Cyprus internship and trainee permit

You can train in Cyprus if you obtained a higher education degree within the two years before the application, or if you are pursuing a higher education degree in a country outside the EU. You need a training agreement with a host entity or company in the Republic of Cyprus.

The host must accept responsibility for you throughout the stay, particularly for subsistence and accommodation, provide housing that meets the conditions of Cypriot law and declare in writing that the traineeship does not replace a job.

The application includes a passport valid for at least two years or for the training period, medical insurance, proof of sufficient money for living costs, proof of address and the training agreement certified by the Department of Labour. The agreement must describe the programme, its duration, the position, supervision, training hours and the legal relationship between trainee and host.

You also show proof of your recent degree or current studies, the host’s acceptance of responsibility, evidence that you will have enough resources for the training costs, proof that the host provides accommodation and the host’s declaration that the placement is not a job.

The host entity or organisation submits the application to the Director of the Civil Registry and Migration Department and pays EUR 110. The CRMD examines complete applications within 90 days. When the permit is approved, the host is told by post to collect it from the CRMD.

After arrival you register with the District Aliens and Immigration Unit of the Police, undergo a medical check and submit the medical certificates.

The permit is issued for six months and can be renewed only once, for the remaining length of the training agreement, if a renewal application is filed. Trainees cannot bring family members.

A trainee may apply for a different status if they meet its criteria, but time spent as a trainee does not count towards long-term or permanent residence. Refusals can be appealed to the Administrative Court.