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Cyprus work visa requirements for Sri Lankan citizens

For Sri passport holders · Checked 2026-08-15

Route available

Cyprus appears on Sri Lanka's approved job-order register, mostly for hospitality and care work, under employer-held permits.

What the employer must have

  • The Cypriot employer must obtain approval to employ a third-country national before the visa is issued.
  • The demand must be approved by SLBFE as a job order.

What you must do before you leave

  1. Register with SLBFE before you leave. It is not optional: section 53(3) of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act No. 21 of 1985 requires every Sri Lankan leaving for employment to register with the Bureau first, and registration is what puts you inside the welfare and insurance system if things go wrong.
  2. Use a licensed foreign employment agency and check its licence number on slbfe.lk before you hand over anything.
  3. Ask for the JOB ORDER, and read the maximum fee printed on it. SLBFE approves each job order with a maximum amount the Sri Lankan agency may charge you — charging above it is an offence, and the figure is published on SLBFE's own site for anyone to check.
  4. Complete the pre-departure training the Bureau requires for your job category and keep the certificate.
  5. Ask which permit category the job falls under; Cyprus approves third-country hiring by sector and quota.

Things to watch

  • SLBFE states plainly that it cannot guarantee a listed vacancy is still open, because the agency may already have filled it. Always confirm the job order is live before you pay, resign or travel.
  • The maximum chargeable amount on the job order is the whole protection. If an agency asks for more than the printed figure, that is the moment to walk away and report it to SLBFE — not after you have paid.
  • Small market, tight quotas — an offer with no named employer and no permit category is the one to distrust.

⚠️ Never pay anyone for a job offer or a visa on this route. Legitimate employers and licensed agents do not charge workers for jobs.

Official sources

This describes the immigration system, not your personal case, and not this specific vacancy.

Common questions

Can a Sri Lankan passport holder work in Cyprus?

Cyprus appears on Sri Lanka's approved job-order register, mostly for hospitality and care work, under employer-held permits.

What does an employer in Cyprus need before hiring a Sri Lankan worker?

The Cypriot employer must obtain approval to employ a third-country national before the visa is issued. The demand must be approved by SLBFE as a job order.

What must a Sri Lankan citizen do before leaving to work in Cyprus?

Register with SLBFE before you leave. It is not optional: section 53(3) of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act No. 21 of 1985 requires every Sri Lankan leaving for employment to register with the Bureau first, and registration is what puts you inside the welfare and insurance system if things go wrong. Use a licensed foreign employment agency and check its licence number on slbfe.lk before you hand over anything. Ask for the JOB ORDER, and read the maximum fee printed on it. SLBFE approves each job order with a maximum amount the Sri Lankan agency may charge you — charging above it is an offence, and the figure is published on SLBFE's own site for anyone to check. Complete the pre-departure training the Bureau requires for your job category and keep the certificate. Ask which permit category the job falls under; Cyprus approves third-country hiring by sector and quota.

What should Sri Lankan workers watch out for with Cyprus job offers?

SLBFE states plainly that it cannot guarantee a listed vacancy is still open, because the agency may already have filled it. Always confirm the job order is live before you pay, resign or travel. The maximum chargeable amount on the job order is the whole protection. If an agency asks for more than the printed figure, that is the moment to walk away and report it to SLBFE — not after you have paid. Small market, tight quotas — an offer with no named employer and no permit category is the one to distrust.

Should I pay an agent for a job in Cyprus?

No. Never pay anyone for a job offer, a visa, or a place on a list. Legitimate recruitment for this route does not require the worker to pay for the job itself. Verify any agent against the official registers linked on this page.

Other countries Sri Lankan citizens can work in

All work visa guides

386 live Cyprus vacancies for Sri Lankan workers

From Sri Lanka's SLBFE register — vacancies registered for Sri Lankan workers.

See all jobs and apply