GESY in Cyprus for Ukrainians: Registration and Healthcare Access

Temperature’s at 38.5, your throat’s on fire, and you’re in Cyprus with temporary protection. You Google “free healthcare Cyprus,” find GESY - the national health system covering all residents. You try to register, enter your ARC number - and the system won’t let you in. Sound familiar? Most Ukrainians in Cyprus hit this exact wall: GESY exists, contributions get deducted from every paycheck, but there’s no access. The thing is, free healthcare is still available - just through a different channel. Let’s figure out how medicine actually works in Cyprus for Ukrainians, and what to do so you’re not paying for something you could get for free.

What is GESY and how does it work¶

GESY (ΓεΣΥ - Γενικό Σύστημα Υγείας, or General Healthcare System) is Cyprus’s national healthcare system, launched in June 2019. Think of it as the Cypriot version of the UK’s NHS or Germany’s Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung - a single system that covers medical services for all registered beneficiaries (people who qualify for the services).

Here’s how it works: you register in the system, pick a personal doctor (GP - General Practitioner), and then you get healthcare with minimal copayments. Visiting your GP is free. A specialist referral costs 6 euros. Prescription meds are 1 euro per item. Even dentistry is partially covered.

GESY is funded through mandatory contributions: employees pay 2.65% of gross salary, employers add 2.90%, and the self-employed pay 4%. These contributions are automatically deducted from everyone who’s officially employed in Cyprus. And here’s where it gets interesting for Ukrainians with temporary protection.

Temporary protection holders and GESY: the key issue¶

Here’s a fact that catches many people off guard: if you’re in Cyprus under temporary protection (TP), you don’t have access to GESY. Even if you work officially and GESY contributions are deducted from your salary every month.

According to the AIDA report for 2024, healthcare for temporary protection beneficiaries is provided under the same conditions as for asylum seekers. In practice, this means: access to state hospitals and public medical facilities - yes. Access to private doctors and services through GESY - no.

So you can’t choose a personal doctor through the GESY portal, can’t book a specialist for 6 euros, and can’t get meds for 1 euro at a regular pharmacy. But free healthcare is available - through state hospitals.

Why this happens¶

Temporary protection is a special status. It grants the right to live and work, but doesn’t make you a permanent resident. GESY is available to those registered in the Civil Registry or the Migration Department’s Registry with a permanent or regular work residence permit. TP holders have a temporary status - and the system simply doesn’t include them.

This isn’t unique to Cyprus. In most EU countries, temporary protection holders have limited access to national healthcare systems - they receive medical care, but not through the standard system.

Free healthcare for TP holders: state hospitals¶

If you’re under temporary protection, your channel for free healthcare is state hospitals and health centres (State General Hospitals and Health Centres). According to the Embassy of Ukraine in Cyprus, necessary medical care for Ukrainians with temporary protection status is provided free of charge at all public medical facilities.

What you need for an appointment¶

Walk into a state hospital or health centre and show two documents:

• ARC (Alien Registration Certificate) - the plastic card marked Temporary Protection. This is your main ID document in Cyprus
• TP notification letter from the Asylum Service (Notification of Temporary Protection Decision) - the document confirming your TP status

If your ARC isn’t ready yet (it happens - waiting times can be several weeks, especially in Paphos), the notification letter from the Asylum Service is enough. The key thing is having something that confirms your status.

What’s covered for free¶

• General practitioner consultations
• Specialist consultations (cardiologist, orthopedist, dermatologist, etc.)
• Lab tests and diagnostics (blood tests, ultrasound, X-rays)
• Inpatient treatment and surgeries
• Emergency care
• Medications dispensed by the state hospital pharmacy

Important detail about medication: free meds are only available through pharmacies inside state hospitals - not regular street pharmacies. If a doctor at a state hospital writes you a prescription, go to that same hospital’s pharmacy. A regular pharmacy will charge full price.

What’s not covered for free¶

Cosmetic procedures, alternative medicine, dentistry (except emergencies). If you need a dentist, you’ll have to go private and pay out of pocket. Dental prices in Cyprus: exam from 30 euros, filling from 50 euros, extraction from 40 euros.

State hospitals in Cyprus: addresses and phone numbers¶

City	Hospital	Phone
Nicosia	Nicosia General Hospital	+357 22-603-000
Nicosia	Archbishop Makarios III Hospital (pediatric)	+357 22-405-000
Limassol	Limassol General Hospital	+357 25-801-100
Larnaca	Larnaca General Hospital	+357 24-800-500
Paphos	Paphos General Hospital	+357 26-803-100
Famagusta	Famagusta General Hospital	+357 23-200-000

Besides the main hospitals, each district has Health Centres - smaller facilities for primary care and consultations. Their addresses and schedules are available on the SHSO (State Health Services Organisation) website.

Archbishop Makarios III Hospital in Nicosia is the main pediatric hospital on the island. If your child is seriously ill - head there, it has the best children’s department.

Emergency services¶

The emergency number in Cyprus is 112 (standard across the EU). An ambulance will come for free, regardless of your status or documents. In emergencies, nobody asks for your ARC - they treat first, sort out paperwork later. If you or someone near you is in danger, call immediately.

A private ambulance can be called at 1401 - but it’s paid (from 100 euros), and for most situations 112 is sufficient.

The contributions paradox: paying for GESY without access¶

This is one of the most frustrating issues for Ukrainians in Cyprus. If you work officially with temporary protection, 2.65% of your salary goes to GESY. Your employer adds another 2.90% on top. These are mandatory deductions, and there’s no exemption for TP holders.

Yet these contributions don’t give you access to GESY. You pay into the system every month but can’t use it.

As ukr.cy notes: “Although GESY contributions are mandatory payroll deductions, their payment does not provide access to the GESY system.”

In forums and chat groups for Ukrainians in Cyprus, this comes up constantly. “Why are they taking GESY contributions from my salary when I can’t even register with a doctor?” - a question that pops up almost weekly. Legally, everything’s correct: contributions are tied to the social insurance system, not to immigration status. But in practice, it feels deeply unfair.

Tip: save your payslips - there’s a theoretical possibility that when you transition to full resident status, these contributions may be taken into account. No guarantees yet, but it’s better to have the documents.

When you get full GESY access¶

GESY becomes available when you transition from temporary protection to a different type of residence permit. Here are the main paths:

Work permit through BFU¶

BFU (Business Facilitation Unit) is a department under the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry. If your employer gets you a work permit through BFU, you gain full rights to register for GESY. This permit is issued for 3 years with the option to renew. The employer files the application, but it’s worth initiating the process yourself - not all employers know about this option.

Permanent residence (Category F)¶

If you have a stable income from abroad (minimum 9,568 euros per year for one person, plus 4,613 euros per dependent), you can apply for a Category F permanent residence permit. You’ll need translated documents - income certificates, bank statements. With permanent residence comes full GESY access.

Starting a business¶

If you’re opening a company in Cyprus, you can get a residence permit as a director or owner. This also gives you GESY rights. The self-employed pay 4% of income but get the full range of services in return.

Important note about residence time¶

Time spent in Cyprus under temporary protection doesn’t count toward the 5-year requirement for a Long Term Residence Permit (LTRP). This means: even if you’ve lived in Cyprus for 4 years with TP, the LTRP clock starts over when you switch to a regular permit.

How to register for GESY: step by step¶

If you’ve already transitioned from temporary protection to a regular residence permit (work permit through BFU, permanent residence, or other), here’s how to register for GESY.

Step 1: Check what you have¶

For registration you’ll need:

• ARC (Alien Registration Certificate) with your new permit type (not TP)
• Social insurance number - issued by Social Insurance Services. If you work officially, you already have one - it’s on your payslip
• Email address and a Cypriot mobile phone number
• Proof of address - electricity bill (EAC), water bill (Water Board), or phone bill, no older than 3 months

Step 2: Create an account on the portal¶

Go to registration.gesy.org.cy - the site’s available in Greek and English.

1. Click “Create Account”
2. Fill in the form: first name, last name, ARC number, email, phone
3. Confirm your email through the link they’ll send
4. Confirm your phone via SMS code
5. The system automatically checks your data against the Migration Department and Social Insurance registries

If the system can’t find you in the registries, contact the GESY hotline: 17000 (from a Cypriot number) or +357 22 017000 (from any number).

Step 3: Choose your personal doctor¶

After successful registration, you need to choose a Personal Doctor (GP). This is your primary physician who’ll handle your referrals to specialists.

Two ways to choose:

• Online - through the GESY portal, search for doctors by district, language, and specialization. Convenient because you can see ratings and available spots
• In person - walk into the doctor’s clinic and register on the spot

Each doctor can have a maximum of 2,500 patients. If their list is full, you’ll need to find another one. You can switch doctors up to 2 times per year, so if the first one doesn’t work out, it’s not a problem.

Tip: look for a doctor who speaks English (almost everyone in Cyprus does) or even Russian - in Limassol and Paphos there are doctors from the former Soviet Union.

Step 4: First visit and activation¶

During your first visit to your chosen doctor:

1. The doctor fills in/verifies your personal information
2. Both of you sign the Form of Mutual Acceptance
3. The doctor submits the form to HIO (Health Insurance Organisation)

After this, you’re a full GESY beneficiary. All system services are now available to you.

What GESY covers: services and copayments¶

Here’s the full picture of costs for a registered GESY beneficiary:

Service	Cost
Visit to personal doctor (GP)	Free
Specialist with GP referral	6 euros
Specialist without referral	25 euros
Prescription medication	1 euro per item
Inpatient treatment (hospitalization)	Free
Lab tests (with referral)	Free
Preventive dentistry (exam, cleaning)	Free
Rehabilitation (with referral)	Free
Vaccinations	Free

How referrals work¶

A GP referral is valid for 6 months and covers 2 visits to the specialist. If you have a chronic condition, the doctor can issue a long-term referral for 12 months and 12 visits. Going to a specialist without a referral is possible, but costs 25 euros instead of 6.

Annual copayment cap¶

The maximum total copayments per year are 150 euros per adult. For children under 21, low-income pensioners, and recipients of the Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) - 75 euros. Once you hit the cap, everything’s free for the rest of the year. Even in the worst-case scenario, you won’t spend more than 150 euros on healthcare in a year.

What GESY doesn’t cover¶

• Cosmetic surgery and procedures
• Alternative medicine (homeopathy, ayurveda, etc.)
• Complex dentistry (fillings, prosthetics, implants - only preventive care is free)
• Some expensive medications: if there’s a cheaper alternative, GESY covers the alternative, and you pay the difference yourself

Translating medical documents: when and which ones¶

If you have medical records from Ukraine that you need to show a Cypriot doctor, you’ll need a translation. A Cypriot doctor won’t understand a discharge summary in Ukrainian, even if the diagnosis is written in Latin.

Most commonly translated documents¶

• Hospital discharge summary - if you’ve had surgeries or serious conditions. The Cypriot doctor needs to know your medical history to treat you properly
• Vaccination records - critical for children. Without proof of vaccinations, a child might not be admitted to school or kindergarten. Cyprus, like Germany, has a measles vaccination requirement
• Prescriptions - if you’re on ongoing medication and need to continue it in Cyprus. Especially important for insulin, antidepressants, cardiac medications, and other drugs that can’t just be bought over the counter
• Test results - MRI, CT scans, blood work. If you have a chronic condition and were under care in Ukraine, the Cypriot doctor will want to see previous results
• Disability certificate - if needed for social assistance or benefits applications

Which language to translate into¶

In Cyprus you have two options - Greek and English. For medical documents, English is usually enough - over 80% of doctors in Cyprus speak English fluently, a legacy of the British colonial past.

Greek is needed in rare cases: an older doctor at a rural health centre, or an official procedure that specifically requires a Greek translation (disability certification, controlled substance prescriptions).

For official use, you need a sworn translation - a translation done by a translator registered with the Council of Sworn Translators at the Press and Information Office (PIO). You can find a translator from Ukrainian to Greek or English on the PIO website.

For simple communication with a doctor (showing a discharge summary, explaining a diagnosis), a regular translation is enough. You can get one through ChatsControl or another translator - no need for a sworn translator with a stamp.

Cost of translating medical documents¶

Sworn translation in Cyprus costs 18-25 euros per page (page = 250 words) plus 2 euros stamp duty per copy. Specialized medical translation is closer to the upper end - 25 euros per page.

Approximate prices:

Document	Pages	Approximate cost
Vaccination records	1-2	20-50 euros
Hospital discharge (short)	2-3	40-75 euros
Hospital discharge (detailed)	5-8	90-200 euros
Prescription	1	20-27 euros
Disability certificate	1-2	20-50 euros

A regular (non-sworn) translation will cost less - from 10-15 euros per page through online platforms.

Apostille: when you need one¶

If a medical document is required for official procedures through government bodies (not just showing it to a doctor, but for disability registration or social assistance) - the original must have an apostille before translation. The apostille is issued in Ukraine through “Diia” centres or the Ministry of Justice. If you’re already in Cyprus and the original has no apostille, you’ll need to ask someone in Ukraine to get it and send it over.

For a regular doctor’s visit, an apostille isn’t needed - it’s only for official legal procedures.

Private healthcare: the alternative for those who don’t want to wait¶

State hospitals are free, but come with caveats. Queues can be significant, especially in Limassol and Paphos. Booking a specialist at a state hospital sometimes takes several weeks. If it’s not an emergency but you don’t want to wait, private healthcare is an option.

Without insurance¶

A visit to a private GP costs around 50 euros on average. Specialists run 60-100 euros. Tests, MRI, CT scans are separate. An MRI at a private clinic costs 200-400 euros, CT scan 150-300 euros. Serious money, but sometimes speed and comfort are worth it.

Private insurance¶

You can buy private health insurance that covers private doctors, clinics, and hospitals. A basic plan for one person runs 500-1,500 euros per year, depending on coverage and age. Some employers offer private insurance as part of the compensation package - check with your HR.

If you’re planning to apply for a permanent residence permit or work permit, private health insurance may be a mandatory requirement. Check the specific requirements for your permit type.

GESY + private insurance¶

Some Cyprus residents combine GESY with private insurance: GESY covers the basics, while private insurance adds dentistry, fast specialist access, and private hospital rooms. This is an option for those who’ve already registered for GESY and want to supplement their coverage.

Practical tips¶

1. Always carry your ARC and Asylum Service letter - without them, state hospital staff might not know how to process you for free care. Some administrators aren’t aware of the rules for TP holders - show your documents and calmly explain the situation

2. Call the hospital before visiting - check appointment hours, whether you need to pre-register, and which documents to bring. English is spoken at reception desks everywhere

3. Bring translated documents - even a rough translation is better than nothing. The doctor needs to understand your medical history, and Latin diagnosis names aren’t always enough

4. Hospital pharmacy for free meds - free medications are only available through pharmacies inside state hospitals. A regular street pharmacy charges full price

5. 112 for emergencies - the ambulance comes free, no questions about documents

6. Save your payslips - if you’re working and GESY contributions are being deducted. They might come in handy when transitioning to full status

7. Think long-term - if you’re planning to stay in Cyprus, start looking into transitioning from TP to a work permit. It’ll give you full GESY access and make your life considerably easier when it comes to healthcare

FAQ¶

Do Ukrainians with temporary protection have access to GESY in Cyprus?¶

No. Temporary protection holders don’t have GESY access, even if they work officially and pay contributions from their salary. Free healthcare is only available through state hospitals - you need to show your ARC with the TP mark or the Asylum Service notification letter. Full GESY access comes when you transition to a regular residence permit (work permit through BFU, permanent residence, etc.).

How much does a doctor’s visit cost in Cyprus without GESY?¶

At state hospitals for TP holders - free (show your ARC and Asylum Service letter). At a private doctor without insurance - around 50 euros for a GP, 60-100 euros for a specialist. With GESY - your personal doctor is free, a specialist with referral is 6 euros, without referral - 25 euros.

Do I need to translate medical documents from Ukraine for a doctor in Cyprus?¶

For a regular consultation, a standard English translation is enough - most Cypriot doctors are fluent in English. For official procedures (disability registration, controlled substance prescriptions), you may need a sworn translation into Greek. Sworn translation costs 18-25 euros per page plus 2 euros stamp duty.

How do I register for GESY after transitioning from temporary protection to a work permit?¶

Go to registration.gesy.org.cy, create an account, enter your ARC number and social insurance details. After registration, choose a personal doctor - online or by visiting a clinic in person. At your first visit, you’ll sign a Form of Mutual Acceptance with the doctor. If you run into issues, the GESY hotline is 17000 or +357 22 017000.

What should I do in an emergency in Cyprus?¶

Call 112 - the standard EU emergency number. An ambulance will come for free regardless of your status. At the hospital, show your ARC or any identity document - but they’ll treat you first and sort out paperwork afterward. For poisoning and chemical incidents, there’s a separate number - 1401.