Gesy healthcare in Cyprus and how new residents can join

Healthcare is one of the first practical questions for anyone relocating to Cyprus. Since 2019 the island has operated a universal system, the General Healthcare System, known by its Greek acronym Gesy, administered by the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO). It gives eligible residents access to personal doctors, specialists, hospitals, laboratory tests and medicines for modest co-payments. Whether a newcomer can join depends on their residence status and activity, so it is worth understanding the rules before arrival. The figures below are as published by the HIO as of October 2026.

It forms part of our series on settling in Cyprus, alongside our article on Cyprus permanent residency by investment and our guide to non-dom status after the 2026 tax reform.

How Gesy is financed

According to the HIO, the main source of Gesy funding is contributions. Since full implementation in March 2020, the rates are:

• employees, 2.65% of salary;
• employers, 2.90% of the salaries they pay;
• the self-employed, 4.00% of their remuneration;
• pensioners, 2.65% of their pension;
• income earners, 2.65% on income such as rent, interest and dividends;
• the state, 4.70% on salaries, self-employed remuneration and pensions.

The maximum annual amount on which an individual pays contributions is €180,000. A person who is not tax resident in Cyprus pays contributions only on income, earnings and pensions arising in Cyprus, excluding dividends and interest.

Who qualifies as a beneficiary

Beneficiaries must first reside in the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. For citizens of non-EU countries, the HIO lists the following routes to eligibility:

• being employed in Cyprus;
• having acquired permanent residence status;
• having been granted refugee or supplementary protection status;
• being a family member of a beneficiary;
• being insured in another EU member state.

EU citizens resident in Cyprus qualify on broadly similar grounds. Eligibility is assessed individually, and holders of specific residence permits should confirm their position with the HIO before relying on public cover. Our Cyprus residency page explains the main residence routes.

Employers registering staff, and the contributions that fund the system, are covered in our guide to registering as an employer.

Registering and using the system

The personal doctor

Once eligible, a person registers in the beneficiary registry and then chooses a personal doctor from the list of contracted providers. Adults register with a general practitioner and children with a paediatrician. The personal doctor provides primary care and issues referrals to specialists, laboratories and other services.

Co-payments

When receiving services, beneficiaries pay small co-payments directly to providers. The HIO’s published amounts include €1 per pharmaceutical product, medical device or laboratory test, €6 per visit to a nurse or midwife, and €10 per visit to an allied health professional, for radiology services or for accident and emergency care. No co-payment applies to inpatient care.

Annual co-payments are capped at €75 for recipients of the guaranteed minimum income, low-income pensioners and children up to 21, and at €150 for everyone else.

Visiting a specialist without a referral

A beneficiary who visits an outpatient specialist without a referral pays a personal contribution of €25. Women aged 15 and over may see a gynaecologist without a referral at no charge. Choosing a more expensive medicine than the one covered also means paying the price difference.

For families still planning the move, our Cyprus residency page sets out the permit routes that lead to a residence card.

The role of private insurance

Many international residents keep private health insurance alongside Gesy, or rely on it until they qualify. Private policies can cover services outside the system, provide access to a wider choice of providers, and meet the insurance requirements of some residence permit applications. Policies should be reviewed for exclusions, waiting periods and cover for existing conditions.

Practical tips for newcomers

• Keep copies of residence permits, employment contracts and social insurance registration, which are needed to establish eligibility.
• Register each family member separately and choose a paediatrician for children.
• Keep receipts for co-payments, which help track progress towards the annual cap.
• Ask whether a chosen specialist or hospital is contracted with Gesy before booking.

The tax side of a move is explained in our guide to the 183-day and 60-day rules.

If you would like to talk through how these rules might apply to your own circumstances, our team would be glad to help. You can call +357 979 42 388 or write to us through our contact page.

Sources

• Health Insurance Organisation, How is the GHS financed, as of October 2026.
• Health Insurance Organisation, Beneficiaries eligibility FAQ, as of October 2026.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax or investment advice. Figures are stated as of 2026 and may change; confirm current requirements with the relevant authority and an independent adviser before acting. AT Express is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government or official programme.

Featured image: “2023 Stetoskop” by Jacek Halicki, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.