Qualification recognition

Recognising qualifications in Кіпр

Cyprus routes all higher-education qualification recognition through KYSATS (Cyprus Council for the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications / Κυπριακό Συμβούλιο Αναγνώρισης Τίτλων Σπουδών), which is Cyprus's NARIC body and the single entry point for academic degree assessment. For regulated professions, applicants present the KYSATS decision to the relevant professional body: the Cyprus Medical Association for medicine, the Cyprus Dental Association for dentistry, the Cyprus Pharmaceutical Association for pharmacy, the Cyprus Nursing and Midwifery Council for nursing, ETEK (Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber) for engineering and architecture, and the Cyprus Bar Association for law. EEA-trained practitioners of the seven sectoral professions under Directive 2005/36/EC may apply directly to the relevant professional body without passing through KYSATS first. Both Greek and English are official languages; documents may be submitted in either language.

01

Recognition bodies

KYSATS (Cyprus Council for the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications / ΚΥ.Σ.Α.Τ.Σ.)

Academic

Cyprus'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

Academic

The 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 profession

Competent 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 profession

The 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 profession

The 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

03

Recognition process

1

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.

2

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.

3

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.

4

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.

5

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

KYSATS recognition decision (complete application) 30–60 days
Professional body registration after KYSATS decision 4–8 weeks

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

Warning

Кіпр досі перебуває поза Шенгеном

Не вважайте кіпрську візу або посвідку на проживання шенгенським документом для подорожей. Офіційне керівництво щодо віз зазначає, що кіпрські дозволи наразі дійсні лише для Кіпру, незважаючи на те, що країна працює над вступом до Шенгену.

Warning

Блакитна картка ЄС є вузькою та новою на Кіпрі

Кіпр лише почав приймати заявки на Блакитну картку ЄС 7 липня 2025 року і наразі обмежує маршрут конкретними секторами, тому заявники мають повторно перевірити поточну міністерську сферу застосування перед тим, як покладатися на неї.

Warning

Стандартна зайнятість та маршрути компаній іноземних інтересів не є взаємозамінними

Кіпр використовує окремі правила для загального маршруту єдиного дозволу, допоміжного персоналу в компаніях іноземних інтересів та висококваліфікованого персоналу в компаніях іноземних інтересів, тому категорія роботодавця має значення з самого початку.

08

Official sources

1

Cyprus - EU country

european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/eu-countries/cyprus_en

official · European Union · checked 2026-04-23

2

Visas

www.gov.cy/en/information/visas/

official · Ministry of Foreign Affairs · checked 2026-04-23

3

Application for Employment of Third Country Nationals

www.gov.cy/en/service/application-for-employment-of-third-country-nationals/

official · Department of Labour · checked 2026-04-23

4

Remunerated employment (single permit - GEN)

www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/remunerated-employment-single-permit-gen/

official · Migration Department · checked 2026-04-23

5

Legislation and policy

www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/legislation-and-policy/

official · Migration Department · checked 2026-04-23

6

Procedure for application submission for entry and residence, processing time and maximum duration of residence

www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/procedure-for-application-submission-for-entry-and-residence-processing-time-and-maximum-duration-of-residence/

official · Migration Department · checked 2026-04-23

7

EU Blue Card

www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/eu-blue-card/

official · Migration Department · checked 2026-04-23

8

Press Release by the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection on the EU Blue Card

www.gov.cy/en/migration/press-release-by-the-deputy-ministry-of-migration-and-international-protection-on-the-eu-blue-card/

official · Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection · checked 2026-04-23

9

Researchers

www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/researchers/

official · Migration Department · checked 2026-04-23

10

Intra-corporate Transfer

www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/companies-investors-permanent-residence-3/intra-corporate-transfer/

official · Migration Department · checked 2026-04-23

11

Startup Visa

www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/companies-investors-permanent-residence-3/startup-visa-2/

official · Migration Department · checked 2026-04-23

12

Business Facilitation Unit (BFU)

www.gov.cy/meci/en/business-facilitation-unit-bfu/

official · Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry · checked 2026-04-23

13

Residence permits/documents for EU citizens and third-country nationals

www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/residence-permits-documents/

official · Migration Department · checked 2026-04-23

Work permits

Once your qualifications are recognised, check the available work permit routes for Кіпр.

See work permit guide for Кіпр