Cyprus

Cyprus is an island country of 996,571 people with an employment rate above the EU average: 81.3% of people aged 20–64 have a job (EU: 76.1%).

Unemployment has fallen every year – from 6.3% in 2022 to 4.4% in 2025, below the EU average of 6.0%. Youth unemployment has dropped too, from 18.1% in 2022 to 13.5% in 2025 among people aged 15–24 – now below the EU figure of 15.2%.

As an EU/EEA citizen you do not need a work permit – you can move, look for a job and work on the same terms as Cypriots; you only register your residence after arrival. The official languages are Greek and Turkish. If you do not speak Greek, job interviews are usually held in English, unless you share another language with the employer.

According to EURES (February 2025), the occupational groups with the biggest shortages in Cyprus are:

• ICT professionals,
• building and related trades workers (excluding electricians),
• cleaners and helpers.

Sectors expected to grow are tourism, technology, healthcare and renewable energy; EURES names FOREX (currency trading) and IT support as the fastest-growing sectors. In 2023 the job vacancy rate was 2.8% overall – highest in accommodation and food services (5.3%), administrative and support services (3.9%) and transport and storage (3.5%).

Seasonal work: tourism and agriculture rely heavily on seasonal staff. Most EU jobseekers who find seasonal jobs in tourism work under private agreements with employers for a set period, usually from April to November.

The Public Employment Service (Department of Labour) has district offices in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos and an online registration platform for jobseekers. Start here:

• PES online platform – register as a jobseeker,
• EURES – the EU job portal, plus EURES advisers in your home country and in Cyprus; note that EURES Cyprus only accepts CVs sent for a specific vacancy,
• newspapers – you can find them through the official web portal of the Republic of Cyprus.

It is also worth approaching companies directly, especially those looking for staff with particular specialisations.

For step-by-step advice on job search, CVs and interviews in any EU country, see our How to find a job abroad – 10 practical guides.

A Cypriot application usually contains:

• a CV – the Europass CV has spread quickly among Cypriot employers,
• a covering letter that states the job title and the vacancy number.

The interview: if you do not speak Greek, it is usually held in English, unless you and the employer share another language.

Diplomas: KYSATS is the competent authority in Cyprus for recognising higher education qualifications and is part of the ENIC-NARIC network. For regulated professions you apply to the competent authority for your profession; the contact point is the National Reference Body for Professional Qualifications at the Department of Labour.

• Minimum wage (2026): €979 a month when you are recruited, rising to €1,088 after six months’ uninterrupted service with the same employer.
• Collective agreements between trade unions and employers set pay levels in many branches; they usually run for two years.
• Working time: normally 38–40 hours a week, depending on the collective agreement; no more than 48 hours a week including overtime. Overtime is paid for work outside your set hours.
• Holidays: 20 working days of paid leave a year on a five-day week (24 on a six-day week), plus 14 to 17 official holidays a year.
• Contract: your employer must inform you in writing of the terms of your employment – make sure you get a signed document with the main details.
• Pay: usually by cheque with a payslip, or into your bank account with just the payslip.

Students from the EU/EEA can work in Cyprus without any permit, on the same terms as Cypriot students.

• Seasonal jobs in tourism and agriculture are the classic summer option – the tourist season usually runs from April to November.
• Traineeships for young jobseekers – the Human Resources Development Authority (HRDA) runs schemes of up to 6 months in a company with a participation allowance of €125 a week, generally for registered unemployed people aged 18–35, including graduates.
• Erasmus+ traineeships and the Eurodyssey exchange programme are other ways to gain work experience in Cyprus.

Students from outside the EU may work up to 20 hours a week, only in certain jobs (e.g. restaurants, cleaning, healthcare, agriculture, food delivery); the employment contract must be certified by the Department of Labour.

Thinking of studying there first? See Studying in Cyprus – practical information.

1. Registration: as an EU citizen, register with the Civil Registry and Migration Department within 4 months of arrival. Bring a valid ID card or passport and proof of employment (or of your studies).
2. Social insurance: you must be registered with the Social Insurance Services. Your employer pays the contributions – 8.8% of your pay as your share, plus 8.8% from the employer.
3. Health care: your contribution to the General Healthcare System (GHS, GeSY) is withheld from your salary together with social insurance.
4. Tax: your employer withholds income tax from your salary.
5. Bank account: salaries are paid by cheque or into your bank account – a local account makes things easier.

Problems with your rights as an EU worker? Your Europe Advice and SOLVIT help for free.

If you are not an EU/EEA citizen, you need a residence and employment permit, issued by the Civil Registry and Migration Department. The main routes:

• Graduates of Cypriot universities who completed a master’s or PhD can apply for a permit to look for a job or start a business after their studies; the EU Immigration Portal mentions a period of one year after you complete your studies.
• Highly skilled workers in companies of foreign interest (including international companies): you need a university degree or equivalent, an employment contract of at least 2 years and a gross salary of at least €2,500 a month (Government strategy for attracting companies, updated February 2024).
• After 5 years of continuous legal residence you can apply for long-term residence.

Details: EU Immigration Portal – highly qualified workers in Cyprus and students in Cyprus.

• Eurostat – population on 1 January, unemployment by age, employment rate (data for 2025 and 2026),
• EURES – Living and working conditions: Cyprus, labour market information: Cyprus,
• Department of Labour – Public Employment Service online platform,
• KYSATS – recognition of higher education qualifications,
• EU Immigration Portal – highly qualified worker: Cyprus, student: Cyprus,
• Ministry of Finance – strategy for attracting companies (updated February 2024),
• Your Europe – working abroad.

Updated: October 2026.