Filenews 27 August 2025 - by Charalambos Zakos
The government's strategy for the repatriation of talents has taken shape with the operation of the renewed electronic platform "Minds in Cyprus", through which, interested parties, will be able to receive information, not only on the incentives, but also important information regarding their resettlement in Cyprus. In fact, with the aim of attracting the government, it is promoting a new institution, with the recruitment of Cypriots from abroad, who will act as "ambassadors" of Cypriot business.
Yesterday, the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, announced that this platform was put into operation, characterizing it as a bridge with Cypriots abroad and not by chance. Through the platform, interested parties have access to the "Opportunities for Talent" service of the Ministry of Labour, and can view available jobs in Cyprus, register and receive personalized information on professional opportunities. At the same time, the first version of the Information Hub is available, which provides useful information to those considering their repatriation.
Expatriates of business will help
With a simple tour of the platform, it is easy to understand that it is a website that not only provides information, but analyzes step by step the government's strategy for the return of Cypriot talents to the island.
In the past, some incentives for the repatriation of talent had been made public, however, as can be seen from the action plan described on the website, these are not limited only to tax measures, but to various areas related to the relocation of interested parties.
Essentially, the strategy is divided into different pillars ranging from the offer of tax and other incentives to information campaigns.
More specifically:
>>Strengthening and Expanding the Tax Incentive
On 24/4/2025, the Council of Ministers approved a bill to expand and expand the existing tax incentive for attracting expatriate professionals, with its vote pending by the House of Representatives.
The tax incentives that will be given are the following:
-Increase of the tax exemption rate from 20% to 25% of employer's remuneration
-The maximum amount of tax exemption is increased from €8,550 to €25,000
-The prerequisite time outside the Republic for receiving the exemption is reduced from 15 years to 7 years (after the completion of the individual's studies).
-Flexibility is provided to the criterion of employment outside the Republic, from 3 consecutive years required outside the Republic, to be applied for at least 36 months during the last 5 years
-The exemption will continue even if the person changes employer
>> Information campaign for return
The competent bodies will be the Presidency, Invest Cyprus and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will have under their responsibility and supervision the realization of events in cities with a large Cypriot diaspora and the events will include, among others, information activities and career days.
In fact, according to the description, the main action of this unit will concern the establishment of the institution of "Business Ambassadors", which provides for the selection of distinguished young Cypriots of the diaspora in the business sector from a special list of the Ministry, in order to enhance cooperation and promotion of the sectors in which they work, with reference to Cyprus.
In addition to all of the above, there is the operation of this platform, which is essentially a practical repatriation guide with aggregated information on access to health, education and other basic state and social services. Also, in addition to everything else, online support will be provided to queries of Cypriots abroad, through organized cooperation with contact points in key state services, such as the Department of Taxation, the Department of Civil Registry and Elections, the Department of Migration and other co-competent authorities.
>> Support for family reintegration
Actions are already being taken by the Population and Elections Registry for the faster acquisition of Cypriot citizenship by spouses, cohabitants/cohabitants by entering into civil cohabitation of repatriates.
Also, at the beginning of 2026, they will be facilitated for access to the housing plans of the Ministry of Interior through the removal of the requirement to complete 2 years of permanent residence in Cyprus after repatriation in order to be beneficiaries, so that they become beneficiaries immediately upon their return.
In addition, the acceleration of procedures for the registration of health professionals in the relevant registration councils, the faster recognition of qualifications from EU countries, and the amendment of the legislation on the recognition of medical qualifications from third countries are already being considered.
In order to facilitate repatriation, the procedures for the provision of free or subsidized language education have already progressed to facilitate the integration of cohabitants and children, as well as for subsidized training programs for adaptation to the Cypriot situation and business.
Furthermore, as far as the children of repatriates attending private secondary schools are concerned, the tuition subsidy scheme has been expanded.
Specifically, it is planned to increase the existing annual sponsorship from €768 to €1,000, as well as a revision of the eligibility criterion, with a reduction of the requirement for continuous permanent residence abroad from 10 to 7 years, however, the maximum number of beneficiaries will remain at 150 students each year.
Job demand and supply through the platform
On the platform there is also a relevant questionnaire/application, through which Cypriots abroad can express interest in working on the island. As noted, the information that will be filled in by the interested parties will help the authorities to collect data in order to connect these people with relevant professional opportunities. Among other things, in the questionnaire, interested parties are invited to fill in their field and field of interest, their academic qualifications and experience.
At the same time, a similar application / questionnaire exists for employers who wish to register highly qualified positions. According to the website, by completing the questionnaire, businesses express their interest, recording the needs and characteristics of the positions they wish to fill, adding that this recording will help in the effective interconnection with suitable candidates.
