pristine beaches that Cyprus is famous for.
