Questions and answers about working in Cyprus
Permits, pay, contracts, housing: real questions about work in Cyprus, answered clearly in English, Greek and Russian. Ask yours, it is free.
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Permits and papers
- I am an EU citizen. What do I need to start working in Cyprus?No work permit: with an EU, EEA or Swiss passport or ID card you can take any job. You do need to register and get a few numbers: Registration Certificate (MEU1) at the… Answer by the CyprusJobs.eu team
- I am not from the EU. Can I come to Cyprus and look for a job?Not as a visitor. If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, the employer applies for permission to hire you before you travel. You cannot arrange a work permit on your… Answer by the CyprusJobs.eu team
- Can I change employer on a work permit in Cyprus?Yes, but not freely. On a standard work permit for non-EU workers you can move to another employer only if you and your employer end the contract by agreement and the… Answer by the CyprusJobs.eu team
Pay and tax
- What is the minimum wage in Cyprus in 2026?From 1 January 2026 the national minimum wage is €979 gross a month when you are hired and €1,088 after six months with the same employer, pro rata for part-time work… Answer by the CyprusJobs.eu team
- Is a 13th salary mandatory in Cyprus?Not for every job. A 13th salary (an extra month's pay, usually in December) comes from your employment contract or a collective agreement. It is common in hotels, banks… Answer by the CyprusJobs.eu team
Contracts and rights
- How many days of paid annual leave do I get in Cyprus?At least 20 working days a year if you work a five-day week, and 24 if you work six days a week. Your contract or a collective agreement can give more, never less. Other… Answer by the CyprusJobs.eu team
- How do I know my employer registered me with Social Insurance?Your employer must register you with Social Insurance within 7 days of your first day and pay contributions every month: 8.8% from your pay and 8.8% of their own. Your… Answer by the CyprusJobs.eu team
Safety and scams
Housing
Finding a job
- Do I need to speak Greek to work in Cyprus?Not for many jobs. English is the everyday working language in hotels and tourism, in international companies in Limassol, Larnaca and Nicosia, in IT, shipping and… Answer by the CyprusJobs.eu team
- When do hotels in Cyprus hire for the summer season?Hiring for the summer usually starts in late winter and peaks in spring; the season itself runs roughly from spring to autumn. Hotels in Limassol and Larnaca and many… Answer by the CyprusJobs.eu team
- How do I apply for a job on CyprusJobs.eu, and is it free?It is free, and you do not need an account. "Easy apply": a short form on the vacancy page. Your application goes straight to the employer's email, and you get a… Answer by the CyprusJobs.eu team
Useful tools
- Salary calculatorGross to take-home under the 2026 tax rules, in seconds.
- Job market this weekWhere Cyprus is hiring now: towns, fields, pay, from our live listings.
- Salaries by fieldWhat employers actually pay, by job and town.
- Free CV makerA clean CV in English, Greek or Russian, ready to send.
- Guides to moving and workingPermits, rights at work, rent and life in Cyprus, step by step.
General information, checked against official sources on the date shown; not legal or tax advice. For your own case ask the official body named in the answer, a trade union or an accountant.