Cyprus – EU Blue Card Implementation

Eligible Applicants

Third-country nationals can apply for an EU Blue Card in Cyprus if the following main conditions are satisfied:

• The applicant will be engaged in highly-qualified employment in Cyprus, in specific sectors of the economy, as determined by a Decree issued by the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance.⁴  
• According to the Ministerial Decree, highly-qualified professions are those belonging to the following sectors:
  • Information and Communication Technologies (ICT);
  • Pharmaceutical (for research purposes);
  • Maritime (excluding captains and ship’s crew).
• The applicant has the required higher-educational/professional qualifications, which can be met under one of the following routes:
  • The individual is a holder of a higher education qualification; OR
  • The individual has higher professional experience of at least three years, acquired within the seven years preceding the submission of the EU Blue Card application, in one of the following positions:
    • ICT Services Managers;
    • ICT Professionals.
• The minimum annual employment remuneration of the applicant in Cyprus, as set by a Decree issued by the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance⁵ should be EUR 43,632.

Main Rights and Benefits of EU Blue Card Holders

Individuals that are granted an EU Blue Card will have the right of residence in Cyprus for up to three years, which is renewable upon expiry.

Further, it should be highlighted that EU Blue Card holders are entitled to travel to and reside in other EU member states, for the purpose of exercising an economic/professional activity, for a period of up to 90 days within a period of 180 days, without requiring a visa (i.e., short-term mobility).  Further, Cyprus EU Blue Card holders, are also entitled to apply for an EU Blue Card in another member state, after they legally reside in Cyprus for a period of 12 months (i.e., long-term mobility).

It is important to note that the EU Blue Card is not cancelled even if the holder spends more than 90 consecutive days outside Cyprus, which is the applicable threshold for other types of temporary residence permits in Cyprus.

Further, family members of the EU Blue Card holder can also obtain a residence permit in Cyprus, for the same duration as the main applicant, under the “family reunification” route.  It is also noted that spouses of EU Blue Card holders, who obtain a residence permit in Cyprus through family reunification, have free access to the Cyprus labour market, without any restrictions from the Department of Labour.

Application Procedure

Individuals who are interested in applying for the EU Blue Card, can either enter Cyprus with a tourist visa, or through an entry permit to be issued by the Migration Department.

Upon the individual’s entry in Cyprus, the EU Blue Card application should be submitted to the Migration Department for examination.

The relevant family reunification application for the family members of the EU Blue Card applicant, can be submitted either simultaneously with the EU Blue Card application, or after the issuance of the EU Blue Card.

The EU Blue Card application should be examined by the Migration Department within a period of three months.

Contacts