Salary threshold and qualifications
Key figure: Minimum income€2,500/month
The contract must pay at least €2,500/month gross. The Migration Department’s wording in full: Minimum gross monthly salary for highly paid employment; plus a relevant degree or 2 years' experience and an employment contract of at least 2 years. Existing key personnel on EUR 2,000+ may renew with the same employer until 31 Dec 2026.
Above the threshold there is no quota and no labour market test. Support-level staff hired by the same company fall outside this route and need a labour market test first.
The employer registers first
Key figure: Local hiring commitment30%
No permit application moves until the employer is registered with the Business Facilitation Unit of the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry. Registered companies commit to 30% Cypriot or EU staff: Companies commit to 30% Cypriot/EU staff over 5 years; the 70:30 ratio for new hires is checked after 2 Jan 2027.
A company that is not yet set up in Cyprus starts with incorporation and a registered office; we handle that as a separate service.
Cyprus work permit processing time
Key figure: Processing time1 month
About 1 month from a complete file, as published by the Migration Department for companies of foreign interests. Our part, from document check to filing, takes 15–30 working days.
The clock at the Migration Department starts when the file is complete. A missing degree certificate or an unsigned contract stops it, which is why we check every page before submission.
Validity and renewal
Key figure: Permit validity3 years
Up to 3 years per permit. 1-3 years depending on the contract; renewable with no maximum total stay for highly paid staff.
EU Blue Card as the other employment route
Key figure: Minimum income€43,632/year
The EU Blue Card asks for €43,632/year gross, against €30,000 a year on the work permit threshold, and its examination takes up to 90 days. The fee is €110.
Cyprus runs the Blue Card under the rules in force since 1 August 2024. In practice it is open to few occupations: Minimum gross annual salary set by Ministerial Decree K.D.P. 457/2024 (19 Dec 2024). Only ICT, pharmacy for research and maritime (excluding captains and crew) occupations have no quotas; quotas for all other occupations are set to zero.
Note
Which one we file
If your employer is registered with the Business Facilitation Unit and your salary clears the threshold, the work permit is the shorter route. We file a Blue Card when the employer is not registered and your occupation is one of the listed ones.
From work permit to citizenship
Key figure: Years to citizenship, highly qualified employees4 years
Highly qualified employees can naturalise after 4 years of residence with Greek at B1, against 8 years on the standard route.
With Greek B1 (5 years with A2).
Who this is not for
This permit serves one profile: an employee of a registered foreign-interest company paid at least €2,500/month. It is the wrong route in these cases.
- Your offered salary is below €2,500/month gross. Lower-paid jobs go through a labour market test and a different permit, which we do not handle.
- You want to work for yourself. The permit is tied to an employer, and spouses who join you may take paid employment only, not self-employment.
- Your employer is abroad and pays you there. That is the digital nomad route, not a work permit.
- You are looking for a job offer. We prepare and file applications for people who already have a contract; we do not recruit or place workers.
- You study in Cyprus or have applied for asylum. Your right to work is set by other rules, not by this permit.