Employment – other cases (non-single permit – NSP)

Procedure for application submission for entry and residence, processing time and maximum duration of residence

Entry permit

In order for a third-country national to enter the Republic for work purposes, no matter who the employer will be and the kind of job, the third-country national is obliged to obtain an entry permit as per the provisions of the Legislation.

Tourist representatives and Journalists/Reporters are excluded from the procedure for an entry permit since they can enter with an entry visa from the consular authorities of the Republic abroad.

Residence

After arriving in the Republic, the third-country national is required to proceed at the Civil Registry and Migration Department in order to be registered in the Aliens Register and obtain the temporary residence and employment permit by submitting an application and fees.

Submission of an application

• An application for entry, residence and work permit can be submitted at the application submission offices.
• The application should be accompanied by the required supporting documents. Documents related to the issuance of an entry permit should be officially translated and duly certified.
• In order to proceed with the submission of an application, the required fees must be paid.
• In order to submit the application for temporary residence and work permit, the biometric data (photo and fingerprints) and the signature of the third-country national are required. Τhe biometric data may also be taken at the same time or shortly after the submission of the application, at the District Immigration Unit of the Police of the area of residence of the third-country national. It is noted that, the collection of biometric data is mandatory for the renewal of a temporary residence and work permit as well.
• In case of approval of the application, the applicant will be informed by letter in order to collect the residence and work permit.
• In case of rejection of the application, the applicant will receive a letter about the reasons of the rejection.

Examination time of an application

The examination of an application and the issuance of a temporary residence and work permit is completed within three months. This time limit shall not apply and the examination time shall be increased if the application is not duly completed and documents are missing.

Duration of residence permit

The duration of a temporary residence and work permit should not exit the period of one year.

Termination of employment contract and change of employer

By mutual agreement between the two parties, the employee and the employer, the employment contract can be terminated and the release document can be completed and signed jointly, in the presence of witnesses. The mutual termination of the contract may occur at any time, given the contract is valid. The release document allows the employee, within 30 days, to look for a new employer and apply in order to renew his temporary residence and work permit.

Re-entry into the Republic in the case there is a valid residence and work permit or an application has been submitted for the renewal of the work permit

In case there is a valid residence permit, re-entry into Cyprus can be achieved upon presentation of the permit and a valid passport, provided that the person concerned has not remained outside the Republic for more than three months.

In case an application has been submitted for a residence and work permit that has not yet been examined, then re-entry to the Republic can be obtained with the payment receipt provided after the submission of the application fees, which bears a stamp allowing re-entry into Cyprus. In case of loss of the payment receipt, the interested parties, before their departure from the Republic, must apply to the Department for a request for a re-entry permit, explaining the reasons why they must travel while the application is still pending. The form is provided for completion on the spot and upon presentation of a valid passport and stamp duties of €10,25. Usually, the request is examined at the same time. As a rule, a re-entry permit is granted only for serious reasons (e.g. medical reasons).

Re-entry into the Republic for re-employment

A third – country national, who is not a prohibited immigrant and did not complete the maximum stay during his previous stay in Cyprus, can return with the usual procedure.

A third – country national who for any reason departed from Cyprus while having a contract in force, can return and be employed by another employer after a three-month stay abroad, but within the maximum period of stay, which is calculated cumulatively together with the period of employment with the first employer. Otherwise, the consent of the previous employer for a change of job is required.