Health Insurance in Cyprus (GESY / GHS Cyprus)
Cyprus has a public healthcare system for everyone, called GESY (also written GHS Cyprus). It is paid for by people who live in Cyprus and by employers. This page explains who can use GESY, how much you pay (as an employee, as self-employed, and on dividends, rental income and interest income), and how to sign up.
Your Health Insurance in Cyprus: GESY / GHS Cyprus
The General Healthcare System (GESY, also known as GHS Cyprus) lets people who need medical care use all basic services for free. This includes doctor's appointments, prescription medicines and laboratory tests. It is meant to help everyone, including people on low incomes, people with long-term illness and older people. Doctors in the GESY network treat patients all over the country, and the care is free for everyone who is eligible.
Each person who signs up for GESY also gets a European Health Insurance Card. This card gives you the same cover during short stays in other European countries. On top of GESY, we suggest you also take out private health insurance or travel health insurance for trips inside Europe and outside Europe.
Who Can Use GESY / GHS Cyprus?
These groups can use GESY:
- Citizens of the Republic of Cyprus.
- EU citizens who live in Cyprus and pay the GESY contribution (this includes non-dom residents).
- Non-EU citizens (third-country nationals) who have the right residency status in Cyprus.
- Family members of the groups above (under the rules set by law).
- Refugees and people granted subsidiary protection status.
GESY is based on solidarity, so all residents of Cyprus pay in. The Cypriot state, all civil servants and all public employees also pay into this shared public health system. One rule applies to everyone:
All the rates below, and the GESY contributions linked to them, only apply to total income up to EUR 180,000 per year. Income above that amount is not charged.
Contributions to GESY / GHS Cyprus
Employees and employers
An employee in Cyprus pays 2.65 percent of their income to GESY. The employer pays 2.90 percent for each employee.
Example: an employee with a gross monthly income of EUR 1,000 pays EUR 26.50 per month to GESY in Cyprus. The employer pays EUR 29 per month. (The state pays towards social insurance, not towards GESY.)
Dividends from Cyprus and international holdings
Dividends also have a GESY contribution. The rate is 2.65 percent. GESY on dividends is usually due by the end of the month after the dividend is paid out.
Rental income
Rental income has a GESY contribution of 2.65 percent. GESY on rental income is usually due by 30 June and 31 December each year.
Interest income
Interest income has a GESY contribution of 2.65 percent on the income you earn. GESY on interest is usually due by 30 June and 31 December each year.
Self-employed individuals
Self-employed people pay 4.00 percent of their income to GESY in Cyprus.
Worked Examples
Example 1 GESY contribution for a business owner
Mel Jameson is a shareholder and an employed director of his Cyprus company. Mel also holds non-dom status in Cyprus.
Mel gets a monthly salary of EUR 1,000 from his company as an employee. He also gets EUR 100,000 in dividends from his Cyprus company each year.
GESY contribution:
- Employee contribution on salary: 2.65 percent → EUR 26.50 per month.
- Employer contribution by his limited company: 2.90 percent → EUR 29 per month.
- Dividend income 2025: EUR 100,000 at 2.65 percent → EUR 2,650 for the year 2025.
- Total contribution for 2025: EUR 3,316.
Example 2 Maximum yearly GESY contribution for a business owner
Mel is a shareholder and an employed director of his Cyprus company. Mel also holds non-dom status in Cyprus.
Mel gets a monthly salary of EUR 1,000 from his company as an employee and EUR 500,000 in dividends in 2025.
GESY contribution:
- Employee contribution on salary: 2.65 percent → EUR 26.50 per month.
- Employer contribution by his limited company: 2.90 percent → EUR 29 per month.
- Dividend income 2025: EUR 500,000 at 2.65 percent would be EUR 13,250 for 2025.
- But the cap applies at EUR 180,000.
Total contribution: EUR 4,770 (the maximum).
Your Registration with GESY / GHS Cyprus
If you are eligible, you can sign up online at gesy.org.cy, or a GESY-licensed doctor can do it for you.
Open the link above and select "EN" for English in the top right corner of the page. You will then be asked for: your first name, surname, a username of your choice, your email address, your email address again to confirm it, and your Cypriot mobile phone number. The mobile number is needed so the system can send you a one-time password (OTP) for safe login. Finally, you accept the terms and conditions.
The system now shows all your details on the screen so you can check them. If everything is correct, click the "Send" button.
Once your GESY account is set up, you get an activation code by email. Please open it and follow it within 15 minutes.
You now have an active GESY account. Here you can send the real GESY application for yourself and, if needed, your family members. You usually need the following:
- Some personal details for yourself and, if needed, your family members.
- The number(s) of your Yellow Slip(s).
- Where relevant, your passport, national ID, or other ID number(s).
- A "KIN" (next of kin): the person to call in an emergency, with their up-to-date contact details.
If the system asks for documents, you can send them by email or upload them straight to GESY.
In the last step, GESY shows you a list of approved doctors near you. Choose your future "family doctor" from this list, then enter their name and address in the window that opens. Finally, you accept the terms and conditions.
Confirmation
To confirm your registration, you get an email with the status "Approved". It asks you to contact your chosen doctor soon to book an appointment.
If you have more questions about taxes in Cyprus, our team is happy to help.
We are happy to assist!
for a free consultation
with one of our experts
Readers were also interested in
Our Terms & Conditions and our Terms of Use.
