Cyprus guide · 7 July 2026
Hiring a Nanny in Cyprus: Work Permit and Status
Cyprus is an EU country, and employing a nanny here depends above all on the candidate’s status. That’s the first thing to establish. Here’s how it works.
The key distinction: EU vs third-country
- EU citizens (and equivalents) — no work permit needed. You just formalise the employment and social insurance.
- Third-country nationals — need a residence and work permit, arranged through the Migration Department.
In practice, many Russian-speaking nannies in Limassol and across Cyprus already hold residency — which makes it simpler.
If the candidate is a third-country national
The process runs through the Migration Department and includes:
- a Labour Department approval (letter of approval);
- an approved employment contract (pre-approval);
- proof of the employer’s financial means.
The salary must be paid into a Cyprus bank account; for live-in roles some deductions are allowed (broadly up to 15% for food and up to 10% for accommodation). The review usually takes up to ~4 months, and the permit is issued for up to 3 years.
Social insurance
The employer registers the worker and pays social-insurance contributions — a mandatory part of legal employment (contributions are split between employer and worker).
What it costs
There’s a regulated minimum for foreign domestic staff — around €460 per month plus accommodation. But qualified multilingual nannies are agreed individually and cost more — see our article “A Russian-speaking nanny in Limassol”.
In short
- It all depends on status: EU — no permit; third-country — residence + permit via the Migration Department.
- Some candidates already hold Cyprus residency — simpler paperwork.
- An employment contract and social insurance are mandatory.
We place nannies with correct documentation and guide the paperwork for your specific case. See how we work in Limassol, or get in touch and we’ll help with both the match and the status.