Cyprus, the jewel of the Mediterranean, provides its residents with a lifestyle that few locations can rival – its abundance of sunshine, its glimmering halo of sea views and its welcoming nature all attribute to a happy and healthy environment for locals and foreigners alike. Life here is more relaxed, it’s enjoyed at a steady pace, known for being one of the safest places in Europe, with a reasonable cost of living, a good educational system, good business opportune with low corporate tax rates…the list goes on. For all these reasons, and given its geographical location, Cyprus has naturally attracted significant numbers of people relocating here to call it their home over the years.
Cyprus has reportedly around the third-highest rate of foreign-born nationals in the EU, following Luxembourg and Malta. In total, it is estimated that approximately almost 23% of the country’s residents were born in another country.
The majority of residents in Cyprus that are born overseas are from Greece (highest EU community) with around 35,500 residents, and the second largest population born overseas are from the UK (highest non-EU community) with around 28,000 residents. In 2024 in-Cyprus Philinews released an article that Cyprus hosts residents from at least 66 countries – Read Here.
Healthcare in Cyprus for Expats
Cyprus has a bilateral healthcare system – there is public healthcare (the national healthcare known as ‘Gesy’ or ‘GHS’) and private healthcare. The public option launched in phases in 2019 and is very well received by the island’s residents; it is a low-cost, co-payment system that is administered and regulated by the Ministry of Health, with participating hospitals and clinics requiring accreditation to operate. The private option complements the public one with private hospitals and clinics, payable per use / or via private health insurance plans. The private option is generally a more expensive option, but there is greater choice in providers, access to speciality services and (more often than not) shorter waiting times for appointments.
There are 8 state hospitals in Cyprus, and over 70 private hospitals, including an important new addition in 2017 the German Oncology Centre (previous to this there was only one hospital providing radiotherapy in Cyprus), and numerous health clinics found in Cyprus.
Healthcare in Cyprus is of a very high standard, yet generally inexpensive and the island’s population is amongst the healthiest in Europe. Standards of both public and private healthcare are considered comparable to other European nations, though private hospitals tend to have more advanced technology / modern amenities. The Medical and Public Health Services Department strictly monitors food and water safety.
Bloomberg’s 2019 edition of the Healthiest Country Index recorded Cyprus ranking as the 21st healthiest country globally and 24th out of 195 countries in the Healthcare Access and Quality Index (HAQ) for access to quality health services – placing Cyprus higher than Germany and Israel. Alongside the island’s own healthcare system, Cyprus is signatory to numerous Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with several countries to facilitate more cooperation in the medical field; for example there is an MoU specifically for kidney transplants.
Public Healthcare in Cyprus
Gesy Public Healthcare (GHS) was implemented in Cyprus two phases: outpatient services launched on 1st June 2019, and inpatient care services subsequently launched a year later, on 1st June 2020. GHS is a combination of a National Health Service and a Social Health Insurance scheme, which is funded by both beneficiaries’ and employers’ contributions together with the state budget. GESY aims to ensure that comprehensive healthcare is accessible with minimal expenses for its beneficiaries – it is administered and regulated by the Ministry of Health. GESY provides healthcare coverage for both employed and self-employed residents in Cyprus, as well as civil servants. To have access to GESY you must be either a Cypriot citizen, an EU national, or hold a residence permit.
Health services in the public sector are provided by five district hospitals and one pediatric/ gynecological hospital, three rural hospitals and 38 health centres, and 230 sub-centers with a touring medical team. The Ministry of Health also provides a sponsored patients’ abroad scheme under special circumstances and specific terms and conditions.
GESY healthcare is not free. It is a co-payment scheme whereby costs are covered by both the state and through nominal patient contributions (this goes for both healthcare and prescriptions). Here are some examples of costs on GESY:
- €1 for a prescribed medicine / medical product
- €25 euros to see a specialist without a referral from your General Practitioner
- €6 to see a specialist with a referral from your General Practitioner
- €6-10 for an X-ray
- €10 for a visit to A&E
GESY Explained
Source credit for following section: Demetriades Law
GESY Eligibility Criteria:
Eligibility for GESY is determined by nationality and residency status, with specific criteria for both EU and non-EU nationals. Here is a detailed breakdown:
General Eligibility Requirements:
- Residency: Applicants be a legal resident of the Republic of Cyprus.
- Dependents: once registered with GESY the beneficiary’s dependents are also entitled to register: this includes spouses and children (children up to 21 years old, or up to 26 if they are students).
Eligibility: EU Nationals
- Employed Persons: EU nationals with employment in Cyprus are eligible to register for GESY.
- MEU1 Holders: Eligible to register either if working in Cyprus, or if they can provide an S1 certificate from their EU country of insurance.
- MEU3 Holders: Automatically eligible to register for GESY, regardless of employment status or possession of S1 certificate.
Eligibility: Non-EU Nationals
- Permanent Residence Holders: Non-EU nationals with Immigration Category F or Regulation 6(2) Permits are eligible to apply for GESY registration after 12 months of residency in Cyprus.
- British Citizens with S1 Form: Eligible for GESY registration alongside provision of:
- A copy of their Alien Registration Certificate (ARC).
- A signed GHS enrolment form.
- Proof of ordinary residence (utility bill for example)
- Copy of the White Medical Card issued by the Ministry of Health (issued by the MoH after the S1 certificate is submitted to the MoH)
What services are covered by GESY:
Visits to GPs, specialist consultations, hospital services, pharmaceuticals, lab tests, dental (1 check-up and clean per year), rehabilitation and palliative services.
Resources:
- GESY WEBSITE
- For more information Contact GESY directly on 17000 or +357 22 017 000.
- MINISTRY OF HEALTH WEBSITE
Private Healthcare in Cyprus
The second option of healthcare for expats living in Cyprus is to go private. There are over 75 private hospitals throughout Cyprus, as well as a great number of healthcare clinics. The standard of healthcare provided by the private hospitals / clinics is considered high, comparable to other European States, with costs considered relatively inexpensive in comparison too. Private healthcare would be the option to consider if you are ineligible for GESY, or if can afford to prioritise shorter waiting times for appointments.
Here is an overview of the average cost of some private healthcare services in Cyprus:
- €50-€150 for doctor appointment
- €150-€300 for specialist doctor appointment
- €1000-€5000 per day for inpatient hospital stay
- €300-€800 for diagnostic tests
- €2000-€5000 for common surgeries
There are many private health insurance providers in Cyprus, especially given that the island’s national health system was only introduced relatively recently. Private health insurance plans cost around €150 to €400 per month for a family plan (this of course varies depending on the type of coverage you choose, the ages of your family members and the number of people in your family.
International health Insurance (such as Bupa) plans cost roughly around €2000 – €5000 per year for full cover.
UK Funded Healthcare - S1 Form
The S1 form is a document that qualifies you for state healthcare in Europe, obtained from your country of origin.
British nationals with an S1 form can access GESY without additional contributions, provided they are residing in Cyprus and meet the relevant criteria. Eligible persons, and their dependants that meet the criteria may be entitled to healthcare in Cyprus on the same basis as an insured Cypriot citizen.
British nationals may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK if they are resident in Cyprus and receive a UK State Pension, or exportable benefit or if they are a frontier worker (someone who works in one state and lives in another).
For more information, visit the UK Government website
British nationals healthcare in Cyprus post-Brexit:
British nationals with an S1 form can access GESY without additional contributions, provided they meet the relevant criteria and are resident in Cyprus. British nationals that do not have an S1 form can only register with GESY by making contributions to GESY, with eligibility determined by residency status in Cyprus and contribution amounts determined on income.
Disclaimer: the information provided by Comark Estates on this page is for general informational purposes only, and is provided in good faith. Comark Estates are not liable to any changes in this information.
