🇨🇾 Job offer letter in Cyprus: what to include
Updated July 2026 · General information, not legal advice
Cyprus is one of Europe's most active relocation and tech-hub destinations, and most professional hires start with a written job offer. While the offer letter itself is not a statutory document, Cypriot law requires employers to give every employee a written statement of the essential terms of employment shortly after they start — so a well-drafted offer that already contains those terms saves everyone a second round of paperwork.
Here is what employers typically include, and the local rules the offer should not contradict.
Quick facts
- Probation period
- 6 months by default; extendable up to 2 years by written agreement
- Statutory notice
- Scales with service — from 1 week to 8 weeks
- Minimum annual leave
- 20 working days (5-day week)
- 13th salary
- Customary and widely expected, but not required by law
- Written terms
- Employer must provide essential terms in writing after hiring
What to include in a Cyprus offer letter
A strong offer letter for a Cyprus-based hire covers the same essentials the written statement of terms will later confirm:
- Job title, reporting line and place of work (including any remote/hybrid arrangement)
- Gross salary, currency and payment frequency — state clearly whether a 13th salary is included
- Start date and duration (indefinite or fixed-term)
- Probation period and how it can be terminated
- Working hours and annual leave entitlement
- Notice periods for both sides after probation
- Any benefits: medical insurance, provident fund, relocation support
Probation in Cyprus
The default probation period is six months. For private-sector employees it can be extended by written agreement — up to two years in total. During a valid probation period the statutory termination protections largely do not apply, which is why the probation clause should be explicit in the offer: length, extension possibility, and notice during probation.
Notice periods
After probation, statutory minimum notice from the employer scales with length of service — starting at one week for employees with about six months of service and rising to eight weeks for long-serving staff. Offers often set contractual notice above the statutory floor (one month is common for professional roles); the contract may not go below the statutory minimum.
Salary, 13th salary and leave
Salaries are usually quoted as gross monthly amounts. A 13th salary paid in December is customary in Cyprus and many candidates assume it — the offer should say explicitly whether the quoted annual figure includes it. Minimum paid annual leave is 20 working days for a five-day week; many employers offer more.
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Create a free offer →Frequently asked questions
Is a job offer letter legally binding in Cyprus?
An accepted offer can create contractual obligations, and the terms you promise in it will be hard to walk back. Treat the offer as a draft of the employment terms — Cypriot law separately requires the essential terms to be confirmed to the employee in writing.
Is the 13th salary mandatory in Cyprus?
No law requires it, but it is a strong market custom. If it has been paid regularly it can become an implied term, so state clearly in the offer whether your package includes it.
How long can probation last in Cyprus?
Six months by default; it can be extended by written agreement up to a total of two years for private-sector employees.
Related guides
This guide is general information for employers, not legal advice. Employment rules change and collective agreements may set different terms — confirm the specifics with local counsel before sending an offer.