The Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance announced new initiatives today to meet growing labour market demands, focusing on attracting skilled professionals from third countries and expanding employment opportunities for foreign students.
The measures, published in the Republic’s Official Gazette, include the introduction of new EU Blue Card regulations and updated student work permit policies.
Under the Blue Card scheme, which allows holders to live and work in EU member states, the minimum annual salary for skilled third-country professionals has been set at 43,632 euros, representing 1.5 times the average gross annual salary in Cyprus.
The ministry has identified key sectors for skilled migration, including Information and Communications Technology (ICT), pharmaceutical research, and maritime services, excluding ship captains and crew members.
For foreign students, the regulations have been updated to extend work permit eligibility.
Students must now be present in Cyprus from December 2024, rather than March 2024, to qualify. Additionally, ICT students who have completed their first academic semester will be permitted to work in fields related to their studies.
The ministry said these measures aim to address skilled labour shortages and support Cyprus’s economic development whilst providing improved career opportunities for foreign students studying in the country.
