Cyprus work visa and employment permit

A Cypriot employer who wants to hire a non-EU national first registers the vacancy with a District Labour Office of the Department of Labour, part of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance. The Department runs a labour market test to see whether suitably qualified local or European workers can fill the job.

If the vacancy stays unfilled, the employer may ask to employ a non-EU national. Once the Department of Labour approves, the employer and the worker sign a standard employment contract, which the Labour Office stamps. Only then does the employer file the application for the entry and temporary residence permit.

The employer submits the application to the Civil Registry and Migration Department, either directly or through the District Aliens and Immigration Units of the Police. The worker undergoes a medical examination and provides a criminal record certificate and a valid passport, and the file includes the employment contract stamped by the Labour Office.

The employer must also provide reasonable accommodation for the worker and a bank guarantee that covers the cost of repatriation if needed.

The residence and employment permit is granted for a maximum of four years. This ceiling does not apply in farming and agriculture, domestic work, specialty cooks and chefs, priests and tourist representatives.

Neither the processing time nor a fee for this permit is given on the EU Immigration Portal page for Cyprus; the CRMD confirms them when the employer files the application.

The permit is tied to one employer. You may change employer up to three times if you stay in the same sector and occupation, your former employer issues a release agreement and the new employer holds Department of Labour approval to employ a non-EU national; a new contract must then be signed and stamped. The only sector change allowed is from domestic work to farming and agriculture.

After three changes of employer the permit is not renewed, unless you leave the Republic for at least two years before returning to work.

After five years of legal and continuous stay you can apply for a long-term residence permit by showing stable financial means, health insurance and that residence was not obtained by fraud. A worker offered permanent employment that does not create undue local competition may apply for an immigration permit.

Decisions on the residence and employment permit can be challenged before the Administrative Court.