On December 29, 2025, Cyprus’s Migration Department issued a set of application forms covering a variety of employment categories for foreign nationals seeking to live and work in the country.
The forms, which are available on the department’s official website in Nicosia, are divided into various work permit categories, each tailored to a different type of employment arrangement.
Work Permit Categories Now Available
Foreign nationals may apply in the following categories: employment for up to three months, employment for three to six months, seasonal employment, remunerated employment through a single permit (GEN), and self-employment.
Each category has its own set of required documents. Applicants seeking short-term employment of up to three months must apply for both an entry permit and a temporary work permit.
The 3 to 6 month category also requires a registration document and a release agreement, which governs the terms under which a worker can terminate a contract with a particular employer.
The ESW permit, which covers seasonal employment, includes provisions for permit renewals as well as a separate renewal process for those who change employers during their stay.
Applicants in this category must also sign a declaration agreeing to cover the cost of a third-country national’s return journey.
The remunerated employment single permit, the GEN category, is the most comprehensive of the five.
It covers initial entry, permit renewals, employer changes, and even residence permits for specific family members of European Union citizens.
This stream has dedicated sub-categories for specific professional groups, such as trainee accountants, athletes, coaches, pub workers, priests, and Diaspora Special Identity Card holders.
How to Apply for a Cyprus Work Permit
All categories require applicants to submit a completed application form along with supporting documents.
Depending on the category, additional paperwork such as an authorization of representative form and a declaration of mailing address may be required.
The forms can be downloaded directly from the Cyprus Migration Department’s official portal, which is located at Leoforos Archiepiskopou Makariou III 90, 1077 Nicosia.
