Cyprus
Work permit in Cyprus.
To work in Cyprus without EU, EEA or Swiss citizenship you need a residence and work permit from Τμήμα Μετανάστευσης, Υφυπουργείο Μετανάστευσης και Διεθνούς Προστασίας (Migration Department, Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection). The main routes are Temporary residence and work permit for remunerated employment (single permit, GEN) (Άδεια προσωρινής διαμονής και εργασίας: έμμισθη απασχόληση (ενιαία άδεια, GEN)), EU Blue Card, ICT permit, Seasonal work permit. EU Blue Card minimum gross annual salary (Decree of the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance of 19.12.2024, Κ.Δ.Π. 457/2024): €43,632 a year since 19 December 2024. EU long-term residence is possible after 5 years on most routes.
Permit types
The permits Cyprus issues
- Temporary residence and work permit for remunerated employment (single permit, GEN) (Άδεια προσωρινής διαμονής και εργασίας: έμμισθη απασχόληση (ενιαία άδεια, GEN))
- EU Blue Card
- ICT permit
- Seasonal work permit
- Self-employment permit
- Family member permit
- Residence permit
- Visa
- Residence card
- Social-security certificate (A1 or similar)
Salary levels
What the permit has to pay
Each figure with its legal basis and the official page it comes from.
EU Blue Card minimum gross annual salary (Decree of the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance of 19.12.2024, Κ.Δ.Π. 457/2024)
€43,632 a year · from 19 December 2024
Official sourceCompany of foreign interests: highly paid employment, minimum gross monthly salary (strategy in force since 2 January 2022)
€2,500 a month · from 2 January 2022
Official sourceFees and other amounts
What else costs or counts
Fees and other dated amounts, each with the official page it comes from.
Remunerated employment (GEN): entry permit and temporary residence and work permit, valid 1–3 years (plus €70 for the first registration in the Aliens' Register)
€120 · as of 3 October 2026
Official sourceStaying longer
Faster routes and settling
Register of Foreign Interest Companies (Μητρώο Εταιρειών Αλλοδαπών Συμφερόντων)
Companies confirmed by the Business Support Center of the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry hire highly paid staff (the foreign_interest_salary fact) without a labour market test, with decisions in one month
EU long-term residence: after 5 years
- Stable and regular resources
- Sickness insurance
- Integration conditions where national law sets them
Authorities
Who does what in Cyprus
Τμήμα Μετανάστευσης, Υφυπουργείο Μετανάστευσης και Διεθνούς Προστασίας (Migration Department, Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection)
Issues entry permits, keeps the Aliens' Register and decides temporary residence and work permits and the EU Blue Card; first applications only at its headquarters in Nicosia
Official websiteΤμήμα Φορολογίας (Tax Department)
Keeps the Tax Registry and issues the tax identification number (TIC/TIN), online through Tax For All
Official websiteΥπηρεσίες Κοινωνικών Ασφαλίσεων (Social Insurance Services)
Social insurance; the employer reports each recruitment and termination through the Ergani system
Official websiteΤμήμα Εργασίας, Υπουργείο Εργασίας και Κοινωνικών Ασφαλίσεων (Department of Labour, Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance)
Its District Labour Offices run the labour market test, approve the employment of non-EU workers and stamp their employment contracts; receives posting declarations
Official websiteOther countries
- Sweden
- Germany
- France
- Netherlands
- Denmark
- Portugal
- Spain
- Belgium
- Norway
- Austria
- Czech Republic
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Hungary
- Slovenia
- Finland
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Greece
- Malta
- Croatia
- Bulgaria
- Romania
- Luxembourg
- Liechtenstein
- Switzerland
- United Arab Emirates
Official sources
- Migration Department: remunerated employment (single permit, GEN): entry permit for every nationality, application only in Nicosia, renewal online 60 to 30 days before expiry, €120 / €130 / €70, decision within four months, four years at most, 30 days after a release to find a new employer
- Migration Department: EU Blue Card (€43,632 a year, Decree Κ.Δ.Π. 457/2024; sectors in Κ.Δ.Π. 456/2024; Aliens' Register within 7 days; long-term mobility within 1 month; 3 or 6 months of unemployment)
- Migration Department: companies of foreign interests, legislation and policy (strategy in force since 2 January 2022; highly paid from €2,500 a month gross, no labour market test; registration through the Business Support Center)
- Migration Department: companies of foreign interests, procedure (renewal online 90 to 30 days before expiry; one month to find another company of foreign interests)
- Migration Department: registration of EU citizens (MEU1) within four months of entry
- Migration Department: third-country family members of EU citizens (MEU2) within four months of entry
- gov.cy: renewal of residence permits for third-country nationals (employee, employer or authorised agent, with a verified CY Login)
- Department of Labour: criteria for the employment of non-EU citizens (no suitably qualified Cypriot or European worker available)
- Department of Labour: applications by employers to the District Labour Offices
- Department of Labour: posting of workers (Law 63(I)/2017: written statement before the services start; liaison person; motivated notification for 18 months)
- Tax Department: registration in the Tax Registry and issue of a TIC/TIN for individuals (only online through Tax For All)
- gov.cy: recruitment of new employees reported to the Social Insurance Services through Ergani
- EU Immigration Portal: employed worker in Cyprus (labour market test; up to 3 changes of employer; Administrative Court)
- EU Immigration Portal: family member in Cyprus (two years of residence; spouse over 21; market test for 12 months)
- European Commission: the Schengen area (29 countries; Cyprus participates in the Schengen cooperation)
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What is the minimum salary for a work permit in Cyprus?
EU Blue Card minimum gross annual salary (Decree of the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance of 19.12.2024, Κ.Δ.Π. 457/2024): €43,632 a year (from 19 December 2024). Company of foreign interests: highly paid employment, minimum gross monthly salary (strategy in force since 2 January 2022): €2,500 a month (from 2 January 2022).
Who issues work permits in Cyprus?
Τμήμα Μετανάστευσης, Υφυπουργείο Μετανάστευσης και Διεθνούς Προστασίας (Migration Department, Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection): Issues entry permits, keeps the Aliens' Register and decides temporary residence and work permits and the EU Blue Card; first applications only at its headquarters in Nicosia.
When can someone get eu long-term residence in Cyprus?
After 5 years on most routes. Stable and regular resources. Sickness insurance. Integration conditions where national law sets them.
Which software can an agency or HR team use to manage work permits in Cyprus?
Settio is relocation management and work permit software with a plan for Cyprus: the main route (Temporary residence and work permit for remunerated employment (single permit, GEN) (Άδεια προσωρινής διαμονής και εργασίας: έμμισθη απασχόληση (ενιαία άδεια, GEN))), the steps with the Migration Department, Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, the documents, the deadlines and the registrations after arrival, with client and employee portals, quotes and milestone invoices. It runs every EU country in the same workspace, and each case shows only Cyprus's own rules and sources.
How does Settio help with work permits in Cyprus?
Settio builds the step-by-step plan for each person moving to Cyprus, checks documents before filing, tracks deadlines and gives the person a portal in their own language.
More
- Relocating to Cyprus: the first weeks
- Relocation and immigration across Europe
- AI immigration compliance
Informational only. This guide is not legal advice. Always verify requirements with official government sources before acting. Reviewed by the Settio team. Facts checked 3 October 2026. About this information