Working while studying is an important option for all International student. Not only is such opportunity important to support their living expenses but also to save for their tuition fee payment.
Cyprus is a European Union member, their economy is stable and booming with many tech companies and established firms giving the population financial boost. Through universities, the students can get a chance to do internship and traineeship programmes in established firms and get paid according to their working hours as well as get work experience and professional exposure.
Cyprus allows third country nationals to do up to 20 hours a week part time work if they are enrolled in a full time study programme in an accredited university of Cyprus. The international students are only permitted to work at certain areas if they are not on internship.
International students were not allowed to work part time in Cyprus before it became part of European Union. However, it is now a European Union member, Cyprus therefore now follows directives which allow all international students to work part time of limited hours. But there are conditions and terms imposed on students which they have to follow to be employed as a paid worker in Cyprus.
Work permission for foreign students in Cyprus is issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance. Only students enrolled in a full time study programme in Cyprus at a recognized university can work part time in the certain sectors allowed by the Government. In addition, before starting part time work, the student will be required to provide evidence that they have completed at least spent 6 months in Cyprus.
According to the Cyprus law, the international students working in Cyprus have similar rights as natives of the country. They are entitled to minimum wage law and labor rights. The Ministry of labor has designed a special employment contract for international students mentioning all the terms that should be followed by employers and employees. This employment contract is available at the District Labor Offices for use.
As per the law and directives of Ministry of Labor Cyprus, the international students are allowed to work in the following sectors only:
petrol-station attendants
car-wash attendants
care givers in homes or for old people
workers or helpers in agriculture, farming, fishing field and at local bakeries
fast-food delivery drivers
The part time work permission is not allowed to foreign students by default in their student visa, they will have to apply for the permission and arrange the following documents:
Valid Resident Permit of Cyprus (the Ministry of Labor will check if the student has spent 6 months in Cyprus before applying for job)
Employment Contract that can be received from District Labor Offices. (It must be signed by employer and employee)
Time table of university classes (proving that your part time working hours are not colliding with your university hours)
The students will get a student permit from immigration office firstly, then they will sign the employment contract and their employer will sign the same contract- both parties agreeing the terms and conditions that they will follow rules and pay each other their due rights. The employment contract along with other above mentioned documents will be submitted at a District Employment Office. The District Employment Office will review the application and approve it or disapprove it (based on their criteria. If they approve it, the foreign student can proceed to work as mentioned in the contract. Any kind of violation of contract or law, the student can get deported or face the consequences (fine or imprisonment).
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