My name is Andrey, and my story of moving to Cyprus began with a dream of new opportunities and a change of scenery. At the end of 2021, I decided to start looking for a job abroad. Moscow, with all its opportunities and fast-paced lifestyle, gradually began to make me feel fatigued. My wife and I had long considered the idea of moving to a new city and trying something different. We wanted to live in a warmer country where our children could grow up in a safe and comfortable environment, and where I could continue to develop professionally.
I began sending my resume to various companies in Europe and Cyprus. By that time, I already had solid experience in IT, and I felt ready for new challenges. The job search process was not easy: I went through several rounds of interviews with different companies, participated in test assignments, proving my qualifications and readiness for new tasks. It was a stressful period that required not only professionalism but also perseverance.
One of the offers I received was from a large IT company based in Limassol. They offered me a permanent contract with a move to Cyprus and assistance with obtaining a work visa. This offer caught my attention because the company was working on interesting projects, and I saw it as an opportunity for professional growth. Moreover, the prospect of living on an island surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and working in an international environment seemed very appealing.
My wife and I discussed this offer at length. We understood that this would be a drastic change: moving thousands of kilometers away, a new country, an unfamiliar culture, a different language. We would not only have to adapt ourselves but also help our children adjust to the new environment. However, despite all the doubts and fears, the prospect of living in Cyprus, a country with a mild climate, safe environment, and high standard of living, attracted us more and more.
After much deliberation, we decided that we couldn’t pass up this opportunity. I accepted the company’s offer, and we began preparing for the move. The process of handling paperwork, preparing for a new life, discussing contract details, and organizing the move began. This period was filled with anticipation and excitement for our new life, but also with the realization that big changes lay ahead.
My wife and I started researching information about Cyprus: its economy, education system, healthcare, and opportunities for children. The more we learned, the more convinced we became that Cyprus was the place where we wanted to live. Our children also supported our decision. They liked the idea of living by the sea and spending more time outdoors.
Thus, our journey to a new stage of life began. We knew there would be challenges ahead, but we were also confident that this step would open new horizons for us and give us the chance to live the life we had long dreamed of.
Contents
The Move and First Impressions
Our long-awaited move to Cyprus took place in January 2022. After all the preparations and farewells with friends and family, we finally embarked on our journey, full of new expectations and anxieties. The winter in Moscow was cold and gray, and the thought that we would soon find ourselves on a warm, sunny island gave us strength and confidence.
The flight went smoothly, and when we stepped off the plane in Larnaca, we were greeted by an unusual warmth for January. Although it was the winter month, Cyprus was experiencing mild, almost spring-like weather. A light breeze from the sea and the fresh scent of the air enveloped us from the first moments on the island. The children were thrilled by the change in climate, and their eyes sparkled with the anticipation of new adventures.
The company I joined took care of us right from the start. We were met at the airport and taken to temporary apartments located in Limassol, not far from the sea. The apartment was bright, spacious, with a large balcony overlooking the endless Mediterranean Sea. Even in winter, the sea looked breathtaking: calm waves and a clear blue sky created a sense of tranquility and peace.
The first days after our move were filled with new impressions and discoveries. We began exploring Limassol, strolling through its narrow streets, along the promenade, and enjoying the views of the sea. The city turned out to be much cozier and more welcoming than we had imagined. Despite the winter season, the city was lively: locals were drinking coffee on open terraces, children were playing on playgrounds, and tourists were enjoying the sights.
For the children, who were used to the cold Moscow winters, the opportunity to go outside in light jackets and spend time on the beach was a real treat. They immediately fell in love with the new city, joyfully running on the sand, collecting shells, and playing by the water. Seeing their happiness, my wife and I felt we had made the right choice.
My wife quickly began to settle into the new city. She was particularly impressed by the local vegetable shops, where we could buy fresh fruits and vegetables. We enjoyed discovering Cypriot products and dishes, and our diet gradually began to change, filling with new flavors and aromas.
I also quickly immersed myself in work. Despite my concerns about transitioning to a new job in another country, my colleagues welcomed me warmly. They helped me settle in, and I gradually began to adjust to the new rhythm and new tasks. The workdays were busy, but the atmosphere was friendly.
Our first impression of Cyprus was extremely positive. Despite all the anxieties and worries associated with the move, we began to feel that this island could indeed become our home in the future.
Handling Documents and Adaptation
After we settled into our temporary apartment in Limassol, it was time to take care of all the necessary paperwork to complete the legalization of our stay in Cyprus. Although the main formalities for obtaining my work visa were settled before the move, upon arrival on the island, we had to visit the immigration services and complete the remaining procedures.
The first step was to process documents at the Cyprus Department of Migration. This is a mandatory procedure for everyone who arrives in Cyprus on a work visa. My wife and children also needed to go through the registration process to obtain temporary residence permits.
On the day of our visit to the immigration office, our family went there around noon for a pre-scheduled appointment. The procedure took some time, but fortunately, the staff at the immigration office were polite and efficient. They checked our passports and accepted our documents. We were accompanied by our company’s lawyer, which made the visit to the department smoother.
One of the key stages was the collection of biometric data—fingerprints and photographs. This was required for the issuance of residence permit cards, which were supposed to be issued a few weeks after submitting the documents. Despite some nervousness, everything went smoothly, and soon we were able to complete this process.
The wait for the documents took a few weeks. During this time, we continued to settle in and adapt to the new rhythm of life. The children started attending a Russian-speaking school, where the teaching was in Russian, which greatly eased their adaptation. My wife began exploring local cuisine and making our home cozier and more comfortable.
Gradually, as the documents were processed and the bureaucratic procedures were completed, we began to feel more confident. The official matters related to legalizing our stay were behind us, and now we could focus on integrating into Cypriot society and enjoying life on the island.
This stage concluded when we received our residence permit cards. These were the final step in the paperwork process, and from that moment on, we officially became residents of Cyprus. The feeling that we were now legally and fully living on the island brought a sense of satisfaction and peace.
Searching for Permanent Housing
After all the paperwork was completed and we began adapting to the new rhythm of life in Cyprus, it was time to start searching for permanent housing. The temporary apartment in Limassol was comfortable, but we understood that it was only a temporary solution. We wanted to find a home that could become our permanent residence for many years.
Limassol is a city with high demand for real estate, especially in its coastal areas. We decided that we wanted to live closer to the city center to be within walking distance of all the important amenities: work, school, and infrastructure. Living in the center meant that a sea view would likely remain a dream, but the convenience of city life and the accessibility of all necessary services made up for this.
The search for housing turned out to be quite challenging. We contacted several real estate agents and began reviewing various options—from modern apartments to more traditional houses. The main criteria we considered included space for the whole family, proximity to the children’s school and my work, as well as access to essential amenities such as shops, cafes, and public transportation.
The challenge was that many options were either too small or beyond our budget. We also considered that while the city center was attractive due to its infrastructure, it offered less living space compared to more remote areas. Nevertheless, we were ready to make compromises, as staying within the city limits was important to us.
After several weeks of searching, we finally found an apartment that met our requirements. It was a spacious, modern apartment in one of the new residential complexes located in the Agios Nikolaos area. The apartment had enough space for our family, with plenty of natural light and cozy bedrooms. Although there was no sea view, the view from the windows was pleasant, and we were satisfied that all the necessary amenities were nearby.
The neighborhood where the apartment was located was lively, yet calm and safe. It had everything we needed for a comfortable life: shops, cafes, small parks, and good transport links. We paid particular attention to the proximity of the school for the children and my work, which greatly simplified our daily life and helped us adapt more quickly to our new surroundings.
After signing the lease and moving into the new apartment, we felt that we had taken an important step toward fully settling in Cyprus. My wife enthusiastically took on the task of furnishing the apartment, striving to create a cozy and functional interior. We chose furniture and decor, considering both our personal preferences and local traditions.
The children quickly settled into the new apartment, with each having their own room where they could study, play, and relax. They began inviting their school friends over, and soon our home was filled with the sounds of children’s voices and laughter. This was a sign to us that they were adapting and feeling comfortable here.
With the move to the new apartment, we finally felt like we were becoming part of Cypriot society. We started getting to know our neighbors, participating in community life, and planning our days as if we had been living here for years. The new home became not just a place to live, but the true center of our family life in Cyprus.
Work and New Challenges
After settling into the new apartment and getting accustomed to life in Limassol, it was time to fully focus on work. Moving to a different country is always associated with many challenges, and the professional sphere was no exception. I understood that working in a new country, in an international company, would require full dedication and flexibility on my part.
My new job turned out to be not only interesting but also demanded maximum concentration and continuous learning. I was part of a team working on ambitious projects, and every day brought new tasks and challenges. Working in an international team, I encountered a variety of cultural differences and different approaches to work. This was both exciting and demanding.
The company I worked for provided all the necessary resources for successful work: a modern office, access to cutting-edge technologies, and support from colleagues. However, despite all these advantages, transitioning to a new work rhythm was not easy. In Limassol, the workday started later than in Moscow and had its own peculiarities. For example, lunch breaks here are longer, and many employees use this time to step outside, have a coffee, or take a walk around the city.
At first, I thought that this pace slowed down the work process, but I soon realized that it helped manage stress better and maintain productivity throughout the day. Gradually, I began to adapt to the new schedule and even found its benefits. The opportunity to step outside in the middle of the workday and walk through the warm streets of Limassol helped me keep a clear mind and come up with new ideas for projects.
Working in an international company also opened up many new perspectives for me. I began participating in discussions and meetings with colleagues from other countries, which allowed me to broaden my professional horizons. The exchange of experience and knowledge with colleagues from different parts of the world became a valuable source of inspiration and motivation for me.
However, there were challenges as well. I had to not only adapt to the new work rhythm but also learn to manage my time so that I could devote enough attention to my family. In the first months after the move, it was difficult to find a balance between work and personal life. Long working hours and the need to stay in touch with colleagues in different time zones required extra effort.
My wife, understanding the complexity of my situation, actively supported me by helping with household organization and taking on many of the domestic tasks. She quickly adapted to the new environment and found ways to keep our home life in harmony, which significantly eased my task of focusing on work.
Over time, I started to handle these challenges better. I learned to allocate my time more effectively, plan tasks, and find time for rest and family. We tried to spend weekends together, going out into nature or visiting interesting places on the island. This helped me recharge and stay motivated at work.
Working in Limassol became not just a new step in my career but also an opportunity to reassess my priorities and learn to find a balance between work and personal life. Despite all the difficulties, I felt that I was growing both professionally and personally, and this brought me immense satisfaction.
Family Life and New Friends
As our life in Cyprus began to take on more stable and solid forms, my family and I started paying more attention to creating new social connections and establishing our family life. In the first months after the move, we were entirely focused on adapting and working, but now that the main organizational issues were resolved, it was time to delve into what makes life truly fulfilling—communication and friendship.
One of the first joys for us was that our children quickly found common ground with their peers at the Russian-speaking school. The school they attended turned out to be surprisingly friendly, which allowed our children to easily integrate into the new group.
For my wife and me, as adults, finding new friends and acquaintances was a slightly more challenging process, but Limassol turned out to be a very welcoming city. Thanks to my work and the children’s school events, we began meeting other families who, like us, had moved to Cyprus in search of new opportunities. These were families from different cities, with different worldviews, and each of them brought something unique to our new circle of friends.
We started organizing joint dinners where we shared not only food but also stories about how we ended up in Cyprus and how our adaptation was going. These gatherings helped us quickly feel like part of the local expat community, which turned out to be surprisingly supportive and close-knit.
My wife, being a sociable and proactive person, quickly found ways to integrate into the local community. She joined several clubs and interest groups where she made new acquaintances and found friends. These groups included both locals and other expats, which allowed her to immerse herself more deeply into Cypriot culture and find like-minded people.
Family evenings, walks around the city, outings to nature, and participation in community life—all of this made our life in Cyprus rich and fulfilling. We realized that creating social connections and participating in the local community is an important part of adaptation, helping us to feel more quickly and deeply integrated into our new country.
Reflections and New Horizons
It’s been almost two and a half years since we moved to Cyprus. This period has been a time of significant changes and challenges for our family. Looking back, we realize that the first year was particularly difficult—adaptation required significant emotional and physical effort. We had to not only get used to the new environment but also learn a new culture, language, and way of life. Each of us faced challenges that seemed hard to overcome.
In the first few months after the move, we often felt lost. Unfamiliar procedures, bureaucratic hurdles, the language barrier—all of this caused stress and sometimes even doubts about whether we had made the right decision. We all went through tough moments when we wanted to return to our familiar life, but we knew that this was part of the process and that we just had to push through.
However, despite all the difficulties, over time, we began to find our own ways of adapting. We learned to slowly but surely integrate into Cypriot society, made new friends, and settled into work and school. There was a growing sense that we were gradually adjusting to the new rhythm of life and beginning to enjoy things that once seemed difficult and unfamiliar.
Now, two and a half years later, the adaptation process is still not fully complete. There are days when we face new challenges related to cultural differences or other aspects of local life. But now we feel much more confident and at ease. We’ve learned to embrace the local pace, enjoy its tranquility, and find joy in simple things—the warm sun, friendly conversations, and family dinners on the balcony.
My job has become a source of professional growth and personal satisfaction for me. I’ve learned to manage my time better and find a balance between work and personal life. My wife, having gone through the stages of adaptation, has found her place in the local community and actively participates in various events.
Cyprus, which once seemed so distant and foreign, has become a place that feels like home to us. We’ve learned to find beauty in its calm, appreciate its culture and traditions, and with each passing day, we feel more and more that we made the right choice.
We have many plans and goals ahead, and we know that Cyprus will continue to inspire us to achieve them. Life on the island has become a true journey of discovery for us, and we eagerly look forward to what the next stage of our Cypriot adventure will bring. We are confident that, despite all the challenges, new horizons are opening up before us, and we are ready to embrace everything that lies ahead with joy and optimism.
