Cyprus work permit in 2025. Cyprus work permit requirements.
September 8, 2022
Ian Westwood
September 8, 2022
Ian Westwood
Any non-EU national who wants to live and work in Cyprus has to obtain a Cyprus work permit.
Before obtaining a work permit, travelers must obtain an entry visa suitable for their stay in Cyprus. In this case, those seeking employment must travel on a work visa.
This comprehensive guide will cover everything related to the Cyprus work permit in 2022, including requirements to obtain a work permit Cyprus and how you can apply for it.
Table of contents:
How to get work permit in Cyprus Non-EU citizens
Initial application with the Cyprus Department of Labour
Application for a work permit to the Civil Registry and Migration Department
Obtain a residence permit
Work permit in Cyprus for EU citizens
How to get work permit in Cyprus EU citizens
Apply for a registration certificate
Apply for a social insurance number
Cyprus work permit visa fees
Employees of international business companies
Shareholders majority
Bank guarantees
Business premises
Certification requirements
Employee classification in the case of international companies
Executive directors
Middle management staff
Other support staff
Cyprus work permit consultants
Cyprus work permit immigration insurance
The Cyprus work permit is also known as the Cyprus immigration work permit. The work permit allows immigrants from outside of the EU to legally live and work in Cyprus.
Non-EU citizens may work in Cyprus if they have been granted a Cyprus work visa and a Cyprus work permit.
The number of foreign nationals employed in Cyprus largely depends on the availability of Cypriot or EU/EEA nationals deemed qualified to fill the vacancy.
In other words, employees are usually only granted visas if qualified local (Cypriot/EU/EEA) citizens are unavailable. The employer must show evidence it cannot find a local employee fit for the job.
However, certain international business company staff are exempted from this requirement.
The Cypriot government has exempted middle-management staff, executive directors, and other key staffing groups working for international business companies.
A valid Cyprus work permit is a prerequisite for all non-EU foreign nationals wishing to live and work there.
Regarding the requirements for a Cyprus work permit, the availability of suitably qualified nationals is highly important.
That part of the process for getting hired in Cyprus is out of your hands, however, if you are selected as a potential employee, you will need to provide the following.
Three steps are involved in obtaining a work permit Cyprus as a foreign national.
See below for an in-depth step-by-step guide for obtaining a work permit Cyprus, as carried out by the future employer and staff member.
How to get work permit in Cyprus Non-EU citizens
1.Initial application with the Cyprus Department of Labour
The initial application process should be begun while the foreign national is still abroad in their home country.
The Cypriot employer must usually submit the following documents to the Cyprus Department of Labour.
In deciding whether the work permit Cyprus is approved and granted, the Department of Labor usually considers several factors, as noted earlier.
2.Application for a work permit to the Civil Registry and Migration Department
Once a recommendation letter has been issued from the Labour Department, employers can then proceed to apply with the CRMD.
The CMRD in Nicosia will issue the work permit for the foreign employee.
The application form and details for the employers can be found here.
It usually takes 4 to 6 weeks after submission for the work permit Cyprus application to be examined. However, it can take up to 6 months.
The approved duration of employment for general work visas is four years. For livestock and agricultural farming the duration is six years.
However, the following employees are exempt from the 4-year limit:
3.Obtain a residence permit
Foreign nationals may obtain residence permits (pink slips) valid for a duration of up to one year, after successfully obtaining a work permit.
It is possible to renew the Cyprus temporary residence permit. The eligibility and duration of the permit renewal depend on the purpose of the permit.
Under the EU freedom of movement principle, EU/EEA citizens are allowed to work in Cyprus without a Cyprus work visa and a Cyprus work permit. Additionally, they do not require a Cyprus residence permit to live and travel freely in the country.
EU members from member states have the right to enter Cyprus without having to register upon arrival. They simply have to show a valid EU passport or ID card.
However, EU/EEA nationals still need to apply to work in Cyprus. They need to apply to the Cyprus Department of Labour to receive a “recommendation letter.”
Then, the EU/EEA national’s future employer needs to acquire a work permit for the foreign national through the Civil Registry and Migration Department.
How to get work permit in Cyprus EU citizens
After arriving in Cyprus, if there is an intention to take up employment in the country, the EU/EEA national must follow the steps below.
1.Apply for a Registration Certificate
Eight days after entering Cyprus, this application must be submitted during the first 4-month period. The EU citizen must turn up personally at their local Civil Registry and Migration Department.
This CRMD is located at the local Immigration Branch of the Police in all districts except Nicosia. In Nicosia, a District Migration Office exists which is the main CRMD office.
The applicant has to provide the following documents to the CRMD:
NB: when applying for dependants (children younger than 18 years or spouse etc) they must also present certified copies of birth certificates of children and marriage certificate, etc.
2.Apply for a social insurance number
The applicant must apply for a social insurance number upon securing employment in Cyprus. From the date of application, the social insurance registration certificate is issued within 6 months.
The application forms can also be downloaded from the Ministry of Interior.
The cost of a Cyprus work permit is €20. It usually takes between 4 to 6 weeks for the work permit Cyprus application to be examined. However, it can take up to six months.
A Cyprus temporary residence permit costs €70. You can expect to find out if your residence permit application has been accepted within three months.
However, it can take longer, depending on your specific case.
International business companies certified with the Migration Department can easily hire foreign nationals with the above exemptions. Namely, executive directors, middle-management staff, executive staff, and other key personnel employed by IBC will be hired easily.
To qualify as an international business company, employers have to meet the following criteria.
1.Shareholders majority
The majority of the company’s shareholders must be classified as non-Cypriot to meet these criteria to be approved by the Civil Registry and Migration Department:
a) If the shareholders are other companies, proof of the identity of the ultimate or beneficial shareholders should be provided to the CRMD.
The following companies are exempted:
Public companies registered in any recognized Stock Exchange and International Business Companies operating before the change of regime and for which the Central Bank of Cyprus possesses all the necessary data.
b) Foreign participation should represent an amount of €171,000 or more if their percentage in the share capital of a company is equal to, or below 50%.
c) Applications of companies investing capital below €171,000 (i.e. offering only services) will be examined. The nature of their business will be considered and may not require a higher investment.
2.Bank guarantees
Newly established companies will have to prove that direct foreign capital investments are at least €171,000. The documents will also have to declare that the capital was brought legally into Cyprus from abroad.
3.Business premises
All applying companies cannot be part of a private residence or another office (except if they share tenancy). All businesses must operate from self-contained offices in Cyprus, located in eligible and suitable premises.
Cases will be examined individually if staff work from their homes.
4.Certification requirements
To be certified as an international business company, employers will need to provide the following documents to the Migration Department:
This section covers employee classification for executive directors, middle-management staff, executive staff and other key personnel working in international business companies.
Executive Directors
This classification includes employees who are:
The maximum number of Executive Directors international companies can employ is generally five personnel.
The company may be allowed to hire more than five EDs if they can justify hiring them.
The minimum income for the newly appointed executive directors is €3,872 per month. Adjustments may be made according to changes and fluctuations in the salary index.
There are zero restrictions on the length of employment of these employees.
Middle management staff, executive staff and key support staff
This classification includes employees who are:
The maximum number of employees permitted in this classification is ten employees. Again, adjustments may be made as per fluctuations in the salary index.
The CRMD has the authority to decide if hiring more than ten people would be justifiable. Again, depending on each company’s specific case.
If the company wishes to employ more than the usual maximum number, they need to take the following into consideration:
There are no restrictions for the residence period of these employees.
Other support staff
This classification includes employees who are:
Companies are expected to employ EU citizens or Cypriots for this category. Otherwise, they must prove that no suitably qualified local personnel are available.
A company may employ third-country nationals in other support staff positions following the same procedure as above.
All supporting documents and certificates must be submitted and ensured by the Labour Department.
Our detailed and comprehensive guide may have answered all of your questions, but there is always the option to receive more in-depth expertise regarding legal matters.
Consulting an expert can provide additional advice in regard to acquiring these permits smoothly and swiftly.
Professional advice will give you the peace of mind that everything will go to plan and you do not make any mistakes throughout the process.
For more information, see Amazon Corporate Services. You can send an email to [email protected].
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This article has been written for information purposes only.
For more information, you can send an email to [email protected].
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