Is your company planning to expand into the island nation of Cyprus? If so, you will probably want to bring in at least some of your workforce from abroad to assist with the expansion. To bring foreign employees to into the country, businesses will need to acquire a Cyprus work visa for each of their employees making the move.
The Cypriot visa system can be complicated, with different types of visas available, complex requirements, and more all having the potential to cause costly delays for unprepared businesses.
At Horizons, our expansion specialists offer a range of Cyprus work visa services, immigration support, and outsourcing solutions to give your company everything needed to expand into Cyprus with the help of globally sourced talent.
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Basic requirements for Cyprus work visas
Your employees will need a work visa and a work permit for Cyprus. The basic requirements for these documents include:
- Application forms for the work visa and work permit
- Application fees
- Valid passport
- Health check
- Criminal record check
- Contract of employment from a Cyprus-based company
- Proof of medical insurance
- Proof of finances
- Biometrics
Types of Cyprus work visas
Any employees who want to live and work in Cyprus long-term will need three different visas/permits. Firstly, they will need a work visa, which entitles them to enter the country with the purpose of working. Secondly, they will need a work permit, which actually gives them the right to work in Cyprus. Finally, they will need a residency visa (for stays of more than 90 days).
How to get a Cyprus work visa and other necessary documents
Before a work permit can be issued to a foreign employee, you (the employer) must demonstrate that there are no suitable candidates in Cyprus who could fill the role. Additionally, you will need to contact the Department of Labor to get a recommendation letter and then complete the work permit application through the Civil Registry and Migration Department.
When the work permit has been approved, your employee can file their work visa application with their local Cypriot embassy/consulate. When this has come through and they have traveled to Cyprus, they can apply for a residency permit. This needs to be done within a week of arrival and can be done through police stations or the Civil Registry and Migration Department.
Other considerations
Applications for each of the three documents needed can take anywhere from several days to several weeks, so both you and your employees should start the process well in advance to avoid delays.
It is also important to note that, as Cyprus is part of the European Union (EU), any nationals of EU or European Economic Area (EEA) countries will not need to apply for the same documents, just to register their presence in the country for long-term stays.
How can Horizons help?
Horizons specializes in helping employers of all kinds expand into Cyprus, and we are experts in obtaining work visas for Cyprus. Our Cyprus work visa team offers reliable advice and custom outsourcing solutions to support you through the country’s complicated immigration process rapidly and effectively. We will ensure that you and your valued foreign workers are in full compliance with Cyprus’s immigration and employment regulations, save you time and effort, and provide answers to any questions you may have about the process.
In addition, we offer a full suite of outsourcing services covering recruitment, payroll, HR, administration, and more, freeing up your resources to work on your expansion, even if you don’t have a registered entity in Cyprus.
