Applicants access to the job market is determined by decision of the Minister of Labour, Welfare, and Social Insurance, in agreement with the Minister of Interior.

Asylum Seekers have access to the labour market one month after the date of the submission of their application for international protection, in specific sectors and occupations according to the relevant Decree of the Minister of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance.

A company/employer willing to recruit an asylum seeker must be authorized to employ foreigners and a contract of employment must be stamped by the district Labor Office

In accordance to the amendment to Article 19 of the Refugee Law, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection have, as in the case of recognized refugees, immediate access to employment upon the date they are granted the aforesaid status. In particular there are no restrictions regarding their employment in particular sectors or occupations of the labour market. Also it is not necessary for the Labour Department to approve and stamp a contract of employment between an employer and a person with subsidiary protection status.

Section 21B of the Cyprus Refugee Law provides that the person who is recognized as a refugee receives equal treatment as the citizens of the Republic as regards wage- earning employment. In other words, refugees have the same rights as Cypriot citizens to employment, hence there are no restrictions to any particular sector and there is no need for the Labor Department to approve and stamp a contract of employment between an employer and a recognized refugee.

When moving to Cyprus for employment, third country nationals should apply in advance to the migration authorities in Cyprus for a work and residence permit. Upon registration with the authorities, an entry permit will be issued to the individual. This permit has a usual validity period. It is possible to renew a temporary work and residence permit by submitting the required documents two months before the permit’s expiration date.

Third Country Nationals may
– Apply visa on the grounds of employment contract.
– Apply for social insurance number
– The visa is renewable under specific grounds

Employers who wish to employ a third country national as a domestic worker, must search through EURES (European Employment Service), meaning they must advertise the post in the local press at a conspicuous place in at least two newspapers of mass circulation, as well as at the EURES for 3 weeks.

Third country nationals must proceed for registration at the appropriate District Office of the Aliens and Immigration Unit of the Police, or the Central Offices of the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia, within 7 days from the date of the arrival. Biometric data such as fingerprints and photo are collected.

To submit an application for an entry / residence permit for a third country national, the submission of an original bank guarantee (hereinafter "guarantee") may be required. The guarantee is submitted in order to cover the deportation expenses, if such a deportation is necessary due to the fact that the third country national is a prohibited immigrant.

The guarantee can be made at a commercial bank or cooperative institution and it is, in principle, a personal. There are some exceptions, such as students, where the guarantee may be a group guarantee.

The amount of the guarantee that should be submitted depends on the country of origin of the third country national, since the deportation costs (airfare, etc.) differ depending on the country to which the third country national will be returned. The amount of the required guarantee for each country of origin is available at the following link.

The bank guarantee should be valid for at least ten (10) years. In case of an application is submitted for the renewal of a residence permit, the submission of a new guarantee is not required, provided that the guarantee previously submitted is near expiration and that it covers the requested period of stay plus one (1) year. For students different requirements apply as the submission of a group guarantee is possible.

For the return of the bank guarantee deposited for the repatriation of the third country national, a written request should be submitted by the employer to the Civil Registry and Migration Department. The bank guarantee is returned only if the employee departs for his/her country or in case he/she is employed by another eligible employer, in which case the new employer is obliged to deposit a bank guarantee.

The bank guarantee is not returned in the following cases:
The employee has become illegal after the his/her permit was canceled
The employee submitted an application for asylum
The employee was sentenced for a criminal offense and subsequently, he/she is considered a prohibited immigrant
The employee abandoned his/her place of residence and work and he/she is missing and wanted for deportation purposes.

The maximum period of stay for third country nationals who work as domestic workers is 6 years (the initial permit is for 4 years +2 years for the renewal). The permit can be renewed after the 6th year, provided that the domestic worker is applying to work for the same employer.

Social insurance contributions are made by any individual employed or self-employed in Cyprus. An employer also makes contributions in respect of its employees equally. Employees are allowed to receive income from the social insurance fund during the following periods:

1. Absence of leave (sick leave)
2. Maternity Leave
3. Physical Injury
4. Pension

Important to note the employee has to fill in the Required Form and submit it to the responsible authority which is the ministry and all the related departments.

As of 1.7.2013, minimum gross monthly wages for domestic workers is €460. Out of this amount, 20,95% is deducted for food, 10% for accommodation, 8,3% for social insurance and 2,65% for GHS. Employee health insurance is paid half way by both parties.

For a six-day work, a domestic employee is entitled to 24 days of annual leave.

According to the Organization of Working Time Law of 2002-2007, employees’ working time in any week may not exceed the 48 hours on average, including overtime. It is specified though, that more favorable arrangements arising from other Laws or Regulations, personal or collective agreements are not affected by the provisions of the above mentioned Law. Whether someone will work 38 or 40 hours or more a week is a matter governed by the applicable collective agreement or agreement between the two parties.

No more than 2 changes of employer are allowed during the 6-year employment of domestic workers (except in case of death/repatriation/ transfer of the employer in a nursing home, criminal offense by the employer against the third country citizen or after a decision of the Labour Disputes Committee in favor of the third country citizen). Change of employer is not allowed after 6 years of employment.