Cyprus EU Blue Card in 2026

Cyprus accepts EU Blue Card applications for highly qualified employment, but the current national implementation is sector-limited.

Current eligible sectors

The Migration Department lists three sectors:

  1. Information and communication technologies (ICT)
  2. Pharmaceuticals for research purposes
  3. Maritime, excluding ship captains and crew

The current decree sets admission quotas for other professions to zero. This means a high salary alone does not make an occupation eligible.

Salary threshold

The current minimum gross annual salary for highly qualified Blue Card employment is €43,632.

Applicants must still satisfy the remaining Blue Card conditions, including the qualifying employment relationship and required professional/education evidence.

Processing

The Migration Department states that complete Blue Card applications should be examined within 90 days. Applications involving long-term mobility from another EU member state have a published 30-day examination period.

These are administrative targets for complete applications rather than guaranteed decision dates.

Family members

Cyprus applies the family-reunification framework to Blue Card holders with Blue Card-specific facilitation. The government's 2025 launch material states that qualifying family members can receive permits aligned in duration with the Blue Card holder.

EU mobility

The Blue Card framework supports:

  • short-term professional mobility to participating EU member states; and
  • long-term mobility after the qualifying period in the first member state.

Cyprus's official guidance describes long-term mobility after 12 months of legal residence in the first member state, subject to the second-state application rules.

Blue Card vs Foreign Interest Company employment

A Company of Foreign Interests permit uses a different employer framework and salary rule. A person who meets the €2,500/month FIC threshold does not automatically qualify for a Blue Card, because the Blue Card currently has sector restrictions and a separate annual salary threshold.

Related: general employment, family reunification, long-term residence, Cyprus hub, work visas, Europe, methodology, and legal disclaimer.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in Cyprus