Moving to Cyprus from Syria

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Syria to Cyprus — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Syria to Cyprus, and you’d need to navigate life in Greek and Turkish. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Syria to Cyprus, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
11,446 ↑ 65% vs 2015

people born in Syria live in Cyprus · UN DESA

Who's moving to Cyprus?

Top countries of origin for Cyprus's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Syria to Cyprus.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

SY
2.1
CY
0.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SY
29.9
CY
3.9

Cyprus performs significantly better than Syria across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SY
$122
CY
$4,538
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SY
11.9
CY
35.5

Cyprus generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Syria leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SY
83.0
CY
16.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SY
1.3t
CY
5.4t

Syria generally does better on environment, though Cyprus leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SY
7.3
CY
38.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SY
124.4%
CY
32.1%

Cyprus performs significantly better than Syria across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SY
13.5%
CY
6.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SY
$2,900
CY
$50,600

Cyprus generally does better on employment & economy, though Syria leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SY
74.3 yrs
CY
79.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SY
15.9
CY
8.4

Cyprus performs significantly better than Syria across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, Syria, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Damascus Rain: 5.3 in/yr (134 mm)
78° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Nicosia Rain: 13.5 in/yr (342 mm)
80° / 57°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Damascus Nicosia
Jan–Mar 60°/35°F (15°/2°C) 63°/44°F (17°/7°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/51°F (29°/11°C) 85°/60°F (29°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 96°/60°F (35°/15°C) 97°/71°F (36°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 70°/40°F (21°/5°C) 74°/52°F (23°/11°C)
View all months
Month Damascus Nicosia
Jan 55°/33°F (12.6°/0.4°C) 60°/42°F (15.7°/5.8°C)
Feb 59°/34°F (14.8°/1.3°C) 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.0°C)
Mar 66°/39°F (18.9°/3.7°C) 68°/46°F (20.1°/7.8°C)
Apr 76°/45°F (24.5°/7.0°C) 76°/52°F (24.3°/10.9°C)
May 85°/51°F (29.7°/10.5°C) 85°/59°F (29.6°/15.2°C)
Jun 94°/58°F (34.2°/14.2°C) 94°/68°F (34.3°/20.0°C)
Jul 98°/62°F (36.5°/16.9°C) 100°/73°F (37.5°/22.7°C)
Aug 97°/62°F (36.2°/16.5°C) 100°/73°F (37.5°/22.7°C)
Sep 92°/55°F (33.4°/13.0°C) 92°/67°F (33.6°/19.5°C)
Oct 82°/48°F (28.0°/8.9°C) 84°/61°F (28.8°/15.9°C)
Nov 69°/39°F (20.3°/4.0°C) 73°/51°F (22.6°/10.6°C)
Dec 58°/34°F (14.2°/1.3°C) 64°/45°F (17.8°/7.3°C)

Data: Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department, Department of Meteorology Department of Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Syria and Cyprus. To live, work, or study long-term in Cyprus, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Cyprus's immigration authority.

Syria passport

Syria passport holder visiting Cyprus

Visa Required
Syria passport holders need a visa to enter Cyprus.
Cyprus passport

Cyprus passport holder visiting Syria

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Cyprus passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Syria.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Cyprus?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Cyprus has 38.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Cyprus safe for expats?

Cyprus performs significantly better than Syria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cyprus is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.1 in Syria.

How is healthcare in Cyprus compared to Syria?

Cyprus generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Syria leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 35.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Cyprus, compared to 11.9 in Syria. Cyprus scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Syria: 64).

What's the weather like in Cyprus compared to Syria?

The average high temperature in Nicosia is 80°F, compared to 78°F in Damascus. Nicosia receives around 13.5 in of rainfall per year, while Damascus gets 5.3 in.

What language do they speak in Cyprus?

The official languages in Cyprus are Greek and Turkish. In Syria, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

SY CY
Population 21,563,800 1,295,102
Currency Syrian Pound (SYP) Euro (€)
Languages Arabic Greek, Turkish
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +963 +357
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112