Minds in Cyprus: The Brain Gain Initiative

Minds in Cyprus is a national initiative of the government of Cyprus which aims to respond to labour shortages and the high demand for skilled workers, by encouraging Cypriot citizens living abroad to move back to Cyprus. The initiative provides tax incentives and labour market matching for returnees as well as information and administrative support for reintegration.

Support offered

Minds in Cyprus consists of a range of measures designed both to encourage Cypriot citizens and their families to return to the country and support them once they have returned.

• The initiative provides income tax exemptions from employment or self-employment of between 25% and 50% to eligible Cypriots moving back to Cyprus to work or set up a business.
• The Opportunities for Talent portal on the main website links jobseekers with available job openings in Cyprus. Vacancies are available on the portal and jobseekers can also complete a questionnaire to indicate their interest and background and be matched with roles that suit their profile.
• The comprehensive information hub on the main website provides essential, practical information on key aspects of returning to and living in Cyprus. Covering topics such as relocation procedures, education, housing and available funding opportunities, the hub serves as an evolving guide for Cypriots looking to return to the country. Information is also available for entrepreneurs on how to set up a company in Cyprus, with useful links to additional support.
• The initiative also aims to help returnees with administrative processes, by introducing faster citizenship acquisition for spouses of returnees and faster registration for health professionals returning to work in the country.
• A tuition fee subsidy of EUR 1 000 per year is available for every child of a returnee who attends a private secondary school. Free and subsidised Greek language courses are also available to both children and spouses of returnees.
• Finally, Minds in Cyprus organises events and career days abroad, particularly in cities with a large Cypriot diaspora to share information on the benefits of returning and connect jobseekers with employers.

Target group

The initiative primarily targets Cypriot citizens and their families that live abroad and are interested in returning to Cyprus. It also indirectly targets employers recruiting potential returnees through the Opportunities for Talent portal, where employers can post vacancies.

Eligibility criteria

To benefit from the tax incentive, returnees must fulfil multiple criteria. For returnees with a university degree, full-time employment abroad for at least 36 months before commencing work in Cyprus is required. For those without a university degree, this increases to 84 months. The incentive is also only available to those with an annual salary from their new employment in Cyprus of at least EUR 30 000. All eligibility criteria are detailed in the FAQ page on the website. The tuition fee subsidy is available to children of returnees that have resided in a country whose language of instruction was not Greek for seven consecutive years before return to Cyprus. There are no eligibility criteria for accessing the information on the website or the Opportunities for Talent job-matching portal. The events are also open to all, though registration is required.