It can be difficult for foreign nationals to be granted a permit to work in Cyprus, unless they are employed by a foreign company based there, or have specialist skills or qualifications such as teaching or nursing. Employment permits are only granted if no suitably qualified Cypriots are available. It is also necessary to be able to speak Greek to work in the Republic of Cyprus, or Turkish to work in the TRNC. Average wages are quite low, especially in the TRNC.

Many jobs in Cyprus are never advertised as the country is very family-oriented and most locals obtain employment through personal contacts. Foreign nationals may be able to find jobs through the advertisements in the English language newspapers, the Cyprus Mail and The Cyprus Weekly News, or through private employment agencies, some of which specialise in particular sectors, such as hotels and catering, or technical professions.

EU citizens are also eligible to register with one of the Public Employment Service's District Labour Offices, submitting their passport, ID or alien's registration document and copies of educational certificates. The Public Employment Service will help to arrange interviews for jobs in Cyprus, but the arrangement will be terminated if the jobseeker refuses to attend an interview or turns down a job offer for no good reason.

Once a job offer has been made, the employer will need to apply to the Ministry of the Interior for an employment permit. A statement of recruitment will also be issued, setting out the details and duration of the post, and this must be stamped by the Department of Labour of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance.