Moving to Cyprus for Business: Matthieu Tissot's Story

Behind every move to Cyprus lies a different story: a contract that comes along at just the right moment, a tax setup that changes everything, a wish to slow down, or on the contrary, to take a leap into something new. For this new edition of our series featuring entrepreneurs and freelancers based on the island, we asked the same six questions to Matthieu Tissot, who has been living in Paphos since 2026 after testing the waters during several winters starting in 2023, and who now runs his business in the online casino industry.

The goal isn't to paint an idealized picture of professional relocation, but to give a voice to those who have actually lived it: what motivated their move, what they had to figure out along the way, what works well, and what still remains, even today, a point of friction. The testimonies that follow reflect an individual journey, not a generalization that applies to every situation.

Can you tell us what led you to settle in Cyprus, and introduce yourself (who you are, what you do, since when)?

[MT] Matthieu Tissot, entrepreneur with a career in digital and offline marketing since 2010. Married, two children. Currently CMO of Whitelabels.com, a company that allows anyone to launch their own online casino without needing technical skills.

We first came to Cyprus in 2023 to test it out for a winter. We fell in love with Paphos. We stayed from November until the end of April. From that point on, it was clear to us that we wanted to settle here. We were living in Berlin (for almost 20 years), and life there was appealing to us less and less (safety, sunshine, crowds, etc.).

In 2026, six months after the birth of our second child, we left Berlin for Paphos, this time for good.

Why Cyprus rather than another destination? What tipped the scales?

[MT] Professionally, I have strong ties to Dubai. So we went back and forth for a long time between Dubai and Cyprus. But Cyprus ultimately won out, mainly because of the cost of living, the nature, and also for family life.

How did the administrative and professional side of your move go? What status did you choose (freelance, Cypriot company, branch, etc.), what steps were involved, how long did it take, and what were the first difficulties?

[MT] I went with a slightly different setup: I don't have a Cypriot company, but rather a company registered abroad. I used a German agency to help us with immigration, Gesy, taxes, and so on. I paid quite a bit more than many other French expats here, but at least I didn't have to deal with any of it myself, which was genuinely appreciated.

What turned out to be easier than expected, and what was more complicated or took longer than you imagined?

[MT] The Yellow Slip was super easy to get, for me and for the whole family, thanks to the German agency that handled everything (I'm French-German, by the way). On the other hand, we ran into some "minor" difficulties registering the children for Gesy. We didn't know it could take up to six weeks and that documents had to be sent to Nicosia.

What does your professional day-to-day look like in Cyprus today? Work rhythm, type of clientele (local, international, or both), professional network, any seasonality?

[MT] I was planning to take a sabbatical year, but I ended up being approached by a company in the online casino industry. Simply put: launching an online casino used to cost tens of thousands of euros and take months. Our company has completely changed that process, and it's now possible to launch an online casino brand in almost any country in the world, ready within a single day.

There are a lot of people working in the online casino industry in Cyprus, so it's great for networking. I actually created a networking group on Telegram for people working in this industry, feel free to reach out if you're interested.

If you had to do it again, would you make the same choices? Location, legal status, timing. What would you change in hindsight?

[MT] Yes, 100%, I'm very satisfied with my decision so far. When I see my kids going to the beach regularly, and especially when I see what's happening right now in continental Europe, I'm glad to be here.

One piece of advice and one warning for someone considering moving to Cyprus to grow their business?

[MT] For growing a business, I'm not sure, but for quality of life, I fully recommend Cyprus. If you work 100% remotely, personally I'd recommend taking the "leap of faith." We, in any case, don't regret it at all.

To go further: Whitelabels.com

Whitelabels.com is a B2B iGaming platform that allows entrepreneurs to launch their own branded online casino, with games, payments, licensing, compliance, and infrastructure already built in. The goal is to make launching an iGaming business as simple and accessible as possible, with low upfront investment and a revenue-share only model.

Typical clients: SEO experts, media buyers, influencers, content creators looking to monetize their audience.

Website: whitelabels.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matthieutissot X: @mat_tst

This testimony reflects Matthieu's personal experience. The steps, timelines, and conditions mentioned may vary depending on individual circumstances, the status chosen, and regulatory changes. Before making any decision, it's advisable to check current information with the relevant Cypriot authorities (Tax Department, Civil Registry and Migration Department) or with a specialized advisor.

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