Recognising qualifications in Chipre

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.