Work Permits in Cyprus
Information on work permits in Cyprus who needs one,the different types and how to make an application…
Foreigners wanting to live and work in Cyprus need to have either a work permit or a residence permit with the right to work. Fines are imposed on individuals who are found to be employed in the country without the correct paperwork.
Information about the procedure to be followed for EU nationals wishing to work in Cyprus…
Citizens of any European Union (EU) member country can freely enter Cyprus if they have a valid passport. In order to remain in the country for more than three months, or to work, they need to do the following:
About the CyprusVisa.eu website
CyprusVisa.eu is an information website that aims to simplify your research for acquiring a visa to Cyprus. In this website you can also find many of the application forms that you might be required to fill in order to apply for a Cyprus visa.
While most of the information that is found here can also be found in the relevant pages of the Cyprus government, finding those pages, which are spread over several ministries and departments, can be cumbersome and time consuming. CyprusVisa.eu makes that process faster and easier.
Residence permits are issued within six months of an application being made. An applicant can begin employment before all the formalities are completed providing their application has been made within the given time limits.
A resident work permit is valid for five years. When the permit is renewed it may be restricted to one year if the applicant has been unemployed for more than 12 consecutive months. If they remain unemployed at the end of the new permit period of one year the permit is not renewed.
Regulated professions Some professions such as doctors,lawyers,electricians,accountants and engineers are regulated in Cyprus. People from other EU member states who wish to move to the island and work in these professions need to apply for the relevant permit from the authority overseeing that profession in the same way as Cypriot nationals do
- Apply for an Alien Registration Certificate (ARC) within eight days of arrival in Cyprus. This is done at a local immigration branch of the Police. There is a fee for the application
- Apply for a social insurance number
- Apply for a residence permit. This must be done within three months of arriving in the country. Applications must be made in person to the Civil Registration and Migration Department through the local immigration branch of the Police. The following documents are required:
- A valid passport or identity card
- Two passport photos
- A document showing that the individual has been engaged in employment. The letter of employment must be stamped by the Labour Department and show the employer's code of economic activity. Note: A different type of permit should be applied for by people who are self-employed. The procedure is the same
About the CyprusVisa.eu website
CyprusVisa.eu is an information website that aims to simplify your research for acquiring a visa to Cyprus. In this website you can also find many of the application forms that you might be required to fill in order to apply for a Cyprus visa.
While most of the information that is found here can also be found in the relevant pages of the Cyprus government, finding those pages, which are spread over several ministries and departments, can be cumbersome and time consuming. CyprusVisa.eu makes that process faster and easier.
- To download forms from the Cyprus Visa website: Click here
Residence permits are issued within six months of an application being made. An applicant can begin employment before all the formalities are completed providing their application has been made within the given time limits.
A resident work permit is valid for five years. When the permit is renewed it may be restricted to one year if the applicant has been unemployed for more than 12 consecutive months. If they remain unemployed at the end of the new permit period of one year the permit is not renewed.
Regulated professions Some professions such as doctors,lawyers,electricians,accountants and engineers are regulated in Cyprus. People from other EU member states who wish to move to the island and work in these professions need to apply for the relevant permit from the authority overseeing that profession in the same way as Cypriot nationals do
Permits for Non-EU Nationals
Information about the procedure to be followed for Non-EU nationals wishing to work in Cyprus…
For a non-EU national to be employed in Cyprus an employer has to have had difficulty in filling the vacancy from the local labour force of both Cypriot and EU citizens.
Applications for entry and work permits are made by an individual's intended employer if the applicant is overseas. Applications are made to the Civil Registry and Migration Department and should have a work contract attached which has been stamped by the Department of Labour in the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance. This department is responsible for deciding whether there is a lack of suitably qualified Cypriots able to do the job. If it recommends that a foreign worker may be employed then the application is sent to the Civil Registry and Migration Department to be processed. Entry and work permits can be issued providing there are no other reasons why an individual should not be allowed to enter Cyprus.
An applicant needs to submit an application fee and the following documents to support their application:
- The relevant application forms (M.58 and M.64)
- A photocopy of their passport
- A certificate proving that they have a clean criminal record
- Medical certificates
- A work contract with the correct ministerial stamps
- A bank guarantee to cover possible repatriation expenses. This must be valid for six months after the end of the work contract. The amount required depends on the home country of the applicant
Further Information
- Cyprus Visa website: Click here
- Cypriot Department of Labour: Click here