Cyprus - Intra-corporate transferee (ICT)

• An application for an intra-corporate transferee permit, by the host entity in Cyprus, must be submitted to the Director of the Civil Registry and Migration Department;
• The applicable fee amounts to €180;
• Applications are examined within 90 days of submission, provided that it is fully completed and all the necessary accompanying documents have been submitted;
• Upon approval, the applicant is notified by post to collect the permit at the Civil Registry and Migration Department.

Your application must be accompanied by:

• a copy of your passport;
• evidence, certified by the Department of Labour, that the host entity and the undertaking established in a third country belong to the same undertaking or group of undertakings;
• evidence of employment within the same undertaking or group of undertakings, for at least twelve (12) uninterrupted months immediately preceding the date of the intra-corporate transfer, certified by the Department of Labour;
• work contract and, if necessary, an assignment letter from the employer, certified by the Department of Labour;
• professional qualifications and experience needed, certified by the Department of Labour;
• a medical examination certificate;
• a full medical insurance certificate;
• a certificate of criminal record.

After arrival, the appearance of the third-country national at the Department is necessary, for capturing of the biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) and his/her signature.

The period of validity of the ICT permit is of at least one year or the duration of the transfer (whichever is shorter), and may be extended to a maximum of 3 years for managers and specialists and 1 year for trainee employees.

If an application for an ICT permit is rejected, the applicant is informed in writing. Rejection decisions can be challenged before the Administrative Court, within 75 days of the rejection notification.

During the validity if the ICT permit, you are allowed to work in any of the group companies.

If, however, you no longer meet the requirements for an ICT permit, you will need to leave the Republic.

Family members are granted a family reunification residence permit with the same validity of the sponsor’s residence permit. The permit is renewable. An application for family reunification must be submitted. Application fees amount to €200. Once in Cyprus, the spouse has access to employment and self-employment.

A person with an ICT permit benefits from equal treatment with nationals of the Republic of Cyprus in what regards freedom of association; recognition of diplomas and professional qualifications; provisions regarding social security (with conditions); access to goods and services (with exceptions).

In short-term mobility, no permit is issued by Cyprus and the transferee may reside and work in Cyprus by the intra-corporate transferee permit issued by the first Member State, given that the conditions of the legislation are met. During the short-term mobility, the transferee can work in any company in Cyprus belonging to the same group as the company in the third country. The fact that no other permit is issued by Cyprus does not mean that the transferee may enter and work in Cyprus at any time. First, the company of the first Member State must notify in writing the Civil Registry and Migration Department of the transferee’s intention to work in a company of the same group, located in Cyprus. There is a 20-day deadline for examining the notification.

The notification must be accompanied by the following documents:

• a copy of your passport;
• a copy of your valid intra-corporate transferee permit in the first Member State, or evidence that an application for an intra-corporate transferee permit has already been submitted to the first Member State;
• evidence that the host entity and the undertaking established in a third country belong to the same undertaking or group of undertakings;
• a work contract and, if necessary, an assignment letter from the employer of the third country which were submitted at the first Member State;
• a document that states the exact duration and dates of the mobility;
• a medical examination certificate;
• a certificate of criminal record.

In the case of long-term mobility, the transferee must apply and obtain a long-term mobility permit (card format) from Cyprus given that the provisions of the legislation are met. The application for a long-term mobility permit may be submitted when the transferee is abroad or when he/she is in Cyprus for short-term mobility. It is submitted by the company in Cyprus (employer) to the central offices of the Civil Registry and Migration Department. Fees amount to €160. The application is processed within 90 days of its submission, provided that it is fully completed and that all the necessary accompanying documents are submitted.

The notification must be accompanied by the following documents:

• a copy of your passport;
• a copy of your valid intra-corporate transferee permit in the first Member State;
• evidence, certified by the Department of Labour, that the host entity and the undertaking established in a third country belong to the same undertaking or group of undertakings;
• a work contract and, if necessary, an assignment letter from the employer, certified by the Department of Labour;
• proof of residence in the Republic;
• a medical examination certificate;
• a health insurance certificate;
• a certificate of criminal record.

If the application is submitted when the transferee is abroad, after submitting the application, the transferee may enter the Republic, without an entry permit or a visa by presenting the valid intra-corporate transferee permit issued by the first Member State. The transferee is also entitled to start employment with the same permit until the decision on the long-term mobility is taken.

Family members are granted a family reunification residence permit with the same validity of the sponsor’s residence permit. The permit is renewable. An application for family reunification must be submitted. Application fees amount to €200. Once in Cyprus, the spouse has access to employment and self-employment.