Cyprus is not only a popular tourist spot, it is also becoming an international hi-tech hub with numerous foreign companies and start-ups in IT, FinTech, gaming and crypto sectors choosing Cyprus as their base. And we can't blame them — warm sunny climate, easy-going lifestyle, favourable tax system and government initiatives that support innovation.
Amidst other perks is the chance to visit the beach before work, ideal work/life balance and the chance to sip your coffee or a smoothie from a state-of-the-art office with sea views. As a result, in the last few years more and more foreign professionals have started relocating to the island for work. In addition to highly skilled employees, Cyprus continues to attract seasonal workers for tourism and agricultural jobs. Recently, the new Blue Card visa and Digital Nomad visa categories have been introduced. Depending on each permit type there is a different set of rules and requirements for each category.
Let's take a look at the intricacies of acquiring a Cyprus work visa: the requirements, how to apply and which professions and industries are currently in demand.
Skilled work visa
By introducing a skilled work permit Cyprus aims to attract non-EU highly qualified professionals to the island. It allows the applicants to work in Cyprus on a contract basis for up to 4 years and to bring along their families. The applicant’s spouse will also be allowed to work on their Cyprus temporary residence permit.
The first step for getting a Cyprus work permit is to find a job on the island and to get a job offer from a company. In Cyprus, it is the employer who takes care of the visa formalities by providing visa sponsorship and visa support. Generally, in order to acquire such a position and to be eligible for a secured Cyprus work permit, you would need to demonstrate relevant skills and experience. Usually, these are professional, medium or executive roles for a company with a foreign interest.
There is also a separate category for highly-skilled workers with a more streamlined permit application process, but also stricter work permit requirements, such as the salary bracket.
For instance, as of 2026, for a skilled work permit Cyprus Ministry of Labour requires the minimum salary of around 2,500 euros p/month and the signed work contract for at least 2 years.
Application process
First, the employer applies to the District Office of the Ministry of Labour. The company must ensure that it employs at least 30% of its staff from a Cyprus workforce.
Once the approval is granted, the employer applies for your temporary residence and your Cyprus work permit at the Civil Registry and Migration Department.
The employer also arranges the applicant's social insurance and might provide the bank guarantee on your behalf. To enter Cyprus you can apply for a special entry permit at your local embassy.
After that you would need to finalise the application process by submitting your biometric data at the Immigration Department Office in Cyprus and wait for the approval. Once your application is approved, you will be asked to come and collect your ID card and your Cyprus work permit.
Requirements
In order to satisfy the visa requirements visa applications must be accompanied by the following documents:
- Applicant’s passport
- Employment contract stamped by the Labour Office.
- Clean criminal record
- Medical certificate
- Health Insurance
- Proof of accommodation in Cyprus
Special conditions
— With a skilled Cyprus work permit visa you are allowed to change your employer up to 3 times, but your job must be in a similar industry and occupation.
— After 5 years of continuous residence on this permit Cyprus permanent residency may be granted.
Interesting fact: Some companies offer a comprehensive relocation package to their prospective employees, including work permit sponsorship, visa assistance, flights and help with accommodation for the first month, amongst other perks.
Blue Card
Introduced by the Cyprus government in 2025, the Blue Card is a European employment permit for highly skilled professionals. It was created by the EU as a part of a greater scheme in order to attract special talent in specific fields, such as IT, Pharmaceutical and Maritime industries. The key difference of this work visa is that it requires a higher level of education and professional experience from the applicant. The salary bracket is also higher, compared to a skilled Cyprus work permit. In return, a Blue Card acts as a uniform residence visa and work permit for all Europe, which provides the applicant with greater freedom of movement throughout the EU for up to 90 days in 6 months. It also offers a more streamlined visa process for qualified applicants.
Application process
To apply for a Blue Card, you must first secure a job offer and contract in a designated field.
Initially, you may enter Cyprus either on a visitor or entry visa and then submit your application at the Cyprus Migration Department. Visa processing time takes around 90 days but in many cases it takes less time. Once approved you will receive your Blue Card, which acts as your temporary residence permit as well as a work visa.
Your family can also accompany you in Cyprus by acquiring special dependent visas, which are also known as «family reunification visas».
Requirements
To be eligible, the applicant must demonstrate either a University Degree or
relevant work experience for at least 3 years in the last 7 years in the chosen professional field.
Amongst other visa requirements for this category is the minimum annual salary of 43,632 euro, as set by a Decree of the Ministry of Labour.
Special conditions
Initially, this work permit is granted for 3 years with a possibility of renewal.
The Blue Card holders are allowed to be unemployed for up to 3 months if they stayed on this visa for 2 years, and up to 6 months if they held the permit for 3 years.
After 12 months of legal residence in Cyprus on a Blue Card, the permit holder is entitled to apply for another Blue Card in any other EU member state.
The applicant is also eligible to use their time of residence on a Blue Card towards applying for a long-term residence permit anywhere in Europe.
Seasonal work visa
This temporary work permit has been specifically designed for seasonal staff, working in service jobs in a tourism sector or agriculture. Although it doesn't require any specific education or work experience, it has a more limited timeframe and a wage bracket is a lot lower compared to the skilled category. The seasonal Cyprus work permit is initially issued for 3 months, and can be extended for another 8 months.
Application process
The application process is very similar to the skilled work visa. The employer applies on behalf of the applicant to the Department of Immigration and the Ministry of Labour. They must demonstrate that there was no suitable local employee to fill this role.
Requirements
The applicant must provide a police clearance from the home country and a medical certificate along with their ID and a stamped employment contract.
The employer must provide a bank guarantee for potential repatriation costs and a reasonable accommodation for the applicant for the time of the contract. Usually, processing time can take up to 90 days.
Special conditions
— Compared to the skilled work permit Cyprus seasonal work visa is more tied to the employer and doesn't give too much leeway to the visa holders. When changing an employer the applicant must submit a new seasonal permit application and still adhere to the maximum stay conditions.
— The seasonal Cyprus work permit doesn't serve as a pathway to permanent residency — the applicant is only allowed to stay for a cumulative period of 6 years in Cyprus in their lifetime. Once the 6 year limit is up, the applicant must apply for another visa category if they want to continue staying in Cyprus.
Digital nomad visa
Although it is not a work permit as such, a digital nomad visa allows you to stay and work in Cyprus remotely. The most important condition is that your employer or clients must be based overseas and you are not allowed to work for any Cyprus-based company or client.
So, if you are a freelancer or are engaged in a remote work for an overseas company and can demonstrate a steady monthly income, you can enjoy all the perks of being a digital nomad in Cyprus: working from the beach or a mountainous village, enjoying 300 days of sunshine as well as authentic local culture and food.
Application process
The application process for this visa is pretty straightforward. But, you would need to be quick in order to meet the yearly quota for digital nomad visas — currently, Cyprus issues only 1000 permits per year. You may enter Cyprus on a short-stay visa and then submit the visa application form to the Migration Department. The processing of the application takes about 5 to 7 weeks.
Requirements
The applicant is required to demonstrate a minimum monthly net income of 3,500 euro, plus an additional 20% for a spouse and 15% for each dependent.
The applicant must also show a proof of working contract or client agreement with an overseas company. And, as a part of general requirements, it's necessary to provide a police clearance and a medical certificate, health insurance and proof of accommodation.
Special conditions
Initially, the digital nomad visa is issued for 1 year with the possibility of a visa permit renewal for another 2 years. So, this visa category doesn't directly lead to Cyprus permanent residency or citizenship.
Although your family members can join you in Cyprus on a family reunification visa, they will not have a right to work on the island.
Important information: The visa fees for all work permits in Cyprus are 70 euro for the application, plus another 70 euro for the initial registration in the Aliens’ Registry. The subsequent visa renewal cost is just 70 euro.
Other categories
- Student visa — if you’re studying in Cyprus full-time, you also get a right to work for up to 20 hours per week whilst studying and unlimited amount of time during semester breaks. However, the industry types you are allowed to engage in are limited and determined by the Ministry of Labour.
- Business visa — if you’re an entrepreneur willing to set up a business in Cyprus and can invest around 260,000 euro, you will be able to conduct your activities as a self-employed entrepreneur.
- Start-up visa scheme — if you have an innovative idea you might be able to apply for a special start-up visa, which is initially issued for 1 year with a possibility of renewal.
Occupations in demand
- IT specialists (data analysts, software developers, product designers, cybersecurity specialists)
- Game designers
- Science engineers
- Green energy engineers
- Marketing managers
- Affiliate and sales managers
- Accountants, auditors and compliance specialists
- Construction workers (masons, electricians, carpenters)
- Medical professionals
Where to look for work
The first step to start your job-hunting quest in Cyprus, is to register with major local recruitment sites and job search engines. Also, it's a good idea to check out the websites of companies you're interested in and apply directly. There are also plenty of dedicated telegram channels with job offers, particularly for tech and IT jobs. And, of course, don't write off the old-school, but nevertheless highly effective, word-of-mouth technique — you never know when and where opportunities can arise.
Useful tips
- Carefully research role descriptions for the position you're interested in. And, if you lack any specific skills or experience, consider taking on-line training or short-courses to expand your skill-set.
- Fluent English is a must for most skilled roles in Cyprus, some Greek can also be an advantage in some cases, along with your native language, of course.
- Some positions, such as sales or affiliate managers, are looking for multi-lingual professionals. Check which languages are most in demand and consider taking a language course.
- Some international companies based in Cyprus might also have an office or headquarters in your home country — getting a job there first could be a perfect opportunity to «set foot in the door».
- If you are applying independently — either for a digital nomad visa, an entrepreneur or start-up visa, you might want to use migration law firm who provide a comprehensive visa service and tailored solutions for your needs.
Acquiring the Cyprus work permit is certainly not «mission impossible». With the right mindset and set of skills, getting a Cyprus visa is not as difficult as it seems. Thanks to its favourable start-up and innovation ecosystem and reasonable visa requirements Cyprus is attracting more and more highly skilled professionals and entrepreneurs each year. Cyprus’s job market is currently very strong with steady demand for qualified professionals in various fields. Just remember that finding a job in Cyprus, just like anywhere else in the world, is a combination of having the right skills and experience, a bit of luck, and, of course, persistence and positive attitude. So, stay positive and good luck with your job search!
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