Working in Cyprus from Brazil: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

Moving from Brazil to Cyprus for work

If you are a skilled or manual worker in Brazil looking for legal job opportunities in Europe, Cyprus is a very realistic destination. Unlike some European nations that have tiny quotas or strict university degree requirements, Cyprus actively hires third-country nationals (non-EU citizens) for essential practical trades like construction, hospitality, and farm work. The country relies heavily on international workers to keep its growing economy running.

However, moving from Brazil to Cyprus requires a strict legal process. You cannot simply travel to Cyprus as a tourist and look for a job after landing. Brazilian passport holders can enter the island for short visits without a visa, but working on a tourist stay is completely illegal. You must secure a binding job offer first, and your Cypriot employer must start the work permit procedure in Cyprus before you travel.

The work permit route for Brazilian nationals

The official permit route for non-EU workers going to Cyprus for trade, manual, or service jobs is the General Employment Permit for Third-Country Nationals. This is a national work permit, not an EU Blue Card or a seasonal tourist visa. The entire legal process begins in Cyprus, not in Brazil, and it is led by your future employer.

Here is how the official step-by-step process works:

• Step 1 - Labour Market Test: Your employer in Cyprus applies to the Cyprus Department of Labour. They must prove that no qualified Cypriot or EU worker was available to fill the job.
• Step 2 - Labour Approval: Once approved, the Department of Labour issues an official stamped approval letter to the employer.
• Step 3 - Entry Permit Application: The employer submits your documents to the Civil Registry and Migration Department (CRMD) in Cyprus to obtain an official Entry Permit for employment.
• Step 4 - Visa Issuance in Brazil: Once the Entry Permit is granted in Cyprus, you submit your passport and original documents to the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Brasília or the nearest Cyprus visa application centre serving Brazil.
• Step 5 - Arrival and Biometrics: After landing in Cyprus, you register with the local Migration Department within 7 days to give biometrics and receive your Temporary Residence Permit card.

Here are three practical trades where Cyprus currently hires foreign workers:

• Construction: Island-wide building projects create steady demand for experienced welders, masons, carpenters, and heavy equipment operators.
• Hospitality and tourism: Resorts, hotels, and coastal restaurants regularly recruit kitchen staff, line cooks, housekeepers, and maintenance workers.
• Agriculture: Commercial fruit orchards, greenhouses, and livestock farms across rural Cyprus hire agricultural workers for harvesting and general farm duties.

Required documents and the apostille process

To apply for your work entry visa, you must prepare a specific set of official documents in Brazil. Because both Brazil and Cyprus are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, your official Brazilian documents must be legalized with a Hague Apostille (Apostila da Haia) to be accepted by Cyprus authorities.

You will need to collect and prepare the following items:

• Valid passport: Your Brazilian passport must be valid for at least 2 years beyond your planned travel date.
• Signed employment contract: A formal contract signed by you and your employer, bearing the official stamp of the Cyprus Department of Labour.
• Brazilian police clearance: An official criminal record certificate issued by the Brazilian Federal Police (Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais da Polícia Federal). It must have an Apostille attached in Brazil.
• Medical examination certificate: A full medical check including a chest X-ray for tuberculosis and blood tests for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, and syphilis. This report must be signed by a certified doctor and apostilled.
• Sworn translations: All official Brazilian documents written in Portuguese must be translated into English or Greek by an official sworn translator (tradutor juramentado).
• Proof of qualifications: Certificates, trade diplomas, or official work record books (Carteira de Trabalho) showing your experience in your specific trade.
• Health insurance: Private medical cover valid for your initial arrival period in Cyprus.

Expected costs and processing times

When moving from Brazil to Cyprus, it is crucial to understand which costs belong to you and which costs belong to your employer. Official entry permit application fees charged by Cyprus migration authorities are set by government regulations and range from approximately 50 EUR to 150 EUR. Processing times for the Department of Labour and Migration Department usually range from approximately 2 to 4 months.

On the Brazil side, you will have out-of-pocket costs to prepare your paperwork and book your travel. These costs vary depending on your location in Brazil:

• Federal police clearance: Free to issue online through the Federal Police portal.
• Hague Apostilles: Approximately R$ 50 to R$ 120 (approximately 8 EUR to 20 EUR) per document at a local notary office (Cartório).
• Sworn translations: Approximately R$ 120 to R$ 250 (approximately 20 EUR to 40 EUR) per page.
• Medical exams and lab tests: Approximately R$ 300 to R$ 700 (approximately 50 EUR to 110 EUR).
• Flight to Cyprus: Flight from major Brazilian airports to Larnaca or Paphos ranges from approximately R$ 4,500 to R$ 8,500 (approximately 700 EUR to 1,350 EUR).

Warning about recruitment scams: Under European standards and labor practice guidelines, legitimate employers carry the costs of recruiting staff. An agency or recruiter in Brazil or online may never legally charge you money simply to sell you a job offer or guarantee a work visa. Beware of scammers who ask for large processing fees upfront via bank transfer or cryptocurrency. Always verify that your contract comes from a real, registered company in Cyprus.

Myths vs facts

There is a lot of misleading information on social media about working in Cyprus. Here are the facts you should know before starting your journey:

• Myth: You can enter Cyprus as a tourist and convert your stay into a work permit locally.
• Fact: It is illegal to convert a tourist stay into a work permit inside Cyprus. Your work approval must be issued before you travel, and you must enter with an official employment entry permit.
• Myth: Cyprus is in the Schengen Area, so a Cyprus work permit lets you work anywhere in Europe.
• Fact: Cyprus is a member of the European Union, but it is not yet part of the borderless Schengen Zone. A Cyprus work permit only gives you the right to live and work legally in Cyprus.
• Myth: You must pay a recruitment agency in Brazil thousands of Reais to secure a work permit.
• Fact: Legitimate work permit fees are modest and paid to the government. Employers pay for the labour authorization. Charging workers money for job placements is unlawful.
• Myth: You must speak fluent Greek to work in skilled trades in Cyprus.
• Fact: While Greek is the official language, English is widely spoken in construction, tourism, and business across Cyprus. Basic conversational English is usually enough for most trade jobs.

Before you sign

Before you sign a contract or pack your bags, run through this simple checklist to protect yourself and your family:

• Check for Department of Labour stamp: Ensure your job contract has official approval details from the Cyprus Department of Labour.
• Confirm accommodation arrangements: Check whether your employer provides housing or an allowance, and ensure the address or terms are written directly in your contract.
• Verify wage details and working hours: Your contract must clearly state your exact monthly wage, working hours, payment schedule, and overtime rates.
• Apostille all documents in Brazil: Do not leave Brazil without getting your police record and medical clearance apostilled at a Cartório. You cannot apostille Brazilian documents once you arrive in Cyprus.
• Keep copies of everything: Maintain physical and digital copies of your passport, contract, medical records, and entry permits in a safe cloud folder.

Complete your Workuro profile for Cyprus employers

If you want European employers to find you legally, keep your profile complete and accurate. Set your Workuro profile to highlight your specific trade - whether you are a welder, professional driver, caregiver, construction worker, or hotel employee. List your practical work experience, your English language level, and whether you already hold a valid passport and apostilled criminal record.

When Cypriot companies search for workers, having these details ready makes your profile stand out immediately to genuine recruiters who want to hire directly. Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.