Cyprus Work Visa and Work Permits for Non-EU Citizens: Complete Guide

This guide addresses the process of obtaining a Cyprus work permit for non-EU nationals. It is split into two sections: the first addresses work permits in Cyprus for companies owned by non-EU citizens, and the second addresses work permits for any company.

Work permits for companies owned by third-country nationals / non-EU citizens

All companies of foreign interests need to fulfill certain requirements to obtain the approval of the Civil Registry and Migration Department and be able to employ non-EU citizens. A recommendation for the employment of aliens is made by the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance after it is satisfied that there is no availability of adequately qualified Cypriots.

An employment contract is mandatory for the application process, detailing conditions such as a minimum duration of two years and specific salary requirements.

The following requirements apply:

1. The majority of the shareholders of the company are foreigners, not Cypriots.
2. The amount of €170,860 should be presented in the case that foreigners hold 50% or less of the company’s share capital.
3. Applications of companies which provide only services and invest capitals at least the amount of €170,860 are being examined because their line of business might not require a higher investment of capital.
4. New companies should present banking and other documents to prove direct foreign capital investment which amounts at least to €170,860 and that the share capital is legally established in Cyprus.
5. All interested companies should operate in independent offices in Cyprus which are situated in proper spaces and not as part of a private residency or office (unless the rent is joint). If the line of business allows the employment of individuals at home, these cases are examined individually.

Positions for employment contract

Companies of foreign interests may employ third-country nationals in the following positions:

1. Senior Directors
2. Directors, Senior Executives, and Other Staff
3. Supporting Staff

Work permit for any company

All interested companies must obtain approval from the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance to proceed with the employment of a non-EU individual, which includes securing a Cyprus work visa. To achieve this, an application, along with the required documents, should be sent to the District Office of Labour.

Foreign nationals must meet specific requirements to obtain a work permit and work visa in Cyprus. Foreign nationals must also obtain a Registration Certificate for EU Nationals to comply with immigration regulations and legally reside and work in Cyprus.

If the remuneration of the individual is less than €35,000, the following are required:

1. An application for vacancies to the District Office of Labour
2. Publication of the vacancy to either 3 newspapers for 1 day or to 1 newspaper for 3 days and if there are no available Cypriots or EU citizens within 6 weeks, the interested employer may proceed with the application to the District Office of Labour.
3. Certificate of Directors and Certificate of Shareholders of the company
4. Memorandum and Articles of Association showing the line of business of the company
5. Social Insurance receipt of the employer and Social Insurance receipts for all employees
6. Curriculum Vitae and any other qualifications of the foreigner
7. Passport copy of the foreigner and passport copy of the directors of the company (employer)
8. Employer’s Insurance Liability
9. VAT and Income Tax of the employer
10. Letter requesting the employment of the non-EU individual and describing the nature of the employment

If approved by the District Office of Labour, the application will be stamped and sent to the Department of Labour, together with all the documents, for further approval.

Non-EU nationals must obtain a residence permit to legally reside in Cyprus in addition to a work permit.

On the other hand, if the remuneration of the individual exceeds €35,000, the procedure is the following:

1. The application is made directly to the Department of Labour (there is no application for vacancies)
2. All required documents are the same as the above for individuals with remuneration less than €35,000 and are provided directly to the Department of Labour.

A temporary residence permit is often required for employment for non-EU citizens relocating to Cyprus.

Disclaimer: This is a guide for information purposes. Laws may change, and you should always take legal advice for the situation in hand. You should seek updated information if required, as Polycarpos Philippou & Associates LLC does not take any responsibility for the validity of the material at the time of reading. We suggest allowing qualified professionals to handle the necessary tasks to obtain a work visa and work permit.