Cyprus : Visa and immigration

Do I need a visa and/or work permit?

EU nationals do not need a visa or work permit to enter or work in Cyprus, but citizens of non-EU countries may be required to have these documents. A list of countries whose citizens need a visa is available from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cyprus).

How do I apply for a visa and/or work permit?

Non-EU citizens should check with the nearest Cyprus embassy to identify what type of visa/work permits are required to work in Cyprus and how to apply. To find a list of embassies, visit Embassy World 

If you intend to stay and work in Cyprus it is necessary to:

• Apply for an Alien Registration Certificate (ARC) within eight days at the local Immigration Branch of the Police. There is a small fee for this.
• Apply for a social insurance number upon securing employment in Cyprus.
• Apply for a residence permit within three months.

More details are available on the Cyprus Government Web Portal.

In the Turkish-administered part of the island, work permits are only granted for posts for which there are no suitably qualified Turkish Cypriot applicants and must be applied for by your potential employer before you travel.

If you are not a UK national, contact the Cyprus embassy in the country where you are currently residing about how to obtain visas and work permits. If you are living in the UK, go to the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus .

You might also find it helpful to contact your ministry of foreign affairs (or your own embassy if you are not living in your home country) to ask whether there are any issues to be taken into account when considering working in Cyprus.

How do I apply for permanent residency?

EU nationals have the right to reside in Cyprus for up to three months without any conditions other than the requirement that they hold a valid identity card or passport. If you intend to reside in Cyprus for longer than three months, you must apply to the Cyprus immigration authorities for an EU residency permit within four months of your arrival. Application forms are available from the Civil Registry and Migration Department of the Ministry of the Interior (Cyprus) and from District Aliens and Immigration offices.

Non-EU nationals should check with their own embassy or visit the Cyprus Government Web Portal for more details.