Cyprus (CY)
Cyprus is a Mediterranean island nation and EU member state situated at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa.
Qualification Recognition
Getting your foreign credentials recognised in Cyprus.
Cyprus implements the EU Directive on the recognition of professional qualifications (2005/36/EC). EU citizens with professional qualifications obtained in another EU state generally have streamlined recognition rights. Non-EU qualifications require a more extensive assessment. Academic qualifications are assessed by KYSATS — the Cyprus Council for the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications (Κυπριακό Συμβούλιο Αναγνώρισης Τίτλων Σπουδών — kysats.ac.cy), which is also Cyprus's ENIC/NARIC centre. Regulated professions require approval from the relevant sectoral authority.
Regulated Professions
Process: Apply to the relevant professional body or competent authority. Submit original qualifications, apostille, certified Greek translation, proof of professional experience, and good standing certificate from previous professional body. EU qualifications: assessed under EU Directive 2005/36/EC. Non-EU: assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Authority: Depends on profession: Cyprus Medical Association, ETEK, Cyprus Bar Association, ICPAC. Competent authority for EU directive cases: the relevant sectoral regulator.
Timeline: 2–6 months for most professions. Medical and legal: 3–12 months.
Cost: €200–800 application fee depending on profession. Translation and apostille costs additional: €100–400.
Academic Degrees
Authority: KYSATS — Cyprus Council for the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications (kysats.ac.cy) — Cyprus's official ENIC/NARIC centre.
Process: Submit your degree certificate with apostille, official transcript, and certified Greek translation to KYSATS. KYSATS assesses equivalency and issues a recognition decision. Online application available at kysats.ac.cy.
Equivalency service: KYSATS recognition service (kysats.ac.cy) — the official national ENIC/NARIC centre for Cyprus. Member of NARIC, ENIC, and MERIC networks. Online applications available through the KYSATS portal.
Document Rules
Apostille: Required for all foreign documents used in official procedures in Cyprus. The Apostille must be issued by the competent authority of the country where the document was issued (under the Hague Convention). Cyprus accepts Apostilles from all 124 Hague Convention member states.
Legalisation: For documents from non-Hague Convention countries (fewer now, but some remain), full legalisation through the Cyprus embassy or via the chain of legalisation is required.
Sworn translation: Documents must be translated into Greek by a certified/sworn translator. The Cyprus Translation Bureau (Ministry of Justice) maintains a list of approved translators. Translation from English to Greek is widely available in Cyprus; English documents for some purposes can be submitted in English without translation in practice for initial assessment.
Counselling & Help
- - KYSATS (kysats.ac.cy) — academic qualification enquiries
- - ETEK (etek.org.cy) — engineering and technical profession enquiries
- - ICPAC (icpac.org.cy) — accounting qualification guidance
- - Cyprus Bar Association (cybar.org.cy) — legal profession
- - EURES Cyprus — employment and qualification mobility guidance for EU citizens
- - District Labour Offices — initial guidance on qualification recognition for employment
Typical Timelines
Academic degree recognition (KYSATS): 3–6 months. Regulated profession recognition (EU): 3–6 months. Regulated profession recognition (non-EU): 6–18 months. Fast-track processes available for some shortage professions (nursing, medicine, engineering).
English-language qualifications from UK, Australian, American, or Irish universities are generally well-regarded in Cyprus and often accepted with fewer barriers than non-English qualifications. ETEK registration is very important for engineers and architects — required before practising professionally. The Cyprus Lawyers' Law (2007) regulates foreign lawyers' right to practise under their home title.
Qualification Recognition
Unlock the complete Qualification Recognition guide for Cyprus — including every detail, document, tip and link you need.
Become a SupporterSupport the guide on Ko-fi · Unlocks every premium section, everywhere