Revised Guidelines Reshape Employment For Foreign Students In Cyprus

Decree Overview

The Cyprus Federation of Employers and Industrialists (OEV) announced that a revised decree regulating the employment of foreign students from third countries has been published in the Official Gazette of the Republic. The decree defines the sectors and professions in which these students are permitted to work.

Employment Conditions For Foreign Students

Foreign students may begin employment only after completing their first academic semester and registering for the following one. The requirement is intended to ensure that employment does not interfere with their academic studies.

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Obligations For Employers

Businesses employing foreign students must submit several documents as part of the hiring process. These include a certificate confirming full-time study and proof of enrollment from a recognized educational institution, as well as a monthly work schedule prepared by the employer. A valid copy of the student’s residence permit must also be provided.

Employers are also required to submit a certified employment contract endorsed by the Department of Labour that outlines the main terms of employment.

Ensuring Compliance

The OEV urged businesses to familiarize themselves with the revised framework and comply with the guidelines set out in the decree. The organization said the measures are intended to regulate the employment of foreign students while maintaining their academic commitments.

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Cyprus’ Poverty And Social Exclusion Risk Stands At 17.1%

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 20, 2026

Cyprus recorded a poverty or social exclusion risk rate of 17.1% in 2025, below the European Union average of 20.9%, according to new Eurostat figures. Across the bloc, however, more than 92 million people continued to face the risk, highlighting persistent social and economic inequalities.

More Than 92 Million People At Risk Across The EU

A total of 92.7 million people across the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, equivalent to just over one in five residents.

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Cyprus is treated as a single statistical region because of its size, unlike many member states divided into multiple regions for comparison. Its national figure therefore provides an overall picture but does not capture differences between districts or communities.

Regional Gaps Remain Stark Across Europe

The risk varied considerably across the EU, with the highest rates concentrated largely in southern, eastern and outermost regions. In 24 of the 243 regions with available data, at least 31.5% of the population faced poverty or social exclusion.

These regions were located in Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, France and Romania, as well as Brussels in Belgium and Bremen in north-western Germany.

French Guiana recorded the highest rate, at 54.8%, followed by Calabria in southern Italy at 45.3% and Sicily at 44%. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, recorded 43.7%, while Réunion, another French outermost region, stood at 42.3%.

Central Europe Records The Lowest Rates

At the other end of the scale, 24 regions reported poverty or social exclusion risk rates below 13% in 2025. These included five eastern EU capital regions: Bratislava in Slovakia, Warsaw in Poland, Prague in the Czech Republic, Budapest in Hungary and Zagreb in Croatia.

Other regions with low rates were concentrated in northern Italy, the Czech Republic, northern Belgium, Hungary, Poland and Austria, illustrating the uneven distribution of economic security across Europe.

Cyprus Remains Below The EU Average

Cyprus’ rate of 17.1% places it below the EU average, although it remains higher than the levels recorded in the bloc’s lowest-risk regions.

The figures suggest that Cyprus performs relatively well compared with the wider EU, but poverty and social exclusion remain significant challenges across the bloc, affecting more than 92 million people.

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