01
Recognition bodies
KYSATS (Cyprus Council for the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications / ΚΥ.Σ.Α.Τ.Σ.)
AcademicCyprus's NARIC body and the primary authority for recognising all higher-education qualifications obtained outside Cyprus, whether from EU or third countries. KYSATS issues a formal recognition decision (αναγνώριση τίτλου σπουδών) that is required by most regulated professional bodies as a prerequisite. Applications must include the original degree certificate and transcript together with certified translations into Greek or English. KYSATS also handles recognition for unregulated roles where an employer or institution requires a comparability assessment.
www.kysats.ac.cy
Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth
AcademicThe government ministry that oversees KYSATS and higher education policy in Cyprus. The Ministry issues regulations governing recognition criteria and maintains the legislative framework for qualification assessment. Applicants do not apply directly to the Ministry for individual recognition decisions; KYSATS handles those cases.
www.moec.gov.cy/en
Cyprus Medical Association (Κυπριακός Ιατρικός Σύλλογος)
Regulated professionCompetent authority for the recognition and registration of medical doctors in Cyprus. EEA-trained doctors benefit from automatic recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC and apply directly to the Cyprus Medical Association. Third-country trained doctors must first obtain a KYSATS recognition decision before applying to the Association for registration to practise.
www.cma.org.cy
ETEK (Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber / Επιστημονικό Τεχνικό Επιμελητήριο Κύπρου)
Regulated professionThe statutory professional chamber covering both engineers and architects in Cyprus, modelled on Greece's TEE. ETEK membership is required before an engineer or architect may practise in Cyprus. EEA-trained architects benefit from automatic recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC; engineers and non-EEA architects go through the general-system route. ETEK assesses qualifications against Cypriot professional standards and may require a compensation measure.
www.etek.org.cy
Cyprus Bar Association (Παγκύπριος Δικηγορικός Σύλλογος)
Regulated professionThe statutory body governing legal practice in Cyprus. Admission to the Cyprus Bar is required to practise as a lawyer. Cyprus follows an English common law tradition inherited from the British colonial period, which makes Cypriot law distinct from civil law EU member states. Non-EEA lawyers do not benefit from automatic recognition and must demonstrate knowledge of Cypriot law. EEA lawyers may rely on Directive 2005/36/EC but still face scrutiny given the common-law / civil-law difference.
www.cyprusbar.org
02
Regulated professions
| Profession | Governing body | Recognition type |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Cyprus Medical Association (Κυπριακός Ιατρικός Σύλλογος) | Automatic (EU Directive) |
| Dentistry | Cyprus Dental Association (Κυπριακή Οδοντιατρική Εταιρεία, ΚΟΕ) | Automatic (EU Directive) |
| Pharmacy | Cyprus Pharmaceutical Association | Automatic (EU Directive) |
| Nursing | Cyprus Nursing and Midwifery Council | Automatic (EU Directive) |
| Architecture | ETEK (Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber / Επιστημονικό Τεχνικό Επιμελητήριο Κύπρου) | Automatic (EU Directive) |
| Engineering | ETEK (Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber / Επιστημονικό Τεχνικό Επιμελητήριο Κύπρου) | General system |
| Law | Cyprus Bar Association (Παγκύπριος Δικηγορικός Σύλλογος) | National only |
03
Recognition process
Gather degree documents and prepare certified translations
Collect your original degree certificate and full academic transcript. Documents not already in Greek or English must be accompanied by a certified translation into one of the two official languages. Cyprus accepts both Greek and English, so you may choose whichever is more convenient. Translations must be made by a certified or sworn translator; apostilles are required for documents issued outside the EU unless a bilateral agreement exempts them.
Apply to KYSATS for a recognition decision
Submit your application to KYSATS with the original degree, official transcript, certified translations, and an apostille or legalisation for the degree-issuing country. KYSATS assesses whether your qualification is equivalent to a Cypriot higher-education degree and issues a formal recognition decision. The processing time is typically 30 to 60 days from the date KYSATS receives a complete application. The recognition decision is required by most regulated professional bodies as a prerequisite before they will consider your registration application.
For EEA-trained practitioners of the seven sectoral professions: apply directly to the professional body
If you trained in an EEA country in one of the seven sectoral professions covered by automatic recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC — doctor, dentist, pharmacist, nurse, veterinary surgeon, midwife, or architect — you may apply directly to the relevant Cypriot professional body without obtaining a KYSATS decision first. Present your qualifying EEA certificate and identification to the professional body, which is then obliged to recognise the qualification without a substantive individual assessment.
Present the KYSATS decision to the relevant professional body
Third-country trained professionals and EEA-trained professionals in non-automatic professions must present the KYSATS recognition decision to the relevant professional body: Cyprus Medical Association for medicine, Cyprus Dental Association for dentistry, Cyprus Pharmaceutical Association for pharmacy, Cyprus Nursing and Midwifery Council for nursing, ETEK for engineering and architecture, or Cyprus Bar Association for law. Each body may require additional documents such as proof of good standing, a clean criminal record, language proficiency evidence, or proof of professional experience.
Complete any required compensation measures and obtain professional registration
If the professional body identifies substantial differences between your foreign qualification and the Cypriot reference qualification, it may require an aptitude test or adaptation period before granting full registration. Once any compensation measure is completed, the professional body issues a registration certificate or membership confirmation. Keep the original — it is required by employers and, for immigration purposes, when evidencing the right to practise a regulated profession in Cyprus.
04
Typical timelines
05
Unregulated qualification route
For professions that are not regulated in Cyprus — such as IT, finance, business management, and most technical roles outside the ETEK scope — formal recognition is not a legal prerequisite before starting work. However, employers and educational institutions regularly ask for a KYSATS recognition decision as evidence that a foreign degree is comparable to a Cypriot qualification. Applicants in unregulated roles who want to strengthen their position with a Cypriot employer should apply to KYSATS for a recognition decision in the same way as applicants in regulated professions, submitting the degree, transcript, certified translation, and apostille. The same 30–60-day processing timeline applies.
06
EU framework notes
Cyprus implements EU Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications through national legislation. The seven professions covered by the automatic recognition track — doctor, dentist, pharmacist, nurse responsible for general care, veterinary surgeon, midwife, and architect — are recognised automatically for EEA-trained practitioners on production of the qualifying certificate, without a substantive individual assessment. All other regulated professions use the general-system route. Third-country nationals do not benefit from automatic recognition and must apply through KYSATS first. A notable Cyprus-specific feature is that the legal system follows English common law, inherited from the British administration period, making Cyprus distinct from the civil law tradition of most other EU member states. Lawyers trained in civil law EU jurisdictions who seek admission to the Cyprus Bar must demonstrate familiarity with Cypriot common law principles.
07
Warnings
Chypre est toujours hors espace Schengen
Ne traitez pas encore un visa ou un titre de séjour chypriote comme un document de voyage Schengen. Les orientations officielles sur les visas indiquent que les titres chypriotes sont actuellement valables uniquement pour Chypre, même si le pays travaille à son adhésion à l'espace Schengen.
La carte bleue est étroite et nouvelle à Chypre
Chypre n'a commencé à accepter les demandes de carte bleue européenne que le 7 juillet 2025 et limite actuellement la voie à des secteurs spécifiques ; les candidats doivent donc revérifier le périmètre ministériel en vigueur avant de s'y fier.
Les voies emploi standard et entreprises d'intérêt étranger ne sont pas interchangeables
Chypre applique des règles distinctes pour la voie du permis unique général, le personnel de soutien dans les entreprises d'intérêt étranger et le personnel hautement rémunéré des entreprises d'intérêt étranger ; la catégorie de l'employeur est donc déterminante dès le départ.
08
Official sources
Chypre – Pays de l'UE
european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/eu-countries/cyprus_en
official · Union européenne · checked 2026-04-23
Visas
www.gov.cy/en/information/visas/
official · Ministère des Affaires étrangères · checked 2026-04-23
Demande d'emploi de ressortissants de pays tiers
www.gov.cy/en/service/application-for-employment-of-third-country-nationals/
official · Département du travail · checked 2026-04-23
Emploi rémunéré (permis unique – GEN)
www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/remunerated-employment-single-permit-gen/
official · Département de l'immigration · checked 2026-04-23
Législation et politique
www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/legislation-and-policy/
official · Département de l'immigration · checked 2026-04-23
Procédure de soumission des demandes d'entrée et de séjour, délai de traitement et durée maximale de séjour
www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/procedure-for-application-submission-for-entry-and-residence-processing-time-and-maximum-duration-of-residence/
official · Département de l'immigration · checked 2026-04-23
Carte bleue européenne
www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/eu-blue-card/
official · Département de l'immigration · checked 2026-04-23
Communiqué de presse du Ministère délégué à la Migration et à la Protection internationale sur la carte bleue européenne
www.gov.cy/en/migration/press-release-by-the-deputy-ministry-of-migration-and-international-protection-on-the-eu-blue-card/
official · Ministère délégué à la Migration et à la Protection internationale · checked 2026-04-23
Chercheurs
www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/researchers/
official · Département de l'immigration · checked 2026-04-23
Transfert intragroupe (ICT)
www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/companies-investors-permanent-residence-3/intra-corporate-transfer/
official · Département de l'immigration · checked 2026-04-23
Visa Startup
www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/companies-investors-permanent-residence-3/startup-visa-2/
official · Département de l'immigration · checked 2026-04-23
Unité de facilitation des affaires (BFU)
www.gov.cy/meci/en/business-facilitation-unit-bfu/
official · Ministère de l'Énergie, du Commerce et de l'Industrie · checked 2026-04-23
Titres de séjour / documents pour les citoyens de l'UE et les ressortissants de pays tiers
www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/residence-permits-documents/
official · Département de l'immigration · checked 2026-04-23
Work permits
Once your qualifications are recognised, check the available work permit routes for Chypre.
See work permit guide for Chypre