Working Days – Cyprus
In Cyprus, the public holiday system includes religious and national celebrations that are legally defined. The standard working week is 40 hours, and when a public holiday falls on a working day, work is suspended.
Annual summary
| Other year | Working days | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 248 | |
| 2026 | 250 | |
| 2027 | 252 | |
| 2028 | 252 |
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Holiday rules and practice in Cyprus
How public holidays work in Cyprus, and what that means when you count working days.
- Standard work week
- Monday–Friday
- 40 hours per week
- Substitute days
- No
- A public holiday that falls on a weekend is not replaced, so it produces no extra day off.
- Regional variation
- No
- Public holidays apply uniformly across the whole country.
Bank holidays
Cyprus has no separate bank-holiday category. Δημόσιες αργίες (public holidays) apply generally, although banks observe their own slightly different closure list.
Local terminology
| Working day | εργάσιμη ημέρα |
|---|---|
| Public holiday | αργία |
| Easter | Πάσχα |
Worth knowing
- Cyprus observes the Greek Orthodox Easter calendar. Green Monday (Καθαρά Δευτέρα), Good Friday, Easter Monday and Pentecost all move with it and in most years fall on different dates from Western Easter.
- With 15 public holidays Cyprus has one of the longest lists in the EU, but many sit on fixed dates and there is no substitute-day rule, so a poorly placed year loses several of them to weekends.
- 1 April (Cyprus National Day) and 1 October (Independence Day) are specific to the Republic of Cyprus, while 25 March and 28 October are shared with Greece.
- Public-sector hours differ from the private sector: the public service works a 38-hour week rather than 40.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Cyprus have each year?
Cyprus has 15 public holidays distributed throughout the calendar year, including religious celebrations and national holidays. Some of these holidays are linked to the Orthodox calendar and vary in date each year.
What happens if a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday?
Cyprus does not provide compensation or replacement for holidays that fall on non-working days. The working week consists of five days, Monday through Friday.
Is it mandatory to pay employees who work on a public holiday?
In cases where an employee works on a public holiday, they are entitled to compensation in accordance with applicable labor legislation. Typically, work on a public holiday is compensated with enhanced pay or a replacement day off.
How do HR professionals handle the variable dates of Easter holidays?
Easter holidays are determined annually according to the Orthodox calendar and must be updated each year. Employers must reference the dates announced by the relevant authorities for accurate record-keeping and payroll calculation.
What are the main national holidays that employers should be aware of?
The main national holidays are Cyprus National Day (25 March), Ochi Day (28 October), and Independence Day (1 October). These are combined with religious celebrations such as Christmas, Easter, and Epiphany.