§00 The process · Cyprus work permits
Ten stages. Three of them need you.
Bringing a worker from outside the EU into Cyprus is a regulated, multi-stage process. Here is what actually happens, in what order, and exactly where you as the employer are required to act.
§01 Before you start
Three things only the employer can hold.
Cyprus permits the employment of third-country nationals where a role cannot be filled from the local and EU labour market. The permit is tied to a specific employer and a specific job — which means several obligations sit with you by law and cannot be delegated to us.
A registered company in good standing
Your company must be properly registered with the relevant authorities and current on tax and social insurance. We check this at intake, before anything is filed.
The employer's signature
Applications and the employment contract require your signature. We prepare every document and tell you what each one commits you to; you sign it.
Lawful terms of employment
Pay, hours, and conditions must meet Cypriot law for the role. The permit rests on this, and it is checked. We will not file an application that does not.
§02 The full sequence
Where every stage sits.
Typical order. Timing varies with sector, volume, and the origin country — we give you a realistic range at intake and update it as the file moves.
-
01
Your input
Requirement intake and feasibility
We define the roles, headcount, skill level, target start date, and site conditions, then tell you honestly whether it is achievable and on what timeline. If it is not, you hear that here rather than three months in.
-
02
We handle
Employer file and registration
We assemble the employer-side documentation: company records, tax and social insurance standing, and the evidence supporting the request. Any gaps are fixed before filing.
-
03
We handle
Labour-market clearance
The vacancy is registered and tested against the local and EU labour market as the law requires. This establishes the legal basis for hiring from a third country and cannot be skipped.
-
04
We handle
Sourcing and vetting in the origin country
We recruit against the written brief. Trade skills, work history, references, documents, and medical fitness are verified at source — before anyone is presented to you.
-
05
Your input
Shortlist and your selection
You receive a shortlist with full documentation and interview whoever you wish, remotely. Nothing advances without your approval.
-
06
Your signature
Employment contract
A contract meeting Cypriot legal requirements is prepared, signed by both parties, and attached to the permit application. This is the document the whole permit rests on.
-
07
We handle
Work and residence permit application
The full application is filed with the competent authority and tracked. We handle follow-ups, requests for additional documents, and status reporting to you.
-
08
We handle
Entry visa and travel
Once approved, the worker applies for the entry visa at the Cypriot consulate in their country. We coordinate the appointment, the document pack, and the travel arrangements.
-
09
We handle
Arrival and registration
On arrival the worker completes the required registrations — residence permit formalities, medical checks where applicable, social insurance, and a bank account. We accompany them through it.
-
10
We handle
Start of work and follow-up
Hand-over to your site management, plus accommodation guidance and first-weeks support. We check in afterwards, and we flag renewal deadlines before they arrive.
Three points where you act.
Seven stages we carry.
One file, tracked from intake to renewal.§03 Common questions
What employers ask first.
How long does it take?
It depends on the sector, the headcount, and processing times at the authorities and the consulate. We give you a realistic range at intake and update it as the file moves — rather than a number that sounds good and slips.
What does it cost?
You get a written breakdown before committing: our fee, state fees, and travel. No costs appear later that were not on that sheet.
What if the worker does not work out?
Replacement terms are agreed in writing at the start. A failed placement costs us as much as it costs you, which is why vetting happens before presentation, not after arrival.
How long is the permit valid?
Permits are issued for a fixed term and are renewable subject to conditions. We track expiry dates and start renewals early, so a worker never falls out of status on your site.
Can we hire a large crew at once?
Yes. Volume recruitment is handled as a single co-ordinated batch rather than parallel individual files — that is where sector experience matters most.
Is any of this a legal opinion?
No. This page explains the process in practical terms. Requirements change and specific cases vary; we confirm the current rules for your case at intake.
§04 Start a request
Ready to fill the roles?
Send the positions and the headcount. You get back a realistic timeline and a written cost breakdown before committing to anything.