Employment in Cyprus for residents of the post-Soviet space

Cyprus is an island state in the Mediterranean Sea, which is widely known not only among tourists and vacationers from all over the world, but also among labor migrants, the lion's share of which are Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians and citizens of other CIS countries. Since the country is part of the EU, the procedure for finding a job and formal employment in the country has much in common with a similar procedure in other countries of this association.

Cypriot territorial conflict

The main feature of the political situation in Cyprus is the ongoing territorial conflict between the Greek and Turkish communities of the country. The dispute arose in the 60s of the last century, when the island gained independence from Great Britain. The Turkish side expressed dissatisfaction with the infringement of their rights, prescribed in the Constitution of the country. Subsequently, the territory of the island was divided into northern (Turkish) and southern (Greek) parts.

Currently, the economy of the northern part of the state is closely connected with Turkey, which is the main trading partner of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and in general the only country that has recognized the TRNC. In this regard, it is quite difficult for a labor migrant from Russia or other countries of the former USSR to find a qualified, well-paid job in the northern part of Cyprus.

How to look for a job in Cyprus?

Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians are employed in Cyprus, as a rule, in the tourism and service industries. But highly qualified IT-specialists, engineers, builders will not be left without work. You can look for work in the country both independently and with the help of recruitment agencies.

First of all, job seekers in Cyprus should contact the public employment service www.pescps.dl.mlsi.gov.cy. On the website of the service, you can get acquainted with the most demanded professions in the country and get an idea of ​​the local labor market.

Among the sites specializing in employment, the most popular are:

• www.cyprusjobs.com
• www.jobincyprus.com
• www.careerjet.com
• www.learn4good.com
• www.eurojobs.com.

Many successfully find work through advertisements on the websites of Cypriot newspapers:

• Cyprus Mail;
• Financial Mirror;
• in Cyprus.

You can find a recruitment agency or contact the employing company directly at www.cyprusyellowpages.com.

The most in-demand professions in 2018

Most in demand in Cyprus in 2018:

• accountants;
• financiers;
• auditors;
• bank employees;
• lawyers;
• doctors;
• employees in the service sector;
• workers in the tourism industry;
• teachers;
• IT specialists.

Common vacancies and salaries in Cyprus in 2018

The average salary in Cyprus in 2018 is 1575 euros per month after taxes. The minimum wage in Cyprus as of January 1, 2018 was not set. Rather, it is established only for certain categories of workers:

• sellers,
• clerks,
• childcare workers,
• nurses and nurse assistants,
• security guards
• cleaners of corporate premises.

According to the Ministry of Labour, the minimum wage for the first four specified professions is 870 euros per month when hired and 924 euros after a six-month period with the same employer. The minimum wage for security guards is an hourly rate of €4.90 initially and €5.20 after half a year. The hourly rate for newly hired cleaners is €4.75, which rises to €4.84 after six months with the same employer.

For qualified specialists, recruitment agencies offer the following vacancies:

• engineer for maintenance of ventilation and air conditioning systems;
• refrigeration maintenance engineer;
• Graphic Designer;
• programmer;
• IT specialist;
• an employee of an investment company;
• Sales Manager.

Managers, hotel managers can count on a salary of up to 2,000 euros, while engineers, programmers, IT specialists can count on a salary of up to 2,000-3,000 euros. For unskilled workers, vacancies are offered:

• nannies;
• housekeepers;
• governesses;
• waiter
• seller;
• hotel employee;
• station worker.

The salary of an unskilled worker is 1000–1500 euros per month. For employment in a position requiring a certain qualification, in the southern part of the country, knowledge of English and Greek is required, in the northern part - English and Turkish.

Often, due to lack of time, compatriots get the most unpopular jobs among local residents. As a new acquaintance said, waitresses, nurses, agricultural workers, tourism workers, gardeners and drivers are quite in demand in Cyprus. In fact, a Ukrainian does not need to have any education or any qualifications to be employed on the island. What kind of work, such working conditions and wages. The maximum that Ukrainians can count on is 675 euros per month, with the actual absence of acceptable working conditions for hard work. If you want to get a more profitable job, with the conclusion of a contract and a guarantee of labor rights from the employer, you should still apply for a work visa.

Nikolai Golbin

http://blog.liga.net/user/ngolbin/article/10182.aspx

Tax system and working hours

Cyprus has a progressive system of taxation of personal income, i.e. the tax rate depends on the amount of income.

Table: the amount of income tax depending on the income of an individual

In addition, the taxpayer in Cyprus pays contributions to the social security fund in the amount of 7.8% of the salary, as well as a temporary Special Contribution tax, which also depends on the level of income.

Table: Special Contribution temporary tax

Video: taxes in Cyprus for individuals

The working day in most Cypriot companies is 8 hours with a 5-day work schedule.

The procedure for official employment in Cyprus

The procedure for official employment in Cyprus includes obtaining a work visa and obtaining a work permit in the country.

There are several categories of work visas for Cyprus.

Table: types of work visas to Cyprus

Documents required for obtaining a work visa

To apply for a work visa to Cyprus, you must submit the following documents:

The procedure for obtaining a work visa is the same as in most EU countries: first of all, you need to find an employer who will prepare documents for obtaining a work permit and conclude an employment contract with the applicant. Then the required package of documents is submitted for consideration to the migration service, and in case of a positive response, the applicant receives permission to enter the country in order to work. When passing through passport control, the customs officer contacts the employer and receives confirmation from him that the migrant is sent to him.

According to the law, it is necessary to wait outside Cyprus for a work visa, but in practice everyone is waiting in Cyprus. It’s just that when applying for an extension, they can become attached that they were illegally in Cyprus and may be refused. Another question is, if you are on a visitor’s pink slip or a tourist visa (that is, it does not expire while waiting for a work visa), then you can ride. Here's how lucky.

http://russian-cyprus.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=20110&sid=

The term for consideration of an application for a visa is up to 3 months. A work visa is issued for up to one year with the right to extend.

In addition, there are so-called special categories of employment in Cyprus, which require special work visas. These categories include visas:

• for home helpers
• for employees of international companies;
• for workers of creative professions;
• Cyprus Working Holiday Visa - for Australian citizens staying in the country on the basis of bilateral government agreements.

More details on the rules for obtaining a work visa can be found on the official website of the Embassy of Cyprus www.mfa.gov.cy.

Work permit in Cyprus

Documents required to obtain a work permit

The employer is responsible for obtaining a work permit. The applicant is required to submit a package of documents, which includes:

• application of the established form;
• a copy of a valid passport;
• certificate of no criminal record;
• medical insurance;
• employment contract with the seals of the Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance of Cyprus;
• evidence of the presence of 350-950 euros on the account in case of forced deportation;
• receipt for payment of state duty.

Upon arrival at the place of work, the worker must apply for a residence permit within 8 days. To obtain citizenship of the country, it is necessary to stay in the territory of the state continuously for 7-8 years.

The procedure for obtaining permission and requirements for the applicant

To obtain a work permit, the employing company applies to the Department of Civil Registry and Migration or the local Aliens and Immigration Police Department. The required package of documents is attached to the application for a permit. During the consideration of the application, the applicant is in his homeland. To count on a positive outcome of the consideration, the employer must provide evidence of an advertising campaign conducted on the Internet and in the media to promote the vacancy in the domestic labor market. Citizens of non-EU countries can be officially employed in a Cypriot company only if a specialist of the required qualification is not found among the residents of Cyprus and the European Union.

Among the requirements for the permit applicant are the absence of health problems and criminal records, fluency in English and Greek or Turkish, work experience in the country is welcome.

The next step is to obtain a residence permit, which is also issued by the employer. The employee will be forced to undergo a medical examination again and pass all the necessary tests, the employer pays a certain amount as a bank guarantee in case of deportation. In addition, you will need to provide a rental agreement.

Citizens of countries belonging to the European Union do not need a work permit to work in Cyprus.

Work Permit Extension

To renew a work permit, you must confirm the payment of all taxes and prepare a package of documents for submission to the Ministry of Labor of Cyprus. If a positive response is received to the request for an extension, a new residence permit (pink slip) is issued by the immigration department at the place of residence. There is a rule in the legislation of Cyprus, according to which the employer is obliged to prepare an EU citizen for an existing vacancy within 4 years, i.e., it is possible to renew a work permit for a resident of a country that is not part of the European Union only within 4 years.

Consequences for attempting illegal employment

For illegal employment in the country, the legislation of Cyprus provides for the employee - deportation with inclusion in the "black list", for the employer - a large fine and, in some cases, imprisonment for up to several months. Law enforcement agencies are actively fighting illegal immigrants.

Table: advantages and disadvantages of working in Cyprus

Internship in Cyprus

An internship in a Cypriot company is a great opportunity to gain experience in the country, improve your language skills and, in addition, combine work with leisure. The organization of such internships is carried out by training and educational centers that select the most suitable program for the intern and help to settle in the country. The duration of internships depends on the program and, as a rule, ranges from 6 to 24 months. Among the top priority areas:

• tourism industry;
• hotel and restaurant business;
• economics and finance;
• office work.

The applicant will need:

Features of business immigration

Our compatriots traveling to Cyprus for the purpose of doing business will need to obtain a residence permit in the country. To obtain a residence permit, it is necessary to provide evidence of a stable income of the enterprise: an extract from the bank confirming the presence of a certain amount in the account and confirmation of the constant promotion of capital. The minimum investment amount for a foreign entrepreneur is 255,000 euros. The income per person must be at least 10 thousand euros per year, for a married couple - 17 thousand euros. In addition, health insurance and a bank deposit of 500 euros are required in case the entrepreneur is deported.

Video: own business in Cyprus

Among the reasons why foreign entrepreneurs prefer to open a business in Cyprus:

• low level of taxes, but at the same time, the country is not a "tax haven" and is not on the "black list";
• corporate income tax on profits after deducting expenses is 12.5%;
• non-residents who receive a salary in Cyprus are not required to pay income tax;
• non-residents may not pay insurance premiums;
• no double taxation;
• lack of currency control;
• granting residence permits to foreign workers and members of their families;
• shareholder anonymity.

The Republic of Cyprus is not only a favorite vacation spot for a huge number of our compatriots, but also a fairly attractive employment option. Labor migrants from the countries of the former USSR are attracted to the country by a low level of taxes, a favorable maritime climate, and the opportunity to combine work and leisure. It is important that a large number of Russian-speaking citizens from among our former compatriots live in Cyprus. Many people prefer to come to the country as seasonal workers: there are always vacancies for such migrants in the hotel and restaurant business, and in the agricultural industry. Cyprus is one of the most attractive countries in Europe for doing business due to its low tax rates. Among other advantages of working in Cyprus is the friendly attitude of local residents towards labor migrants from the post-Soviet countries.