If a Cypriot company is on the register of companies of foreign interests, it can hire third-country nationals without quotas. The threshold for a "highly paid" employee is €2,500 gross a month, and the permit is issued for the length of the contract, up to 3 years.
Requirements for the employee
- A salary of at least €2,500 gross a month.
- A relevant degree or at least 2 years of relevant experience.
- An employment contract for at least 2 years — even if the permit is requested for one.
- All documents officially translated and certified.
Fees and timings
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Entry permit plus residence permit (1–3 years) | €70 |
| Issue or renewal of the permit | €80 |
| First ARC registration | €70 |
| Processing time with a complete pack | around 1 month |
Applications go only to the head office in Nicosia. First registration of employees of new companies is on a walk-in basis with no appointment. Biometrics are taken at filing or shortly afterwards at the district police unit.
Family: reunification and the spouse's right to work
- The spouse must be over 21 and the marriage must have been concluded at least a year before filing. Children must be minors and unmarried.
- Reunification fees: entry permit plus residence permit €200, issue €200, renewal €200, plus €70 for each ARC.
- The official timeframe is up to 9 months; in practice families of employees at such companies go through faster.
- The spouse has free access to employment — the contract does not need to be "sealed" at the Department of Labour.
- Self-employment is not allowed for the spouse — unlike spouses of long-term residents.
What the company has to do
To join the register a company must have more than 50% of its shares held by third-country nationals (or less, but with a foreign minority stake of at least €200,000), a mandatory initial investment of €200,000 transferred from abroad into the company's Cypriot account, and an office separate from a home under a lease of at least 12 months. Registration takes up to 10 working days and is filed online by the company itself through CY Login.
The company also undertakes to raise the share of Cypriot and EU nationals to 30% within 5 years. From 2 January 2027 that ratio is checked at each new hire.
Related options
- The EU Blue Card — with a threshold of €43,632 gross a year, form MBCEU, processed only in Nicosia.
- The Startup Visa — for founders with a stake of at least 25%; the scheme runs to December 2026 with a cap of 150 visas.
- Support staff — employees on a salary below €2,500: a labour market test is required and the contract must be certified at the Department of Labour.