OUTLINE
Leave in Cyprus
Maternity, paternity, and parental leave in Cyprus
Adoption leave in Cyprus
Other leave in Cyprus
Public holidays in Cyprus
Protect your employees and your business
Leave and time off in Cyprus
Before employing workers in Cyprus, it’s important for employers to understand the various types of leave entitlements available to them. Cypriot labour laws provide for both paid and unpaid leave in different circumstances, ensuring that employees can take time off for personal, family, or health-related reasons. Employers must comply with these regulations, but they also have the flexibility to offer more generous leave benefits if they choose.
In this section, we’ll explore the key types of leave in Cyprus, including annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave, paternity leave, and parental leave. We’ll also cover other forms of leave, such as bereavement leave, military leave, and special leave for family or personal matters. Additionally, we’ll provide an overview of public holidays observed in Cyprus. Understanding these leave entitlements will help you support your employees’ well-being while ensuring compliance with local laws.
Leave in Cyprus
Employees in Cyprus are entitled to time off work each year for holidays and rest. They also have the right to paid time off if they are temporarily too sick to work. Read on to learn what you need to know about both annual leave and sick leave in Cyprus.
Annual leave in Cyprus
All employees in the private and public sectors in Cyprus are entitled to paid annual leave. This includes apprentices. During annual leave, the employee should be paid either by the employer directly or through the Central Holiday Fund. Employees in Cyprus become eligible for annual leave once they have worked 48 weeks with a single employer.
The standard annual leave entitlement in Cyprus is four weeks of leave. This amounts to 20 working days for employees who work a five-day week and 24 working days for those who work a six-day week. Collective bargaining agreements may stipulate additional leave. Employers are also free to provide for leave above the statutory minimum in their individual employment contracts.
Accruing and using annual leave in Cyprus
Annual leave can be accumulated for a period of two years by mutual agreement between the employer and the employee. This is capped at the maximum number of days of leave that an employee can accrue over a two-year period (i.e. 40 or 48 days, depending on whether they work five or six days per week).
Sick leave in Cyprus
Employees in Cyprus who are temporarily unable to work due to sickness are entitled to sick leave. This is unpaid for the first four days. After this point, employees can receive a sickness benefit through the Social Insurance Fund if they submit a medical certificate within 48 hours of the start of the sick leave. The sickness benefit is payable for up to 156 days per sick leave period.
Maternity, paternity, and parental leave in Cyprus
Employees in Cyprus are entitled to various forms of leave related to the birth or adoption of a child. These include maternity, paternity, and parental leave, which are generally supported by the social insurance system funded through payroll contributions by both employers and employees. Read on for everything you need to know as an employer.
Maternity leave in Cyprus
As of March 2024, maternity leave in Cyprus has been extended. For the first and second childbirths, employees are entitled to 22 consecutive weeks of maternity leave. For the third and subsequent childbirths, the entitlement increases to 26 weeks. At least 11 weeks of this leave must be taken, starting no later than two weeks before the expected week of childbirth.
If the newborn requires hospitalisation immediately after birth, the mother is entitled to an additional week of maternity leave for every 14 days of the child’s hospital stay, up to a maximum of 8 extra weeks.
Paternity leave in Cyprus
Fathers in Cyprus are entitled to two consecutive weeks of paternity leave, which must be taken within 16 weeks of the birth of the child. As of 2022, this entitlement applies to all fathers, regardless of marital status, provided they are insured under the Social Insurance Scheme. To be eligible, the employee must have completed at least six months of continuous employment with the same employer.
Parental leave in Cyprus
Both mothers and fathers in Cyprus are entitled to parental leave of up to 18 weeks per parent for each child, which can be taken until the child reaches the age of 15. For parents of children with disabilities, the leave can be extended until the child turns 21. Single parents are entitled to 23 weeks of parental leave.
Employees must have completed at least six months of continuous employment with the same employer to qualify for parental leave in Cyprus. It can be taken in blocks of at least one day and up to five weeks per calendar year. Employees are required to provide three weeks’ notice to their employer before commencing parental leave.
Pay for maternity, paternity, and parental leave in Cyprus
Maternity and paternity leave in Cyprus are compensated through the Social Insurance Fund, provided the employee meets the necessary contribution conditions. The maternity allowance amount varies depending on the number of children:
- EUR 1,000 for the first child.
- EUR 1,500 for the second.
- EUR 2,000 for the third child.
- EUR 2,500 for the fourth and any subsequent children.
This allowance is adjusted annually based on changes in basic insurable earnings. For parental leave, as of October 2022, eight weeks are paid through the Social Insurance Fund. The remaining weeks are unpaid unless otherwise stipulated by the employer.
Adoption leave in Cyprus
As of March 2024, adoptive mothers in Cyprus are entitled to maternity leave similar to that of biological mothers. For the first and second adoptions of a child under 12 years old, the entitlement is 20 consecutive weeks of leave. For the third and subsequent adoptions, the leave increases to 24 weeks. To qualify, the adoptive mother must notify her employer at least six weeks before the adoption and inform the Department of Social Welfare Services.
During this leave, eligible adoptive mothers may receive a maternity allowance from the Social Insurance Fund, provided they meet the necessary contribution conditions. This allowance is designed to support adoptive mothers during the initial period of childcare, aligning with Cyprus’s commitment to supporting families through its social insurance system.
Other leave in Cyprus
Employees in Cyprus may also be entitled to various other forms of leave. Some of these are guaranteed by local labour laws, while others are set out in collective bargaining agreements or individual employment contracts. Read on to learn about some of the main types of leave you may come across as an employer in Cyprus.
Bereavement leave in Cyprus
Employees are entitled to bereavement leave in the event of a family member’s death. While specific durations may vary, it’s common practice for employers to grant a short period of paid or unpaid leave to allow employees time to grieve and attend funeral arrangements.
Military leave in Cyprus
Male citizens of Cyprus are required to complete 14 months of compulsory military service upon turning 18. Employers must accommodate this by granting leave for the duration of service. As of 2025, women can also volunteer for military service, serving a term of six months.
Special leave for family matters in Cyprus
Employees in Cyprus may also be entitled to leave for various family or personal reasons, such as weddings, funerals, or caregiving responsibilities. The length of the leave depends on the specific circumstances and the employer’s policies. It is typically unpaid.
Carer’s leave in Cyprus
Employees are entitled to five days of unpaid carer’s leave per year to provide personal care or support to a relative or household member with a serious medical condition. A medical certificate is typically required to validate the need for this leave.
Leave for force majeure in Cyprus
Employees may take up to seven days of unpaid leave per year in cases of force majeure, such as urgent family matters involving dependents who are ill or have been in an accident. This leave can be taken as a single period or split into separate days.
Public holidays in Cyprus
There are 14 official public holidays each year in Cyprus. Read on to learn more about public holidays in Cyprus.
Are public holidays paid days off in Cyprus?
Public holidays are usually considered paid days off for employees in Cyprus. If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, they are generally entitled to premium pay or compensatory time off, as stipulated by the relevant collective bargaining agreement or in the employment contract. Public holidays are not counted as part of an employee’s annual leave entitlement.
However, the regulation of public holidays can vary depending on the sector. For example, there are specific laws concerning employees in shops, catering services, and hotels. For other sectors, public holidays are regulated by agreements between employers and employees or by collective agreements.
Public holidays in Cyprus in 2025
Here are the public holidays observed in Cyprus in 2025:
1 January
New Year’s Day
6 January
Epiphany
3 March
Green Monday
25 March
Greek Independence Day
1 April
Cyprus National Holiday
18 April
Good Friday
21 April
Easter Monday
1 May
Labour Day
9 June
Pentecost
15 August
Assumption Day
1 October
Cyprus Independence Day
28 October
Greek National Day
25 December
Christmas Day
26 December
Boxing Day
Additional holidays and important dates in Cyprus
In addition to the holidays listed above, certain other important dates are observed in Cyprus each year. For example, Easter Sunday is an important religious holiday. Although it is not an official public holiday, most businesses are closed on this day. Easter Tuesday (the day after Easter Monday) is a bank holiday, which means that banks are closed. Lastly, Christmas Eve (24 December) is not an official public holiday, but may be observed by some businesses.
Protect your employees and your business
As an employer in Cyprus, you need to understand your employees’ rights and entitlements. But keeping up with them can be a lot of work.
When you hire workers with CXC, we’ll ensure your engagements are in line with all local, national and international employment regulations. That way, your workers will get their benefits they’re entitled to, and your business will be protected from risk.
Compliantly hire workers anywhere with CXC
With our EoR solution, you can engage workers anywhere in the world, without putting your business at risk. No more worrying about local labour laws, tax legislation or payroll customs — we’ve got you covered.
DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this website is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, tax, or other professional advice on any subject matter. While we endeavor to ensure that the content is accurate and up to date, we make no warranties or representations of any kind regarding the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the information contained herein. The content on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Users should not act or refrain from acting based on any information on this website without seeking the appropriate legal, tax, or other professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances from qualified professionals. We expressly disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this website. Use of the information on this site does not create an attorney-client, tax advisor-client, or any other professional-client relationship between the user and the website or its authors.
Australia/New Zealand Head Office
Asia Head Office
EMEA Head Office
North America Head Office
Latin America Head Office
Level 3, 99 Walker Street
North Sydney, NSW 2060 Australia
