Healthcare for UK nationals living in Cyprus
How to get state healthcare if you live, work or study in Cyprus.
Published 23 September 2019
Last updated 9 November 2020 — see all updates
From:
Department of Health and Social Care, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Contents
Stay up to date
Healthcare if you live and work in Cyprus
If your UK employer has sent you to Cyprus temporarily (‘posted workers')
UK-funded healthcare: using an S1 form in Cyprus
Studying in Cyprus
Moving back to the UK
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This guidance will be updated if anything changes to how you get state healthcare in Cyprus.
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This information is about living in Cyprus. There's different guidance if you're just visiting Cyprus.
If you live in Cyprus or move there before the end of 2020, your rights to access healthcare in Cyprus will stay the same for as long as you remain resident.
This guidance explains what you need to do in Cyprus depending on your circumstances.
State healthcare in Cyprus is not free. Healthcare costs are covered by both the state and through patient contributions. These are known as co-payments.
Cyprus has a new General Healthcare System (GHS). At the moment, UK nationals usually access Cypriot healthcare in one of these ways:
using a UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for temporary stays
as a UK national working in Cyprus
using a Cypriot residents' medical card
registering as UK S1 holder with the GHS
The S1 form entitles you to access to state healthcare on the same basis as an insured Cypriot citizen. You're entitled to an S1 if you receive a UK State Pension or certain other benefits. Find out more about the S1 form.
Healthcare if you live and work in Cyprus
You must register as a Cypriot resident if you're living or working in Cyprus for more than 3 months.
If you're working in Cyprus, you must also register with the Cyprus Social Insurance Services and pay healthcare contributions.
Once you're a resident, you can register with a Cypriot doctor through the General Healthcare System (GHS). You must be registered with both the GHS and a doctor to access state healthcare in Cyprus.
Once you're registered with the GHS, you'll be able to access state healthcare services.
You may need a referral from your doctor or a specialist for certain services.
If you're on a low income, receive certain benefits or have an S1, you can apply for a medical card. A medical card means your co-payments will be lower or free when you access state healthcare services.
You cannot use your EHIC once you're a resident.
If you live in Cyprus or move there before the end of 2020, your rights to access healthcare in Cyprus will stay the same from 1 January 2021 for as long as you remain resident.
This means you'll:
continue to get state healthcare in Cyprus on the same basis as a Cypriot resident
still be entitled to a Cypriot EHIC for travel, including visits to the UK
You may also have the right to apply for a UK S1 if you start drawing a UK State Pension.
How to register
Create an account with the GHS. You can either register online through the GHS Beneficiary Portal, or in person with your doctor.
Once you have a GHS account you must register with a GHS-listed doctor.
How much you'll pay
State healthcare in Cyprus is not free. You may have to pay some of the cost of any treatment or service, for example:
1 euro for a prescribed medicine or medical product
6 euros to see a specialist with a referral from your GP
25 euros to see a specialist without a referral from your GP
10 euros to go to A&E
Depending on your age, you'll get a number of free visits with your registered GP each year. Your GP can tell you how many visits you're entitled to.
Once you've used up your free GP visits, you'll pay up to 15 euros per visit.
If you have a medical card, your co-payments are less.
If your UK employer has sent you to Cyprus temporarily (‘posted workers')
A posted worker is someone who is employed or self-employed in the UK, but temporarily sent to another European Economic Area (EEA) country.
Currently, posted workers can use an EHIC or an S1 form to access Cypriot healthcare.
HMRC has a helpline for National Insurance enquiries from non-UK residents. They can answer questions about posted worker status and explain which documents you'll need to get healthcare while posted.
There will be no changes to healthcare access for posted workers in Cyprus before the end of 2020.
You can continue to use your EHIC or S1 during this time.
UK-funded healthcare: using an S1 form in Cyprus
You may be entitled to Cypriot state healthcare paid for by the UK if you live in Cyprus and receive either:
a UK State Pension
some other ‘exportable benefits'
Not all UK benefits that can be claimed while abroad entitle you to UK-funded healthcare. Read more about claiming benefits if you move abroad or contact Jobcentre Plus to ask about a benefit.
You may also be entitled to an S1 form if you're a posted worker or a frontier worker. You must contact HMRC National Insurance enquiries to find out if you're eligible.
Once you have an S1 form, you must register it with the GHS.
This will mean you and your dependants will be entitled to healthcare in Cyprus on the same basis as an insured Cypriot citizen.
How to get an S1 form
If you have a UK State Pension, you must request an application form by phone from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services.
NHS Overseas Healthcare Services
Telephone: +44 (0)191 218 1999
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Saturday, 9am to 3pm
How to use an S1 form in Cyprus
You must get an S1 form, then register with the GHS. You can either register online, or through your local doctor.
Watch the video to find out how to register for Cypriot healthcare as an S1 holder.
Once registered, you will be issued with a Cypriot medical card. This will mean you're entitled to reduced co-payments for state healthcare on the same basis as a Cypriot citizen.
Show your medical card when you visit a doctor.
UK-funded healthcare using an S1 from 1 January 2021
If you're living in Cyprus before the end of 2020, your rights to access healthcare will stay the same from 1 January 2021 if you're either:
receiving a UK State Pension
receiving some other ‘exportable benefits'
a frontier worker (someone who works in one state and lives in another)
This means that you'll get:
continued access to healthcare in Cyprus using your UK-issued S1 form
a UK-issued EHIC for travel
planned treatments in other EU countries via the S2 route
access to the NHS in England, Scotland and Wales when you're visiting the UK
EHIC if you have a registered S1
You need to get a new UK-issued EHIC that's valid for travel from 1 January 2021.
Apply now for your new EHIC on the NHS website
Studying in Cyprus
If you're in Cyprus on 31 December 2020 because you study there, and your course continues beyond 2020, you need to apply for a new UK-issued EHIC.
Your EHIC entitles you to medically necessary healthcare until the end of your study period in Cyprus.
From 1 January 2021, your EHIC will only be valid in Cyprus. Make sure you have travel insurance to cover the duration of your course.
Moving back to the UK
If you return to the UK you'll be able to use the NHS like any other UK resident.
Read more about using the NHS when you return to live in the UK.
Published 23 September 2019
Last updated 9 November 2020
LATEST ON HEALTHCARE
Be aware...
Ironic that MEU1 holders have to pay GESY contributions even though they are not eligible for state healthcare unless they have S1 (receive UK state pension) or are working (pay social insurance contributions) and have to wait five years until they obtain MEU3 permanent residency
So if you dont work, are an meu1 holder and are not yet state pensioned you will pay twice for your healthcare ,ie paying private or as you go and yet must still pay GESY contributions at the prevailing rate for a service you cannot join.
I queried this today with GESY and this is the official reply
MY QUESTION
It has been brought to my attentions that MEU1 holders have to pay GESY contributions even though they are not eligible for state healthcare unless they have an S1 (receive UK state pension) or are working (pay social insurance contributions) and have to wait five years until they obtain MEU3 permanent residency.... thus must pay into GESY at the prevailing rate despite being unable to benefit from it .. thus paying twice .. how can that possibly be right
GESY REPLY
We would like to inform you that the obligation of paying contribution for the GHS is independent from the right of being a beneficiary according to the legislation and every person that receives an income from Cyprus or abroad is obligated to contribute for the GHS. If you are not eligible according to the provided criteria, you will not be able to enroll as beneficiary in the GHS but since you receive an income you, as everyone else will contribute according to the set rates.
Thank you for contacting us, we remain at your disposal.
MY RESPONSE
That seems incredibly unfair as those who fall into that category even if its private pension income would in effect be paying for a service they cannot join or benefit from thus paying TWICE once for GESY and again paying for private OR paying as they go for what they need
Toon wrote:I queried this today with GESY and this is the official reply
MY QUESTION
It has been brought to my attentions that MEU1 holders have to pay GESY contributions even though they are not eligible for state healthcare unless they have an S1 (receive UK state pension) or are working (pay social insurance contributions) and have to wait five years until they obtain MEU3 permanent residency.... thus must pay into GESY at the prevailing rate despite being unable to benefit from it .. thus paying twice .. how can that possibly be right
GESY REPLY
We would like to inform you that the obligation of paying contribution for the GHS is independent from the right of being a beneficiary according to the legislation and every person that receives an income from Cyprus or abroad is obligated to contribute for the GHS. If you are not eligible according to the provided criteria, you will not be able to enroll as beneficiary in the GHS but since you receive an income you, as everyone else will contribute according to the set rates.
Thank you for contacting us, we remain at your disposal.
MY RESPONSE
That seems incredibly unfair as those who fall into that category even if its private pension income would in effect be paying for a service they cannot join or benefit from thus paying TWICE once for GESY and again paying for private OR paying as they go for what they need
Wow! - Incredibly unfair and hopefully will be challenged legally to either remove the forced contribution requirements or (preferably) forced to allow access for all contributors...
Jim
My gut feeling is they won't care
Probably not but the EU courts might not be as unconcerned about extorting money and withholding the services it is nominally for the provision of
Surprised that this is the first we have heard of this - will be a bit of a shock to a lot of expats I would imagine....
TBH it sounds as if they are making this up as they go along......
Jim
Probably due for another infringement notice. I will get on that tomorrow
Solvit contacted so we shall see what response I get... then if unsatisfactory will contact the Peti portal at the EUropean Commission ,, having used this several times over the years it does work as have had successes before however it is a very slow mechanism and will take some time...
Many thanks - great work Toon
Jim
The only way round it is by staying less than 183 days and not being a Cypriot Tax resident - So 5 1/2 months in Cyprus and a round the world tour for the rest of the year.
But seriously
For those who spend time between U.K. and Cyprus, you could still hold an MEU1 but not be tax resident.
But you would then have to rely on Private Healthcare.
But once you get 5 years residence and get the MEU3 then you would be eligible.
yes but at 5.5months you would still be required to have an meu1 and a form of health insurance .
Those who are here permanently with an meu1 not working not S1 but with an income (private pensions) would be paying for healthcare twice... especially when it will be mandatory for all residents irrespective of income and its source to pay GESY whether you benefit from it or not... (although it is not necessary at the moment to complete a tax return if your income is €19500 or below )
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