Cyprus Work Visa 2026: Permit, Fees, Processing Time

A non-EU national who wants to work in Cyprus needs a temporary residence and work permit, and before travelling, an entry permit. Both are handled by the Migration Department of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, applications are submitted in Nicosia, and the published fees and processing times differ between general employment and employment in a company of foreign interests. This guide sets out both routes, the costs, the time frames, the four-year limit and what Indian and Pakistani applicants should know, as published by the Migration Department and read on 14 October 2026.

General employment: the single permit (GEN)

• Permit needed: to be employed as a worker in Cyprus, a third-country national must hold a temporary residence and work permit.
• Entry permit first: to enter Cyprus for work, no matter who the employer is or what the job is, the third-country national must obtain an entry permit. Athletes and coaches, priests and tourist representatives are exceptions and enter with a visa.
• After arrival: go to the Migration Department to be registered in the Aliens Register and obtain the temporary residence and work permit, by submitting an application and the fees.
• Where: applications for entry, residence and work permits can only be submitted at the Migration Department in Nicosia.
• Documents: the required supporting documents, with documents for an entry permit officially translated and duly certified.
• Biometrics: your photo, fingerprints and signature are taken when you submit the application or shortly after, at the District Immigration Unit of the Police where you live.

Fees

Stamp duty: with the repeal of the Stamp Duty Laws from 1 January 2026, employment contracts drawn up and signed on or after that date are no longer subject to stamp duty. Contracts signed up to 31 December 2025 remain subject to it, assessed by the Tax Department.

The Migration Department publishes no separate fee by nationality, so the same fees apply to applicants from Pakistan, India or elsewhere.

Processing time

• General employment: the examination of an application and the issue of a temporary residence and work permit is completed within four months. The limit does not apply if the application is incomplete or documents are missing.
• Company of foreign interests: applications are examined within one month, provided they are duly completed.
• Result: if approved, you receive a letter to collect the permit. If refused, a letter gives the reasons.

How long you can stay and change jobs

• Permit length: a temporary residence and work permit may last up to three consecutive years.
• Maximum stay: four (4) years for employment purposes, with no maximum for some categories, such as athletes and coaches, workers in farming and agriculture, and specialised cooks.
• Changing employer: the employee and employer can end the contract by mutual agreement with a jointly signed release document. The worker then has 30 days to find a new employer and apply to renew the permit.
• Renewal: can be submitted online from 60 to 30 days before the permit expires, with a verified CY Login account.

Companies of foreign interests

A highly paid third-country national may enter to work for a company of foreign interests with a visa from a Cypriot consulate or an entry permit requested by the employer. After arrival, the worker registers in the Aliens Register and obtains a temporary residence and employment permit. The permit follows the employment contract, up to three consecutive years, and highly paid staff can stay without a time limit while they hold a valid permit.

Working remotely instead: the Digital Nomad Visa

The Migration Department accepts applications under the "Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa" scheme, capped at 500 permits. It is for non-EU and non-EEA nationals who work remotely for an employer registered abroad, or for clients abroad, with a stable net monthly income of at least €3,500. It gives residence for a year, renewable for two more. See our moving to Cyprus guide for family members and EU routes.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Migration Department, Cyprus — Remunerated employment (single permit, GEN)
• Migration Department, Cyprus — Companies of foreign interests: procedure, fees and time
• Migration Department, Cyprus — Digital nomads and family members

All fees, time frames and rules verified against the official sources above on 14 October 2026. Information, not legal advice.