2.5 Cross-border mobility programmes
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EU programmes
Cyprus currently participates in the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) and the EU Aid Volunteers programme.
Regarding the ESC, the main top-level authority in charge of organizing and monitoring it is at national level is the Youth Board of Cyprus. The Youth Board of Cyprus monitors the participation of young people in ESC through the applications submitted to the National Agency by the accredited organizations. Volunteers participating in the approved ESC projects attend two seminars organized by the National Agency: one on arrival training and one Mid-Term evaluation meeting. Through these seminars, the Youth Board comes in contact with volunteers, informs them of everything they need to know about their service and at the same time receives their own impressions, experiences and comments.
Ιn 2022, 37 Cypriot volunteers participated in ESC voluntary projects abroad, as it is recorded in the database of the European Youth Portal. They volunteered in Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Latvia, Poland, Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, UK and Iceland. According to the awarded projects of 2022, 270 young people are expected to take part in the volunteering and solidarity projects, which will be implemented either locally or abroad. In addition, there are around 1506 Cypriot youth registered through the European Youth Portal (March 2023).
There is no information about the participation of Cypriot youth in EU Aid Volunteers Programme.
There are not bilateral or multilateral programmes for youth cross-border volunteering in Cyprus.
Legal framework applying to foreign volunteers
When it comes to ESC volunteers, the ESC Programme Guide, the ESC Info-kit and the Agreement signed between all parties involves sets the legal framework for young volunteers coming from abroad to do volunteering in Cyprus.
If a visa is required for youth ESC volunteers who will enter the Republic of Cyprus, the hosting organization needs to follow the ESC Programme Guide, as well as the Aliens and Immigrants (Conditions of Entry and Residence of Third-Country Nationals for Research, Studies, Internships, Voluntary Service, Student Exchanges or Educational Programs) Law of 2019 (Law 7 (I) / 2019).
Non-European ESC volunteers who will stay for a maximum period of up to 12 months are granted a residence permit for all the duration of their service.