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Working in Cyprus

European Union
Nationals from member states have the right to enter Cyprus by simply showing a valid EU passport or ID Card without having to register upon arrival.

If there is an intention to stay and take up employment one has to:

Apply within 8 days for an Alien Registration Certificate (ARC) at the local Immigration Branch of the Police (issued automatically for monitoring purposes). A fee of £20 is paid for the issue of such certificate.

Apply for a social insurance number upon securing employment in Cyprus

Apply for a residence permit in case one intends to stay longer than 3 months and take up employment in Cyprus. This application must be submitted before the expiration of this 3-month period to the Civil Registration and Migration Dept. through the local Immigration Branch of the Police and the residence permit or document is issued within six months from the date of application and the submission of the required documents by the applicant (please note that a fine is imposed in case of non-compliance).

It should be noted that the conclusion of formalities for acquiring a residence permit is not an obstacle to the immediate commencement of employment.

Interested applicants can get the application forms from the Civil Registry and Migration Department, Ministry of Interior and from the local Immigration Branch of the Police.

The application forms can also be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Interior: http://moi.gov.cy

The application and renewal fees for the mentioned residence permit for an EU national and to the members of the family, are CY£5.

Work Permit for Aliens
Aliens interested in working in Cyprus should have a work permit. The applications for the acquirement of entry and work permits in General Categories of Employment are submitted to the Civil Registry and Migration Department by the intended employer, through the respective District Aliens and Immigration Branch of the Cyprus Police, provided that the aliens are abroad. These applications should be accompanied by an employment contract, stamped by the Department of Labour of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, which is responsible for examining whether there are eligible qualified Cypriots in the specific profession or job position and subsequently issuing a relative recommendation for the employment of the aliens.

In October 1980, the Wage-Related Scheme of the Social Insurance was introduced and put into application in Cyprus. The contributions to the Scheme, as well as the benefits of the Scheme are proportionate. The contribution to the Scheme is compulsory, with a few exceptions and covers all the salaried and self-employed people in Cyprus. Individuals, who are unemployed, under certain circumstances have the right, to be insured under in a voluntarily basis. The Cypriots, who are employed by a Cypriot employer abroad, have the right to be optionally insured.

The legislation of the social insurance provides for equal treatment between native Cypriots and aliens. In accordance with the Scheme, the aliens have equal rights and obligations as the native Cypriots.

The Scheme offers the following benefits: old-age, invalidity, and widow’s pension; marriage, maternity and funeral grant; sickness, unemployment and orphans benefit; maternity and missing person’s allowance; and benefits for employment accidents and occupational diseases.

General information regarding employment in Cyprus and the trade unions representing the employees can be found at the respective Areas of Interest.

Required Documents

For General Categories of Employment:

Application form M.58 and M.64.
A legible copy of the passport.
Clean criminal record certificate.
Medical certificates.
A bank letter of guarantee for the amount of Cy₤200-500, depending on the country of origin of the alien, to cover possible repatriation expenses; the bank guaranty should be valid for six months after the expiry date of the employment contract.
Employment contract, stamped by the Department of Labour of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance and revenue stamped by the Revenue Stamps Registrar.
Application fee of Cy₤20.