Cyprus EU Blue Card in 2025: Requirements and Conditions

Photo: Cyprus Mail

Cyprus has changed its EU Blue Card rules to attract highly qualified specialists. The new framework narrows eligible sectors and sets a higher salary threshold for applicants, aligning with the EU directive that governs labour migration inside the Union.

The minimum gross annual salary for a permit is set at €43,632. Eligibility is restricted to three fields:
- Information and Communications Technology (ICT),
- Pharmaceutical research,
- Maritime industry (excluding captains and crew).

Applicants must hold higher education or prove at least three years of professional experience over the past seven years.

Where and how to apply

Applications for the Cyprus Blue Card are filed with the Department of Migration in Nicosia, with biometrics (photo, fingerprints, signature). A valid passport and an employment contract confirming a job offer in Cyprus with an annual salary of at least €43,632 are mandatory.

The card is issued for the duration of the employment contract up to three years, with the possibility of renewal. It grants residence and work rights and enables family reunification. Spouses may work without securing separate permits.

Processing time: up to 90 days, or 30 days for long-term mobility (relocating with an existing EU Blue Card from another Member State).
If the card holder loses a job, the permit remains valid for up to three months (if employed in Cyprus under 2 years) or up to six months (if 2+ years).

Qualification and documents

Candidates must prove tertiary education or, where applicable, three years of professional experience in the last seven years. All documents must be originals and officially translated into Greek or English. The file typically includes:
Completed application form;
Copy of passport and entry permit;
Employment contract or job offer;
Proof of qualifications (degree, certificates, employment references);
Criminal record certificate;
Medical documents.

The employer must confirm the company is registered in Cyprus and compliant with national laws. After approval, the card is issued in person. Job changes within the first 12 months require prior notification and authorisation by the authority; after 12 months, a change of employer does not need separate approval.

Labour market context

According to Eurostat, Cyprus ranks second in the EU by workload: about 10% of employees work 49+ hours per week. This underlines the high intensity of the market the new scheme targets. Per the European Commission, as of 1 April 2025, the number of EU Blue Cards issued by Cyprus was zero; the updated regime came into effect in July.

The Centrarium portal reports sustained demand in IT—programmers, developers, systems analysts, and support engineers. With ongoing digitalisation, Cyprus faces shortages in cybersecurity and business-process automation. The country also needs architects, site managers, engineers, electricians, and masons. The tourism and hospitality sector seeks hotel administrators, guides, booking managers, and service staff, with seasonal demand for waiters, bartenders, and housekeepers, especially in Limassol, Paphos, and Ayia Napa.

In education, demand is rising for foreign-language teachers, early-childhood educators, and private-school staff. There is steady demand for beauty professionals, retail staff, and real-estate agents, particularly in large cities and tourist areas.

Scale and unemployment

The DataReportal report estimates Cyprus’ population at about 1.36 million at the start of 2025 source. Unemployment has begun to edge up again. Cyprus Mail notes 5.0% in July and 5.1% in August (vs 4.6% in 2024), with around 27,000 unemployed. Rates stand at 4.7% for men and 5.5% for women. Youth unemployment (under 25) rose to 14.7% in May–June from 11.2% a year earlier.