Right To Remain After Transition

[trevnhil]

As far as I am aware a UK licence is Valid for driving in Cyprus until it expires.. Things may change with Brexit.

Trevor I agree that you can drive anywhere in the EU on a UK/L, I simply query that if the law here, is to change to a Cypriot License after 3 months of residency, will an insurance company ignore that legal requirement. I do not know the answer but experience with insurance companies, makes me wonder if they would void the insurance to rid themselves of any liability based on a failure to exchange.

Re.. " I simply query that if the law here, is to change to a Cypriot License after 3 months of residency "
Where does this come from ??? Can you provide a link.. I have not seen this information, but maybe I have missed it in this thread .

[WHL]

Going to ring my insurance company in the morning WHL as i did ask them when i renewed only a month ago and said we were ok, but as you say they are brokers and want the money.

We all know how insurance companys, try to find something to lower any claim, its what they do.

[Jim B]

Item 3 on the letter from the High Commission states "You should exchange your UK driving licence for a Cypriot one before 31 December 2020. To find out how to exchange your driving licence, visit: www.gov.uk/livingincyprus".

As I understand it there's no problem keeping your British licence but you have to have an International licence to accompany it. The problem is you have to apply in person in the UK and they are only valid for 12 months.

Jim

[PolemIan]

As far as I am aware a UK licence is Valid for driving in Cyprus until it expires.. Things may change with Brexit.

Trevor, there is also the U.K. end of things to consider. DVLA require all drivers to notify them of change of address, or risk a fine of up to £1000 - it’s on the first page of ‘How to change your DL address’ page on Gov.U.K. and has been for a long time.

As is the clear comment that you cannot change the address on a U.K. DL to a non U.K. address and that you should contact the DL authority in your new country of residence.

Those with better legal training than me will have a better idea of any legal / insurance ramifications of those who have got round this by using a family address in the U.K. I know of people who have had problems trying to hire a car back in the U.K. because they can’t produce a utility bill that matches the address on their DL.

Ian

[Dominic]

While the UK is still in the EU, a UK driving license is fine. It is part of EU law. Member states are allowed to impose additional restrictions but according to the EU website Cyprus hasn't done so.

However, after Brexit, it is best to assume that you will need a Cypriot license. This is why I got mine done in the summer. Besides which, I live in Cyprus and have no intention of moving back to the UK.

[galexinda]

Cyprus Driving has a lot of useful information about Driving Licences:

''If you hold a UK licence and you have been resident in Cyprus for six months, the advice is to exchange it for a Cyprus one before the UK exits the EU''.

Select Driving Licences from the drop down menu
http://cyprusdriving.net/

[Kili01]

One piece of good advice is before handing your UK driving license over, is to scan it.
I found that this was a good move, as when in the UK you could prove if you needed to, that you had a British driving license.

Dee

[Jimgym]

I wonder if some of the people who are complaining about having to change some documents for living or visiting Cyprus are some of the same ones who were so vociferous about wanting to leave the EU? The ones who believed that nothing would change for Brittons, after Brexit and who called those who opposed Brexit Remoaners for trying to point out that things would CHANGE for Brits wanting to live or travel to EU countries post Brexit.

Dee

I don’t know of anyone who voted for Brexit and believed nothing would change. Perhaps you could supply some examples as I tend not to read every Brexit related article.

[PhotoLady]

Hi Photo Lady,
You were living and working here in the good times! But things have changed here or are changing now. Here we are wondering if if Brexit will be with or without a deal.
It seems as if the UK is getting ready to jump off a cliff without a safety net.
I hope that isn't going to happen..
There are an estimated 800,000 Britons living in EU countries who will be directly affected.

Dee.

Dee

I'm fully aware the rules are changing for all former UK residents now living in Europe. It's changing everywhere and the rules for each country are so amazingly different it's very difficult to get your head around.

I'm on a fb group which is all about after Brexit and it's mainly all ex-British residents living in France, Germany, Spain, Belgium and lots of other places where they are reporting the various changes which come into fruition for them.
We're considering purchasing a property overseas but it will only be a holiday home and not in the immediate future as we have other plans to sort first of all.

Eventually, we will spend as much time there as we possibly can but will also be travelling to destinations outside of the EU and this is why we need to research very carefully as it would be better we can get to those places directly from our holiday home as those days will not count towards the 90/180 day quota.

But for those already in their choice of resident country prior to 31 December all have a much easier route to take. For anyone arriving or applying to be a resident after that date have many more hurdles to contend with before they can feel secure.

Luckily, having already been there in the past it gives us some insight into what we may be up against - but we have no designs on becoming a permanent resident outside of the UK for the future.

[Kili01]

Jimgym,
You must have a short memory regarding the sort of hysteria which I saw with my own eyes as I happened to be in Cheltenham when Nigel Farage and Dominic Cummings and co were holding a rally shortly before the General Election. Every thing being said painted a rosy picture of the UK post Brexit.There was also constant newspaper and TV coverage of the Brexit party.
It was the sensible voice of the Remainers who were trying to view the situation the UK would be in post Brexit which was hardly reported.
This was of course when Covid was unknown and no one was even thinking about those consequences.
I also remember seeing talk on this forum then where some members were championing the advantages of Brexit and making digs at those who tried to disagree. Privately, I thought that any British Expat who voted for Brexit might live to regret it.
Dee

[Jimgym]

Jimgym,
You must have a short memory regarding the sort of hysteria which I saw with my own eyes as I happened to be in Cheltenham when Nigel Farage and Dominic Cummings and co were holding a rally shortly before the General Election. Every thing being said painted a rosy picture of the UK post Brexit.There was also constant newspaper and TV coverage of the Brexit party.
It was the sensible voice of the Remainers who were trying to view the situation the UK would be in post Brexit which was hardly reported.
This was of course when Covid was unknown and no one was even thinking about those consequences.
I also remember seeing talk on this forum then where some members were championing the advantages of Brexit and making digs at those who tried to disagree. Privately, I thought that any British Expat who voted for Brexit might live to regret it.
Dee

No, I don't have a short memory, what I said was I don't remember anyone saying things wouldn't change. Perhaps you could supply examples where Leave voters said this. As to the hysteria, I saw it coming thick and fast from BOTH sides.

[Diocletian]

I am a fervent Brexiteer, have been since before the name was invented. Any sensible person would realise that things will change post Dec 31st. It is patently ridiculous to suggest that all of the estimated 31000 Brits who have no legal status in Cyprus, are the same people that voted for Brexit.

I have been anti EU since at least 1972 and have returned to the land of my birth. In doing so, I have registered and acquired residency and will be securing a Cypriot Passport as soon as practicable. This does in no way detract from my opinion regarding the EU.

[Jim B]

I would suggest Dee was referring more to comments like in the link below.

https://www.indy100.com/news/brexit-no- ... ab-8463121

And quite a few posters on here inferred that things wouldn't change for the British who lived here as they expected it to remain as "it used to be" after Brexit.
I'm sure if you do trawl through the old posts you will find references to this.
I find it very hypocritical of Diocletion to support denying people the right to be part of the EU and then be in the process of claiming the benefits for himself, similar to the likes of Farage.

There must be an outbreak of short term memory loss amongst Leavers.

Jim

[WHL]

I am a fervent Brexiteer, have been since before the name was invented. Any sensible person would realise that things will change post Dec 31st. It is patently ridiculous to suggest that all of the estimated 31000 Brits who have no legal status in Cyprus, are the same people that voted for Brexit.

I have been anti EU since at least 1972 and have returned to the land of my birth. In doing so, I have registered and acquired residency and will be securing a Cypriot Passport as soon as practicable. This does in no way detract from my opinion regarding the EU.

Don't you have to be living in Cyprus for five continuous years to be eligible for Cyprus citizenship,
as you are back living in the UK, how does that add up?

[Diocletian]

I am not denying anything to anyone. Should anyone wish to settle in another Country, that is entirely down to them. They should however follow the rules governing such moves.

I chose to return to Cyprus as it is the only place I feel at home. As and when I secure my Passport, I will not use it as a smoother path to visit the EU. I am far more interested in the Middle East and Far East.

[Diocletian]

I am a fervent Brexiteer, have been since before the name was invented. Any sensible person would realise that things will change post Dec 31st. It is patently ridiculous to suggest that all of the estimated 31000 Brits who have no legal status in Cyprus, are the same people that voted for Brexit.

I have been anti EU since at least 1972 and have returned to the land of my birth. In doing so, I have registered and acquired residency and will be securing a Cypriot Passport as soon as practicable. This does in no way detract from my opinion regarding the EU.

Don't you have to be living in Cyprus for five continuous years to be eligible for Cyprus citizenship,
as you are back living in the UK, how does that add up?

I am entitled to the Passport by birth. Now that the UK have finally settled my status, which took them until 1981, I am able to progress the acquisition of a Cyprus Passport. This is the first point in my life that I have been able to do this.

[Jim B]

I am not denying anything to anyone. Should anyone wish to settle in another Country, that is entirely down to them. They should however follow the rules governing such moves.

I chose to return to Cyprus as it is the only place I feel at home. As and when I secure my Passport, I will not use it as a smoother path to visit the EU. I am far more interested in the Middle East and Far East.

Of course you'll use it as a smoother, you're access to other EU countries for work or pleasure, theres so many benefits that you have and we will lose.
You're denying the likes of my daughter the right to study in the EU. The UK is no longer a member of Erasmus and offers for my daughter to study for her Doctorate in Europe have been withdrawn. The funding for studying all sorts of diseases like Cancer and Alzheimer's has been lost and dont believe for one second the present government will replace the lost funding, you only have to look at Cornwall who were given 1.5% of the total the EU used to pump into the area and they voted for Brexit.

Jim

[Jim B]

I am not denying anything to anyone. Should anyone wish to settle in another Country, that is entirely down to them. They should however follow the rules governing such moves.

I chose to return to Cyprus as it is the only place I feel at home. As and when I secure my Passport, I will not use it as a smoother path to visit the EU. I am far more interested in the Middle East and Far East.

My daughter applied for a Doctorate course in Europe and offers were withdrawn due to Brexit and the withdrawal from Erasmus, this affected thousands of British Students, the UKs future.
If you voted for Brexit you are denying my children and my grandchildren and all those who favoured staying in the EU the right to free travel, education and working between countries within the EU while you will have all these available to you and your family even if you don't want them.

Jim

[Diocletian]

It was not my choice to be born in Cyprus, I had no say in it. If enough of the UK electorate could agree and get together, then Brexit would possibly not have happened but it has and I for one am glad of it.

As for travelling in Europe. I am not inclined to see anymore of it beyond what I have already seen.

[The Aquila]

They probably did Terry....but you know how the EU likes things done “their” way