Labour Minister Marinos Mousiouttas returned from Cairo this weekend with what officials are calling a “clean bill of health” for the 2024 memorandum of understanding (MoU) that governs the recruitment of Egyptian workers for Cyprus’ hospitality, agriculture and construction sectors. Speaking after a three-day review mission (20-22 April), Mousiouttas confirmed that both sides will keep the annual quota at 7,000 workers but will streamline paperwork by allowing certified recruiters to submit applications electronically and to batch biometric enrolment at a dedicated visa centre inside Cairo International Airport. The MoU was signed in June 2024 to tackle acute labour shortages that threatened to derail Cyprus’ post-pandemic tourism rebound. Under the scheme, employers must provide contracts in Arabic and Greek, guarantee a minimum net wage of €1,100 and cover initial accommodation. In return, Egypt’s Manpower Ministry vets candidates and organises pre-departure training on Cypriot labour law and basic Greek phrases. During last week’s joint committee meeting, the two ministers agreed to cut standard processing time from eight to five weeks and to introduce a fast-track lane for repeat employers with clean compliance records. They also tasked a technical group with exploring the extension of the programme to qualified chefs and specialised farm-machinery operators—skills in chronically short supply on the island. For global-mobility teams, the refreshed framework provides a predictable channel for seasonal or project-based hiring just ahead of the summer tourism peak. Companies already participating should audit their files to ensure that employment contracts, payslips and health-insurance certificates are readily available for spot inspections by the Cyprus Department of Labour. New entrants can expect an online portal—complete with English-language guidance—by early June.
![Cyprus and Egypt review 2024 labour-mobility pact, pledge faster hiring channels]()
Employers who prefer to outsource the visa paperwork altogether can turn to VisaHQ, which offers end-to-end support for Cyprus visa applications—from digital document review to securing consular appointments. The service’s intuitive dashboard keeps HR teams updated in real time, and full requirements are outlined at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/
Mousiouttas said the review underscored Cyprus’ ambition to use “targeted, mutually beneficial migration” to underpin economic growth while avoiding the social tensions that can accompany irregular inflows. Egypt welcomed the opportunity to create legal pathways for its young workforce and to capture valuable remittances.
Employers who prefer to outsource the visa paperwork altogether can turn to VisaHQ, which offers end-to-end support for Cyprus visa applications—from digital document review to securing consular appointments. The service’s intuitive dashboard keeps HR teams updated in real time, and full requirements are outlined at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/
Mousiouttas said the review underscored Cyprus’ ambition to use “targeted, mutually beneficial migration” to underpin economic growth while avoiding the social tensions that can accompany irregular inflows. Egypt welcomed the opportunity to create legal pathways for its young workforce and to capture valuable remittances.
