AYIA NAPA WORKERS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Ayia Napa General FAQWhat currency do they use in Ayia Napa
The Euro Do I need plug adapters? Plug sockets in Cyprus are three pin, the same as in the UK and Ireland. Visitors from elsewhere in Europe with 2 pin plugs will need an adapter. Is there a time difference? Cyprus is GMT + 2 so two hours ahead of the UK & Ireland and one hour ahead of mainland Europe. Do people speak English? The official language of Cyprus is Greek but virtually everyone in Ayia Napa will speak English. Do I need any vaccinations? There are no compulsory vaccinations for Cyprus, but you may want to check with your doctor if there is anything they would recommend. |
Ayia Napa Workers Survey Results
Ayia Napa Workers Survey Results
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Jobs FAQ
When should I go?
Early May or early August is when you have the most choice of jobs available. Most bars and clubs starts to open in April and some will start to take on staff then. During May it gets busier and more workers are needed. Thousands of workers arrive in June when Ayia Napa hits peak season so although more jobs are available this is when there is the most competition for them. At the end of July and through August, plenty of jobs are once again usually available.
What hours will I work?
This depends on your job and the venue. PR’s for bars normally work from 9pm until 1.30am, and for clubs from 10pm until 3 ish. Bar staff usually work longer hours, with bars opening from 7pm until sometimes 3 or 4am, and clubs open from 1am until 5am or later. Tickets sellers can choose their own hours but the more you work the more you earn.
How do I find a job?
Ask! Go to bars, clubs or other businesses you want to work at, Speak to other workers, bar staff, managers and owners as you can. Have the right look and attitude and make a good impression and you should get a job within a day or two.
What will I earn?
Workers earn an average of €25 a day / night. Some will earn as low as €10 but some will earn more if they’re very good at their jobs or are working on commission and are great sellers. You will usually also get a certain amount of free drinks each night / day
When and how do I get paid?
Many jobs will pay daily or weekly but there are some that pay monthly. Almost all places will pay cash. Be wary of anywhere that pays by cheque as recent bank controls mean you can’t just take a cheque to the bank and get it cashed. You have to have a local bank account to pay it into and then wait for it to clear.
What would I wear to work?
Ayia Napa is very casual and you won’t be required to dress up smartly unless you are working in a hotel or restaurant. If you working in a bar or club you will need to look good but with the extreme heat you’ll end up wearing not a lot to work. Most workers wear the same things every day. For the girls, shorts and either a bikini top or cut down t-shirt, vest or similar with flip flops, trainers or casual sandals. For the boys, shorts, sometimes with a t-shirt or vest and flip flops, trainers or casual shoes. Most places will provide t-shirts which you will be required to wear after you’ve cut and customised them. Workers who keep their work t-shirts on when they finish work also have an easier time getting into clubs and getting discount drinks than those who change and end up looking like tourists.
Do I need a visa?
European citizens don’t need a visa. Officially however, by law you are required to pay social insurance contributions in Cyprus for any job. About 99% of all bar and club staff in Ayia Napa work illegally as most jobs are casual cash in hand, without social insurance contributions. If your employer doesn’t register you with the social insurance department you are technically working illegally. Employers don’t register seasonal workers as they may have new staff each week or even each day. Occasionally the police will come around and issue fines to workers which are usually paid by the employer. The fact that thousands of people work in Ayia Napa without any paperwork is a fact of life and one that will most likely not change in the near future so don’t be deterred. If you do manage to get a job where social insurance is paid and your contributions are paid for more than 26 weeks you have the right to benefits in Cyprus and in your home country once you finish work
How do I register to work legally?
If you plan to stay longer than just a few months it is advised that you register with immigration and get a “yellow slip”. To do this though you will need a bank account, proof of your employment and to be registered to pay social insurance contributions. Most employers know that their staff may only stay a week, or a month or even 6 months but won’t be staying in Cyprus permanently so they don’t register them. If they did they would be spending most of their time doing paperwork rather than running a business. If you do plan to stay long term in Cyprus, you can look for a job where they will register you with social insurance although many employers won’t do this for people working their first year in Ayia Napa. Social insurance contributions have to be paid by the employer and the employee so you may earn a little less if you are registered but will be entitled to benefits long term. The forms for immigration can be obtained on line from the Cyprus government website or collected from the citizens’ centre in Dherynia village. The completed forms, bank book, employer’s letter, photo’s and a small fee must be taken to the immigration office in Dherynia where they will review your application and decide whether to give you a yellow slip. Once you have a yellow slip and are in regular employment you can also apply for a medical card, allowing reduced cost treatment, unemployment benefit (minimum 26 weeks to have paid contributions first) and other benefits.
It is quite a lengthy process involving lots of forms and early morning visits to offices so the majority of workers and employers in Ayia Napa don’t bother and just take staff on a casual, cash in hand basis.
Early May or early August is when you have the most choice of jobs available. Most bars and clubs starts to open in April and some will start to take on staff then. During May it gets busier and more workers are needed. Thousands of workers arrive in June when Ayia Napa hits peak season so although more jobs are available this is when there is the most competition for them. At the end of July and through August, plenty of jobs are once again usually available.
What hours will I work?
This depends on your job and the venue. PR’s for bars normally work from 9pm until 1.30am, and for clubs from 10pm until 3 ish. Bar staff usually work longer hours, with bars opening from 7pm until sometimes 3 or 4am, and clubs open from 1am until 5am or later. Tickets sellers can choose their own hours but the more you work the more you earn.
How do I find a job?
Ask! Go to bars, clubs or other businesses you want to work at, Speak to other workers, bar staff, managers and owners as you can. Have the right look and attitude and make a good impression and you should get a job within a day or two.
What will I earn?
Workers earn an average of €25 a day / night. Some will earn as low as €10 but some will earn more if they’re very good at their jobs or are working on commission and are great sellers. You will usually also get a certain amount of free drinks each night / day
When and how do I get paid?
Many jobs will pay daily or weekly but there are some that pay monthly. Almost all places will pay cash. Be wary of anywhere that pays by cheque as recent bank controls mean you can’t just take a cheque to the bank and get it cashed. You have to have a local bank account to pay it into and then wait for it to clear.
What would I wear to work?
Ayia Napa is very casual and you won’t be required to dress up smartly unless you are working in a hotel or restaurant. If you working in a bar or club you will need to look good but with the extreme heat you’ll end up wearing not a lot to work. Most workers wear the same things every day. For the girls, shorts and either a bikini top or cut down t-shirt, vest or similar with flip flops, trainers or casual sandals. For the boys, shorts, sometimes with a t-shirt or vest and flip flops, trainers or casual shoes. Most places will provide t-shirts which you will be required to wear after you’ve cut and customised them. Workers who keep their work t-shirts on when they finish work also have an easier time getting into clubs and getting discount drinks than those who change and end up looking like tourists.
Do I need a visa?
European citizens don’t need a visa. Officially however, by law you are required to pay social insurance contributions in Cyprus for any job. About 99% of all bar and club staff in Ayia Napa work illegally as most jobs are casual cash in hand, without social insurance contributions. If your employer doesn’t register you with the social insurance department you are technically working illegally. Employers don’t register seasonal workers as they may have new staff each week or even each day. Occasionally the police will come around and issue fines to workers which are usually paid by the employer. The fact that thousands of people work in Ayia Napa without any paperwork is a fact of life and one that will most likely not change in the near future so don’t be deterred. If you do manage to get a job where social insurance is paid and your contributions are paid for more than 26 weeks you have the right to benefits in Cyprus and in your home country once you finish work
How do I register to work legally?
If you plan to stay longer than just a few months it is advised that you register with immigration and get a “yellow slip”. To do this though you will need a bank account, proof of your employment and to be registered to pay social insurance contributions. Most employers know that their staff may only stay a week, or a month or even 6 months but won’t be staying in Cyprus permanently so they don’t register them. If they did they would be spending most of their time doing paperwork rather than running a business. If you do plan to stay long term in Cyprus, you can look for a job where they will register you with social insurance although many employers won’t do this for people working their first year in Ayia Napa. Social insurance contributions have to be paid by the employer and the employee so you may earn a little less if you are registered but will be entitled to benefits long term. The forms for immigration can be obtained on line from the Cyprus government website or collected from the citizens’ centre in Dherynia village. The completed forms, bank book, employer’s letter, photo’s and a small fee must be taken to the immigration office in Dherynia where they will review your application and decide whether to give you a yellow slip. Once you have a yellow slip and are in regular employment you can also apply for a medical card, allowing reduced cost treatment, unemployment benefit (minimum 26 weeks to have paid contributions first) and other benefits.
It is quite a lengthy process involving lots of forms and early morning visits to offices so the majority of workers and employers in Ayia Napa don’t bother and just take staff on a casual, cash in hand basis.
Ayia Napa Workers Survey Results
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Ayia Napa Workers Survey Results
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Accommodation FAQ
How do I find accommodation?
Walk around town and call numbers on flat for rent signs. Ask other workers, ask your boss.
How much will accommodation cost?
The average cost is €70 a week per person but prices can be anything from €50 to €120 a week depending on where you stay, the time of year and how much demand there is
Will my accommodation have air conditioning?
The majority of workers accommodation won’t come with air conditioning. Accommodation owners usually take care of the bills such as water and electricity and having air conditioning on all the time can add hundreds each month to the bill. You can buy or rent fans but you wouldn’t expect to spend a great deal of time in your accommodation anyway, just use it for sleeping, showering and changing
When is accommodation available?
Workers accommodation is usually available from April onwards. The further into summer it gets, the harder it is to find accommodation and the less choice is available. In April and early May you will have a good choice of where to stay, once it gets to late June and July you will have to take whatever bed you can find and prices are higher. From August it gets easier again to find accommodation as many workers go home at the end of July. Some places are available all year round with lower rates in the winter months or for longer rentals.
Will my accommodation have a pool?
Most workers apartments are in older blocks which aren’t for tourist use and so don’t have pools. There are a couple of holiday hotel apartments with pools that do have some rooms they rent out to workers, in this case you can usually use the pool unless specified otherwise. Many hotels in Ayia Napa will allow you in to use their pool provided you buy drinks or food from their pool bar, but some larger hotels don’t allow people in just to swim and sunbathe. Deseo pool where daily pool parties are held, started charging €10 entry fee during peak season due to such high demand.
Who will I share with?
The accommodation owners will usually decide who is going to be in each apartment and you won’t get any say in the matter. If you already have found people you can share with you may be able to get an apartment all together for yourselves as long as you are filling all the beds. If there is room for more beds then the accommodation owner will keep putting more people in.
Are bills included?
Most workers accommodations will include bills in the rent so you won’t need to pay any extra. If you are renting a whole apartment rather than per bed you may have to pay electricity bills. You should always check with the owner at the start of your rental exactly what is included.
Will my accommodation have a television?
No, and if you have time to watch TV then you aren’t making the most of your time in Ayia Napa.
Will I have a cleaner or maid service?
A few places will have a weekly cleaner and bed linen change but the majority of workers accommodation don’t offer any kind of cleaning and so they generally get very untidy and dirty.
Will I need to pay a deposit?
If you are renting a whole apartment or have a private rental apartment then you will usually have to pay a deposit of one month deposit plus one month rent up front. Some villas and higher standard apartments may ask for 3 months rent up front. If you are renting per bed then you don’t always have to pay a deposit for your accommodation. You may have to pay a deposit for your room key though which is refundable when you hand your key back.
Walk around town and call numbers on flat for rent signs. Ask other workers, ask your boss.
How much will accommodation cost?
The average cost is €70 a week per person but prices can be anything from €50 to €120 a week depending on where you stay, the time of year and how much demand there is
Will my accommodation have air conditioning?
The majority of workers accommodation won’t come with air conditioning. Accommodation owners usually take care of the bills such as water and electricity and having air conditioning on all the time can add hundreds each month to the bill. You can buy or rent fans but you wouldn’t expect to spend a great deal of time in your accommodation anyway, just use it for sleeping, showering and changing
When is accommodation available?
Workers accommodation is usually available from April onwards. The further into summer it gets, the harder it is to find accommodation and the less choice is available. In April and early May you will have a good choice of where to stay, once it gets to late June and July you will have to take whatever bed you can find and prices are higher. From August it gets easier again to find accommodation as many workers go home at the end of July. Some places are available all year round with lower rates in the winter months or for longer rentals.
Will my accommodation have a pool?
Most workers apartments are in older blocks which aren’t for tourist use and so don’t have pools. There are a couple of holiday hotel apartments with pools that do have some rooms they rent out to workers, in this case you can usually use the pool unless specified otherwise. Many hotels in Ayia Napa will allow you in to use their pool provided you buy drinks or food from their pool bar, but some larger hotels don’t allow people in just to swim and sunbathe. Deseo pool where daily pool parties are held, started charging €10 entry fee during peak season due to such high demand.
Who will I share with?
The accommodation owners will usually decide who is going to be in each apartment and you won’t get any say in the matter. If you already have found people you can share with you may be able to get an apartment all together for yourselves as long as you are filling all the beds. If there is room for more beds then the accommodation owner will keep putting more people in.
Are bills included?
Most workers accommodations will include bills in the rent so you won’t need to pay any extra. If you are renting a whole apartment rather than per bed you may have to pay electricity bills. You should always check with the owner at the start of your rental exactly what is included.
Will my accommodation have a television?
No, and if you have time to watch TV then you aren’t making the most of your time in Ayia Napa.
Will I have a cleaner or maid service?
A few places will have a weekly cleaner and bed linen change but the majority of workers accommodation don’t offer any kind of cleaning and so they generally get very untidy and dirty.
Will I need to pay a deposit?
If you are renting a whole apartment or have a private rental apartment then you will usually have to pay a deposit of one month deposit plus one month rent up front. Some villas and higher standard apartments may ask for 3 months rent up front. If you are renting per bed then you don’t always have to pay a deposit for your accommodation. You may have to pay a deposit for your room key though which is refundable when you hand your key back.
Money FAQHow much will I get paid?
Pay can be anything from €10-€35 a night for most bar and club work. The more workers available to work the lower wages are in resort. The better you are at your job, the more you are likely to get paid. When will I get paid? Many jobs pay daily or weekly, but some only pay monthly. How do I get paid? In cash. Be wary of any job that pays by cheque as new bank rules require you to have a bank account to be able to pay a cheque in. You can no longer just go to a bank and cash a cheque. How much will my accommodation cost? Accommodation usually costs between €50 and €100 a week, the average is €70 a week. Some jobs provide free or discounted accommodation to workers who prove they are reliable and will last What do I do if I run out of money? You can ask someone at home to put some in your bank or send some over by Western Union. |
Ayia Napa Workers Survey Results
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Where to Next?
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