International Sea Tourism Festival opens at Ayia Napa Marina, spotlighting Cyprus’ Blue-Economy ambitions
Museum-ship docks in Limassol as Art Explora Festival brings floating culture—and visitors—to Cyprus
Cyprus unveils pilot “Visitor – Program Participation” permit for vocational students
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Cyprus rolls out new pilot residence permit for third-country students at aviation and maritime schools
Cyprus has launched a one-year pilot residence scheme that lets up to 200 non-EU nationals live in the Republic while attending long-term courses at approved flight and maritime schools. The programme fills a long-standing policy gap between short-stay visitor visas and full university student permits, positioning Cyprus as a training hub for the aviation and shipping industries and giving employers a new pathway to recruit specialised talent.
Beirut finally ratifies 2007 EEZ deal, clearing way for Cyprus–Lebanon maritime border
Lebanon’s cabinet has formally approved its exclusive-economic-zone agreement with Cyprus, finally ratifying a 2007 delimitation pact. The move will streamline shipping and SAR coordination, unlock stalled ferry and cruise projects between Beirut and Limassol, and enhance Cyprus’ arguments for Schengen accession. Companies moving crew or project staff across the Eastern Med should prepare for faster port procedures and potential new visa facilitation measures.
Moderate Erhurman sworn in as Turkish-Cypriot leader, raising hopes for easier Green-Line crossings
Tufan Erhurman, a federalist moderate, has been inaugurated as the new Turkish-Cypriot leader. His election is expected to soften the north’s stance in UN talks and could translate into practical easing of Green-Line crossing procedures for workers, shoppers and tourists—key for companies operating on both sides of Cyprus.
Foreign developer jailed over illegal property sales in occupied north, signalling tougher stance on cross-border real estate mobility
A Cypriot court has jailed Israeli-Turkish developer Simon Aykut for five years for illegally building and selling properties on Greek-Cypriot land in the occupied north. The unprecedented sentence signals a much tougher line on cross-border property mobility and raises legal risks for expatriates living or investing in northern Cyprus.