Immigration health insurance in Cyprus. Affordable immigration insurance in 2025.
December 20, 2023
Ian Westwood
December 20, 2023
Ian Westwood
It is obligatory to acquire immigration insurance if you plan on moving to Cyprus.
By the end of this analytical guide to immigration insurance in Cyprus, you will know what residency and work regimes are needed to immigrate to the country and which immigration insurance to choose.
We will also discuss how immigration insurance in Cyprus works, the main types of coverage available, and help you find the most affordable contract.
Table of contents
Immigration health insurance is an insurance product related to healthcare that all non-EU residents must acquire if they apply for temporary or permanent residency in Cyprus.
In addition, most EU citizens must acquire immigration health insurance if they wish to permanently live or work in Cyprus.
When applying for a residency visa and going through the application process, the insurance certificate must be presented to the Cypriot immigration authorities.
Immigration health insurance is suited for applicants of the following regimes:
NB: European citizens are considered EU and EFTA citizens, otherwise known as the European Economic Area (EEA).
What does immigration health insurance cover?
To summarise, immigration health insurance covers inpatient, outpatient, and body repatriation expenses.
The terms of immigration health insurance between all insurers in Cyprus are identical since a policy must abide by the rules set by Cypriot law.
Immigration health insurance is an inexpensive product and not intended as comprehensive health insurance.
The Republic of Cyprus wants to ensure that foreign citizens won’t become an economic burden and will be able to financially provide for themselves while living in the country.
Immigration health insurance enables the coverage of any health bills.
What constitutes immigration health insurance?
As noted, immigration health insurance covers both inpatient and outpatient expenses.
Here we will go into detail about both.
Inpatient expenses
The requirement of hospitalisation in a private clinic for a minimum of one night (i.e. for an operation) will require “inpatient expenses”.
In other words, inpatient expenses are required for the overnight stay in a hospital.
All additional expenses involved with staying in the clinic are also covered.
For example, as the insured, pre-op diagnostic exams (i.e. x-rays) and post-op exams (i.e. physiotherapy) expenses will be covered.
Inpatient expenses: examples
Outpatient expenses
Outpatient expenses include any healthcare costs related to treatment and healthcare that occurs outside of hospital admission and overnight stays.
In short, outpatient expenses involve all health care costs unrelated to hospitalisation. These expenses usually occur if you visit a doctor’s clinic to receive treatments.
Outpatient expenses: examples
Body repatriation
Body repatriation coverage is intended for expenses related to the transfer of a deceased person back to their native country or where they hold citizenship.
Health immigration insurance covers the expenses of transporting the insured’s body back to their country in the event they pass away.
Limits of Liability
The limits of liability of immigration health insurance are presented below.
| Cover Provided | Maximum Amount Per Benefit |
| HOSPITALISATION EXPENSES | |
| Maximum amount of coverage per illness or accident in case of hospitalisation (i.e. inpatient expenses) | €8,544 (per insured) |
| Maximum coverage amount per year | €13,669 (per insured) |
| Daily Hospitalisation (Regular room and food) | €69 (daily) |
| Daily Hospitalisation (Room and food) in the Intensive Care Unit | €171 (daily) |
| OUTPATIENT EXPENSES | |
| Maximum coverage amount per illness or accident in case of outpatient expenses | €684 (per insured) |
| Maximum amount for the period of insurance | €1,709 |
| Maximum amount per visit | €18 |
| CHILDBIRTH BENEFIT EXPENSES | €513 |
| BODY REPATRIATION EXPENSES | €3,418 |
NB: immigration insurance enables an insured individual to visit any clinic in Cyprus.
What does immigration insurance not cover?
Anyone is eligible for immigration insurance, regardless of their age or medical history.
However, it does not cover pre-existing conditions (i.e. chronic illness) and past medical events.
Also, standard contract exclusions apply for most health insurance policies, such as obesity, AIDs, dentists, cosmetic and plastic surgery, and ophthalmologists.
As previously noted, immigration insurance is not a comprehensive health insurance policy.
The limits of liabilities in standard immigration insurance are low and include many exclusions.
How do immigration insurance claims work?
As a client, you must pay for either inpatient (hospitalisation) or outpatient (non-hospitalisation) expenses directly to the clinic.
After this time, you must collect all the relevant documentation (payments, exams, invoices, receipts, etc.) and provide all as evidence to the insurance company.
The insurance provider will exclusively accept original documents.
In addition, you must complete a numbered claim form – the first part of which should be completed by you and the other half by the doctor.
Compensation is usually paid within 20 working days.
The claim compensation will be transferred exclusively to the insured’s bank account and not to anyone else, i.e. spouse or family member.
All temporary residence permit or “pink slip” applicants must acquire immigration insurance.
This official document allows non-EU citizens to apply for the legal right to live in Cyprus for over three months.
Before these citizens apply for a pink slip, they must acquire an entry visa that corresponds to their purpose of travel.
The various types of entry visas include visitor; student; employment; and immigrant visas.
See our article for further information about this immigration process and how you can apply for an entry visa to Cyprus.
Most people applying for a Cyprus “yellow slip” must also acquire immigration health insurance.
This official document allows EU nationals to apply for the right to reside and work legally in Cyprus. This certificate is printed on yellow paper, hence its name.
All EU citizens who want to extend their stay in Cyprus for specific reasons (i.e. working, searching for property, etc.) can apply for this slip.
See our article for more information regarding this certificate and how you can apply for a yellow slip in Cyprus.
All non-EU citizens who want to acquire a work permit to legally work in Cyprus must buy immigration health insurance.
Before the applicants acquire a work permit, they must acquire a work visa.
All applicants of a work permit in Cyprus must obtain annual health insurance.
See our article about work permits in Cyprus to find out more about the application process and how you can obtain a working visa.
Here are frequently asked questions about immigration insurance.
Do I need immigration health insurance if I work in Cyprus?
It’s best to check with your legal advisor. You might only be required to buy immigration insurance covering repatriation expenses.
Pitsas Insurances provide all immigration health insurance options at the lowest price.
What documents do I need for immigration insurance?
The whole application process can easily be completed online and won’t take long.
All you need to provide is a copy of your passport (and your family member’s passports if you want to insure them) and a recent utility bill stating your address in Cyprus.
Your medical records are not required.
When should my insurance coverage begin, and how long will it last?
Aim for your insurance coverage to start the same day you have an appointment with the immigration services.
Typically, immigration health insurance lasts for one year.
Do immigration authorities in Cyprus accept international health insurance?
The government in Cyprus only accepts one form of immigration health insurance contract, which is identical for all insurance providers in Cyprus.
The insurance companies only have the right to choose their selling price.
After I acquire permanent residency, should I renew my immigration health insurance?
If you are not registered in the general health system of Cyprus (GESY), you must renew your immigration health insurance in Cyprus.
Even if you do register with the GESY, you must acquire body repatriation coverage.
Investors who permanently reside in Cyprus through the investment residency regime will be checked annually.
The Cypriot government needs to check the investors are abiding by the economic criteria to retain the right to permanent residency, such as possessing valid immigration health insurance.
Can I purchase a more comprehensive health policy when my health insurance for immigration expires?
Foreign nationals must renew their insurance policy while they remain in Cyprus and are not registered in the general health system.
The renewal process is not required if they acquire Cypriot citizenship.
However, this inexpensive insurance option allows for the acquisition of another comprehensive health insurance. Most people can afford both insurances.
To receive a quote for comprehensive health insurance, complete our questionnaire.
At Pitsas Insurances, all our immigration health insurance clients receive a discount for every insurance policy they acquire with us.
Should I acquire immigration insurance if I employ a housemaid?
If you employ a housemaid in Cyprus, you should obtain both immigration and employers liability insurance.
Pitsas Insurances provide specialised and discounted plans, including both immigration and employers liability insurance.
How much is health insurance for immigration in Cyprus?
How much your immigration health insurance will cost depends on the following factors:
Unlike most standard insurance policies, your medical history will not affect the premium.
Minimum cost of health insurance for immigration
In Cyprus, the minimum cost of immigration insurance is €120.
The average cost for immigration insurance is €165.
The cost of insurance will be higher than average premium rates for the following:
As mentioned, the terms of immigration insurance in Cyprus are identical for all insurance companies.
Pitsas Insurances provides immigration health insurance at the lowest premium rates in Cyprus.
Our existing clients are also rewarded with multiple offers and discounts.
Due to our low prices, discounts, and the range of underwriters we work with, we are a highly-rated insurance provider.
Pitsas Insurances can find you the best immigration health insurance in Cyprus.
Communicate with us for a hassle-free online quotation.
You can have an offer from Pitsas Insurances within 5 minutes and will receive your policy in 15 minutes.
Whatsmore, the whole process can be started and completed online. You don’t need to show up to our office to get insured.
Your insurance policy will be sent to you via email.
Pitsas Insurances prides itself on finding the most affordable and best quality contracts in Cyprus, including the best immigration health insurance.
Our premiums start from only €120 if you are looking for cheap immigration health insurance in Cyprus. We also provide special plans for families and companies.
Affordable health insurance for immigration (in Cyprus)
We provide all of our immigration health insurance clients with a 10% discount on car insurance and 15% on home insurance.
Pitsas Insurances is the largest expatriate insurance company in Cyprus and the largest provider of group health insurance for international companies.
In addition, we have special packages for international companies.
Health insurance for immigration (in Cyprus)
Visit our website to read more about our immigration packages and how we can help you.
Communicate with us today to receive a personalised quote for you, your family, or your employees.
Pitsas Insurances Team