After the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU, this territory became attractive not only for tourists, but also for labor migrants. The issue of work is urgent, first of all, for those who have decided to settle here permanently. Let’s try to understand in detail what to do, how much is paid for it and whether work in Cyprus is a justified reason for emigration.
Why do foreigners come here to work
The mild Mediterranean climate, the large number of sunny days a year, the proximity of the sea and the popularity among wealthy investors attract most of those who want to make extra money, and they are actively buying real estate here. All this creates a reputation for the island as a rich, expensive, territory full of benefits. And although in reality everything is not so rosy, living and working in Cyprus is a key goal for those who decide to emigrate.
Other advantages of this part of Europe include:
- various opportunities for those who are ready to work in the tourism sector (it is this direction that is leading in the Cypriot economy);
- widespread use of the English language;
- a large number of Ukrainian-speaking population;
- a wide selection of seasonal work;
- relatively low taxes;
- if you are lucky enough to find a long-term project, there is a possibility of staying for permanent residence.
But we should not forget that the salary level does not always meet the expectations of visitors, and the competition in the labor market is quite high.
Popular professions
Work in Cyprus for Belarusians, Ukrainians and other representatives of the CIS can be divided into several categories:
- permanent qualified;
- permanent unqualified;
- seasonal;
- self-employment
From April to the end of October, the island experiences a large influx of tourists. And this is a good opportunity to earn money, relax and brush up on foreign languages. Among those who cannot boast of linguistic abilities, work in Cyprus in Ukrainian companies is in great demand. There are many of them here, since the number of the Ukrainian-speaking population exceeds 40 thousand people, which is almost 5% of the total number of residents.
For those wishing to work in the field of tourism, the following vacancies remain interesting as before:
- transfer guide;
- hotel administrator;
- waiter;
- cook;
- tour guide;
- chambermaid;
- receptionist.
Work as an animator in Cyprus is in great demand among active young people.
These professions most often do not require a certain education (with the exception of a cook), they assume the presence of an initial or intermediate level of language proficiency. In exchange for this, the employer offers a decent wage, accommodation and food.
Gambling business is officially allowed in the Republic of Cyprus. In every high-class and even middle-class hotel, you can find a casino that needs staff. Working for girls in Cyprus in a casino, as well as for young guys, can be a good option if you have experience in this business and know several foreign languages (English, Greek, Turkish).
Cypriot companies are always interested in qualified IT specialists. For this, they do not have to be tied to the office, they can work remotely. All you need is high-speed Internet.
This explains why there are so many freelancers on the island who work for a company or for themselves. Working as a programmer in Cyprus pays well, especially if you get a job in an international company.
Married couples can find happiness in private villas. Here there is always a great demand for conscientious workers:
- housewives;
- drivers;
- nannies;
- gardeners;
- head of farms (here they are called managers);
- other hired persons who perform various household duties.
Work as a teacher in Cyprus is also very popular, especially if the teacher speaks several foreign languages (in particular, Greek, Russian and English are in demand). At the same time, not only Cypriots, but also Ukrainian-speaking migrants can hire such people.
Self-employed foreigners most often choose the sector of various services for the population:
- hairdressing;
- nail service;
- cosmetology;
- car repair;
- small repair work around the house.
But work in Cyprus without knowledge of the language will be associated with unqualified duties. Most often we are talking about loaders, handymen, car and dish washers.
Men who are not afraid of physical work should move to a port city. For example, in Girne. The demand for strong hands is extremely high here.
Qualified personnel who speak three or at least two languages, with a higher education and professional experience, will be able to find a well-paid job. Engineers, programmers, banking and financial workers are needed on the island.
Seasonal work in Cyprus for Ukrainians can be related not only to tourism, but also to picking vegetables and fruits.
Internship
For those who are more interested in gaining work experience than in salary, an internship is suitable. International companies working in the field of education are engaged in these programs. They help in finding the right company and solving all organizational issues.
Popular destinations:
- tourism;
- restaurant and hotel business;
- ecology;
- financial sphere;
- insurance.
Working conditions can vary, but most often they include minimum wage, free food and housing. The duration of internship can vary from six months to two years, which gives the right to issue a residence permit .
But studying at a local university and working for a Cypriot company was allowed quite recently. But employment in Cyprus for students has a number of limitations:
- the educational institution must be accredited by state bodies;
- work should not take more than 20 hours per week;
- working hours should not coincide with study hours.
Requirements for candidates and working conditions
The working week at Cypriot enterprises lasts from Monday to Saturday. Weekends are Wednesday and Sunday. The mode of operation in some cases depends on the season. For example, in summer, shops and banks are open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., then from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, many are open only until lunch.
The duration of the working day is no more than 8 hours. It is not allowed to work more than 48 hours a week in Cyprus.
In the service sector, an 8-hour working day is also observed, but the employment of employees may be broken down into shifts. Employment conditions may also differ. Those who work in families and in hotels are usually provided with accommodation and food.
If we are talking about specialists of the highest category (for example, working as a doctor), the candidate must provide documents confirming education and work experience. On the Turkish territory of Cyprus, diplomas of the Ukrainian model are accepted, certified by the Turkish embassy in the attaché for education. If the employee is of great interest to the company, housing and transportation expenses may also be paid for him.
Methods of job search
You can search for a job in Cyprus independently or through a specialized agency. In the second case, you will have to pay commissions to the intermediary.
You need to choose a company very carefully so as not to fall for fraudsters. Pay attention to the following companies:
- www.grsrecruitment.com/en/ – one of the largest recruiting firms on the island, operating in the labor market since 2005;
- www.advancecareer.com.cy – selects vacancies in Cyprus in any field, including working with large companies;
- www.workforcecyprus.com is an international agency that selects candidates for large customers in various fields.
If you approach the issue yourself, you need to act comprehensively:
- Study the picture of the country’s labor market on the official website of the employment service of Southern Cyprus. And although the information here is mainly intended for citizens of the country and the EU, for Ukrainians and other residents of the CIS, there is a lot of useful information on the portal.
- Use job sites:
- www.cyprusjobs.com – you can search for vacancies here by city;
- www.jobincyprus.com – to optimize the search, it is better to use filters by fields of activity and settlements;
- www.learn4good.com – here you can find a job in any country of the world. Just select Cyprus, city and profession.
- Send a resume to the company you are interested in. You can find a list of them in the ” Yellow Pages of Cyprus ” (business directory).
- In groups in social networks.
It is often possible to find a job in Cyprus thanks to word of mouth. The island is small, so it is not so difficult to get information.
Official employment
An important stage of employment is official registration. This process consists of several procedures, including obtaining a work visa and obtaining a work permit. All this should be taken care of before arriving on the island.
We are preparing documents
Anyone who intends to emigrate on the basis of employment should know the algorithm of actions, how to get a job in Cyprus. The following package of documents will be required for submission to the consulate for the purpose of obtaining a visa permit:
- Application.
- Foreign passport and a copy of its main page.
- Certificate of no criminal record.
- Certificate from the hospital confirming the absence of dangerous diseases.
- Availability of finances.
- Contract on the employment of a foreign employee, certified by the Ministry of Labor of Cyprus.
- Photo size 3×4 cm.
- Docket.
- Civil passport and its copy.
All documents must be translated into the official language of Cyprus and notarized.
How to get permission
An important stage in the process of how to go to work in Cyprus is obtaining a work permit. This issue is dealt with by the employer: both a Cypriot company and a representative office of a foreign company.
The organization must submit an application to the local police or the Civil Status and Migration Department to accept a foreign citizen for an open vacancy. A work permit in Cyprus is issued after consideration of the following package of papers:
- Application (form M6 or M58).
- A copy of the employment contract, certified by the seal of the Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance.
- A copy of the foreign passport of the future employee.
- Insurance.
- Certificate that the citizen has no criminal record (it must be legalized through the Cypriot embassy).
- Confirmation that the foreigner has money in the amount of 350-390 euros (including the cost of tickets), in case he is deported.
- Duty payment receipt (40 euros).
- Housing rental agreement.
While the request will be considered, the candidate must be in his home country. In order for a job in Cyprus to become available for CIS citizens, the employer needs to prove that he has conducted an advertising campaign and tried to find an employee among Cypriot or EU citizens, but this attempt was unsuccessful.
Work visa
The migration legislation of Cyprus provides for several types of work visas:
- A – individual business in agriculture;
- B – opening a company in the mining industry;
- C – non-salaried work in the field of trade;
- D – conducting scientific and research activities;
- E – employment in the company.
The procedure for obtaining a work visa in Cyprus is no different from that provided for in other European countries. To begin with, you need to find an employer, conclude an employment contract with him, on the basis of which the Cypriot company must obtain a permit, and only then go to the consulate.
When a foreigner passes control at the airport, the border guard can contact the employer to confirm the authenticity of the information.
The visa application processing period can take up to three months. All this time, the candidate can be abroad or in Limassol, Paphos, another Cypriot city on the basis of a visa-free, tourist or visa (electronic).
The validity period of the visa permit is usually limited to one year. After arriving at the place of residence on the island, the migrant worker must apply for a PNP within 8 days.
Salary level
The average wage on the island is €1,932 per month for men and €1,607 for women (after taxes). The minimum wage in Cyprus is set only for certain professions:
- sellers;
- nannies;
- clerks;
- caregivers;
- cleaners;
- guards
The first 4 categories must receive at least 874 euros per month for the first six months, then the payment increases to 924 euros if they remain with the same employer. Security guards are paid hourly: €4.90 initially and €5.20 after six months.
Work in Cyprus without knowledge of the language is paid less than those who speak at least one of the languages in demand on the island. For example, a cleaner receives 4.75-4.84 euros for one hour. Salespeople, waiters, housekeepers, service station workers earn about 1,000-1,500 euros per month. But managers, IT specialists, employees of investment companies can count on a salary of 2,000 euros per month.
The amount of salary depends on the region, field of employment, profession, work experience of the foreign worker. To find a good option in the field of tourism, it is best to try to find a job in resort cities, such as Paphos or Ayia Napa.
Taxation
It is important for everyone who intends to work on the island to take into account the tax rate on the income of citizens. It completely depends on the salary level. Today, the indicators look like this:
| Income in euros | Rate, % |
|---|---|
| 0-19500 | 0 |
| 19501-28000 | 20 |
| 28001-36300 | 25 |
| 36301-60000 | 30 |
| more than 60,000 | 35 |
Taxes in Cyprus also include deductions to the insurance fund. The size of this payment is 7.8% of earnings. In addition, an additional Special Defense Contribution tax is paid – a contribution to the needs of the Ministry of Defense. It is also determined by the income level of citizens:
| Income indicator in euros per month | Tax rate, % |
|---|---|
| 0-1500 | 0 |
| 1501-2500 | 2.5 (but not less than 10 euros) |
| 2501-3500 | 3 |
| from 3500 | 3.5 |
Regardless of where exactly this or that employee will work, in Ayia Napa or Limassol, and in what industry he will be employed, deductions to the defense fund will be withheld from his following incomes:
- interest income;
- dividends;
- income from payment received for renting real estate.
Taxes are also levied on pensions that a resident of the country receives abroad.
Opening your own business
Those who are faced with such a question as work in Cyprus for Ukrainian speakers for the first time should be prepared that the job search may take some time. One of the options to realize yourself can be the organization of your own business.
You can do business on the island only if you have a long-term visa that gives you the right to receive a PNP. Create a company in the form of a joint-stock company or partnership, as well as open a branch, for example, of a Ukrainian enterprise.
Investing money in the local economy can become a basis for obtaining citizenship status, provided that the amount of investment is at least 300 thousand euros. The company registration process takes 10-13 days.
It is very important to choose the right field of activity. In Nicosia (the capital of the state), for example, you can engage in trade, food production, and finance. And in cities located on the coast, it is better to give preference to the service sector and tourism.
Many Ukrainian businessmen are engaged in real estate. Residential and non-residential properties on the island are in demand, taking into account the fact that their price has been steadily increasing since 2017. It is important to remember that doing business in Cyprus will be tough competition.
The situation with Northern Cyprus
Many migrant workers choose the northern part of the island rather than the southern part. Going to this region, one should not forget that it was recognized exclusively by the Turkish state. For the entire world community, this is the territory occupied by Turkey.
The Greek authorities consider it legal to enter Northern Cyprus if it is carried out from the territory of the southern part of the island.
Work in Northern Cyprus is no less attractive for foreigners than in Southern Cyprus. For employment, you will need an invitation from the employer, as well as a permit obtained from the Ministry of Labor (Nicosia). In the police department of the capital, you also need to issue a certificate about all exits and entries to Northern Cyprus and undergo a medical examination.
The following destinations are popular in this part of the island:
- programming;
- teaching;
- trade;
- design;
- management;
- engineering
Work professions should not be neglected. Bricklayers, builders, excavators, loaders are always needed here. Work in Cyprus for Ukrainians in the northern part is also possible in the tourism sector.
Results
To emigrate to Cyprus on a work visa, you need to choose a field of activity, learn the language and enlist the support of your employer. This means that first you need to find a job, then get a permit (the company deals with this issue) and only then submit a request for a work sample visa permit. Among the areas in demand are entertainment services, tourism, IT, and trade. Seasonal workers are very popular.