What insurance do I need for a Cyprus residence permit, and is GESY enough?
What the Migration Department really asks for: “Plan A”, or GESY together with cover for the repatriation of remains, employer’s liability, the digital nomad visa, students. Who can join GESY, why a travel policy may not be enough, and what applies to pensions and benefits, for residents from Russia, Israel, Lebanon, India and elsewhere.
In short
To renew a residence and work permit, the Migration Department checklist asks for either a “Plan A” certificate or GESY registration together with private cover for the transport of remains. A GESY card on its own is not enough, and what is usually missing is cover for repatriation of remains.
- Find the document checklist for your own permit and read what it says about insurance.
- If you have GESY, check that you also have cover for repatriation of remains, before the renewal appointment.
- A travel policy is made for short trips; check that it covers what the checklist asks, for the whole permit period.
- Ask your employer for a copy of the employer’s liability policy and your Social Insurance record.
From the series “The questions you are afraid to ask”, part “The Cyprus system”: questions real people ask, with honest answers.
At a glance
- To renew a residence and work permit (general employment), the Migration Department checklist asks for either a “Plan A” certificate (primary and secondary care and repatriation of remains) or GESY registration together with private cover for the transport of remains.
- A GESY card on its own does not meet this requirement. What is usually missing is cover for the repatriation of remains.
- Digital nomad visa: “Plan A” for inpatient and outpatient care and transport of the body, and net income of at least €3,500 a month (+20% for a spouse, +15% per child).
- The pension is calculated under the same rules for every nationality and is also paid abroad. There is no agreement with Russia: years are not transferred.
One paper among many, but it decides the renewal
“Will a travel policy do?” “I have GESY, why buy another?” “What does Plan A mean?” In the Russian-speaking, Israeli, Lebanese and Indian communities living in Cyprus, “insurance for the permit” is one of the first questions, and it often gets contradictory answers. Below is what the official documents we read say, and where to ask about what they do not.
What the official documents ask for
| Permit or case | What insurance is asked for |
|---|---|
| Renewal of a residence and work permit, general employment (form MGEN2) | A health insurance certificate for primary and secondary care and repatriation of remains (“Plan A”), or a GESY registration certificate together with private insurance for the transport of remains. Also: an employer’s liability policy that renews automatically, a Social Insurance statement that contributions are paid, and a declaration about repatriation costs. |
| Digital nomad visa | A certificate for inpatient and outpatient care (“Plan A”) and transport of the body. Net income of at least €3,500 a month, +20% for a spouse or partner, +15% per child. Family members may not work for employers or clients based in Cyprus. |
| Students from outside the EU (University of Cyprus) | After arrival, health insurance for inpatient and outpatient care and transport of the body. |
| Students from the EU (University of Cyprus) | A private policy, or GESY together with cover for transport of the body, or a European Health Insurance Card. |
| Visitor permit (pink slip), Category F and other permits | We could not read the current checklist. Ask the Civil Registry and Migration Department in writing before you buy. |
Why repatriation of remains, and why GESY alone is not enough
It is a hard phrase to read on an application. The reason is practical: GESY pays for healthcare, not for transporting a body to another country. That is why the checklist asks for this cover separately, either inside a “Plan A” or as a small separate policy next to GESY. If you work legally and have GESY, for the permit itself you do not necessarily need a full private health plan: you need the repatriation cover.
Who can join GESY
According to the Health Insurance Organisation’s enrolment guide: people who work in Cyprus and are ordinarily resident here, including third-country nationals; permanent residents (MEU3, immigration permit or long-term residence permit); S1 holders; and family members of a beneficiary (spouse, minors, dependent children under 26). Everyone needs a valid ARC and residence permit, and workers’ ARC numbers must be on the Social Insurance record. A law firm reports that Category F permit holders may also apply. A visitor permit without the right to work is not in these categories, and students from outside the EU are not covered (WHO).
“The cheapest one for the paperwork”: what to check if you also want real treatment
- The limits for hospital and outpatient care, and whether there is an amount you pay first.
- The exclusions, especially for conditions you already have.
- The area of cover: Cyprus only, or also your trips home?
- That the policy period covers the whole permit period, and that the wording on repatriation is explicit.
Pensions and benefits: the same rules for everyone
Third-country nationals’ pensions are calculated in the same way as Cypriots’, and are also paid abroad (ISSA). There is no social security agreement with Russia, so Cypriot years are not transferred to a Russian pension; the same applies to Ukraine. For Israel, India, the Philippines and Lebanon we found no agreement, but we did not verify it: ask the Social Insurance Services. Employees have sickness benefit (from the 4th day, up to 156 days) and unemployment benefit (from the 4th day, up to 156 days), with contribution conditions. Self-employed people wait 9 days for sickness benefit and have no unemployment benefit.
Your questions, one by one
What medical insurance do I need for my residence permit — will a tourist policy do?
It may not be enough. A travel policy is built for short trips, while the checklist for renewing a work permit asks for “Plan A”, or GESY together with cover for repatriation of remains. Ask the Migration Department what applies to your own permit before you pay.
What does “Plan A” insurance mean for the Migration Department?
In the work permit renewal checklist it means a health insurance certificate for primary and secondary care and repatriation of remains. For the digital nomad visa, inpatient and outpatient care and transport of the body. We did not find minimum cover amounts in the documents: ask the Department.
I work legally and have GESY. Do I still need private insurance to renew my permit?
For renewing a general employment permit, the checklist accepts the GESY registration certificate together with private cover for the transport of remains. So you need that cover, not necessarily a full health plan. Buy it before your appointment.
Why does my permit insurance have to cover repatriation of remains?
Because GESY pays for healthcare, not for transporting remains to another country. The checklist also asks for a declaration about repatriation costs. It is hard to think about, but it protects your family from a large expense.
I’m on a visitor permit (pink slip) without the right to work. Can I join GESY?
A visitor permit without the right to work is not among the categories of the GESY enrolment guide. You need private cover, with the wording the Migration Department accepts for your permit. If your status changes, ask the Health Insurance Organisation again.
Can I transfer my Cypriot social insurance years to my Russian pension?
No. There is no Cyprus–Russia social security agreement, so contributions are not transferred. Your Cypriot years stay on your Cypriot record, though, and a Cypriot pension is also paid abroad if you meet the conditions.
If I worked 15 years in Cyprus and go back to Russia, will I get a Cypriot pension there?
The Social Insurance pension is also paid abroad (ISSA). Whether you meet the conditions is for the Social Insurance Services to judge from your record, and sources disagree on the minimum years. Ask for your record before you leave, and ask how to apply from abroad.
Is the pension calculated differently for third-country nationals than for Cypriots?
No. The pension is calculated under the same rules, regardless of nationality. What counts is your contributions and years of insurance.
How do I find a Russian-speaking GESY doctor?
The Health Insurance Organisation answers on 17000 from Cyprus or +357 22017000 from abroad. Ask there, or ask the practice directly before you sign the mutual acceptance form with a personal doctor. Ask your community for recommendations too.
Is the cheapest residence-permit policy enough for real treatment, or only for the paperwork?
It may meet the permit requirement with low limits. Look at the limits for hospital and outpatient care, the exclusions and the area of cover. If you are also on GESY, much of your treatment is covered there.
We’re an Israeli family relocating to Limassol. What health cover do we need for our permits?
Requirements are set per type of permit, not per nationality. If one parent works and joins GESY, the spouse and dependent children under 26 can register as family members. For each permit, ask the Migration Department whether “Plan A”, or GESY together with repatriation cover, is needed.
Do my Israeli Bituach Leumi years count in Cyprus?
We found no Cyprus–Israel social security agreement, but we could not confirm it. Ask the Social Insurance Services and Bituach Leumi in writing, and keep the statements from both countries.
We moved from Lebanon. Can my parents, who are visiting long-term, get GESY?
Visitors are not among the categories of the GESY enrolment guide, and the guide names spouses and children as family members, not parents. For their stay they need private cover. Ask the Migration Department which wording it accepts for their permit.
Can a visiting elderly parent with heart disease get insurance for a residence permit?
It may be possible, but the pre-existing condition is often excluded, or there is a loading or an age limit; nobody can promise acceptance. Declare the condition honestly. Ask the Migration Department whether a policy with an exclusion meets the requirement.
I’m on a Category F permit. Can I register with GESY?
A law firm reports that Category F permit holders may apply, and that ordinary residence is not decided by a specific number of days. Confirm in writing with the Health Insurance Organisation, because it decides.
My company relocated me from India. Does GESY cover my wife and children too?
The enrolment guide includes family members of a beneficiary: spouse, minor children and dependent children under 26. Each needs their own ARC and residence permit, and registers individually. Until that is done, do not leave them without cover.
Does India or the Philippines have a social security agreement with Cyprus?
We found no such agreements, but we could not confirm it. Ask the Social Insurance Services. In any case, a Cypriot pension is also paid abroad if you meet the conditions.
Will sanctions or bank rules stop a Cyprus claim being paid to my family in Russia?
We could not confirm this, and we will not guess. Before you sign, ask the insurer and your bank in writing whether and how a payment to a beneficiary there could be made. Name the beneficiaries with full details.
I’m a Russian IT specialist on a work permit. Which state benefits will I actually be entitled to?
As an employee you pay Social Insurance like everyone else, and have the same rights under the same conditions: sickness benefit from the 4th day for up to 156 days, unemployment benefit from the 4th day for up to 156 days, maternity and paternity, and a pension. As a worker you also join GESY. The Social Insurance Services check the conditions for your own case.
Private clinics here are expensive. Is GESY good enough or should I buy a private plan?
GESY covers a lot: doctors, tests, listed medicines, hospital care. The weakness most often named is waiting times, up to 10 months in some specialties in a 2024 survey. A private plan is a complement for speed and choice, not a replacement.
My wife doesn’t work and has a dependant’s permit. Is she on GESY through me?
If you are a GESY beneficiary, the enrolment guide includes your spouse as a family member. She still needs her own registration, with a valid ARC and residence permit. It is not automatic.
We are Belarusian. Are the rules for us the same as for Russians?
The documents we read set the insurance per type of permit, not per nationality, and the pension is calculated under the same rules for everyone. For any social security agreement with Belarus, ask the Social Insurance Services.
If I get permanent residence, what changes for health and benefits?
Permanent residents (MEU3, immigration permit or long-term residence permit) are a GESY category, even if they do not work. Child benefit needs 5 years of legal and continuous residence, along with income and asset limits. Ask what applies to you.
I’m Lebanese and self-employed in Cyprus. What must I pay and what do I get?
A 2026 guide writes that self-employed people pay 16.6% to Social Insurance and 4.00% to GESY, on actual income or on a minimum income by occupation. You have sickness benefit with a 9-day wait, but no unemployment benefit. Confirm the amounts with the Social Insurance Services.
My Lebanese end-of-service savings lost value. How do I build safe retirement savings here?
We are sorry for what you went through. We do not recommend a product; a common order is first a reserve, then protection for the family, then long-term saving. Ask where the money is held, who supervises it, what it costs and what happens if you stop. Suitability is for a licensed advisor to judge (IDD, Article 30).
Questions worth asking in writing
- Migration Department: which insurance do you accept for my own permit, and with what wording?
- Health Insurance Organisation: can I join GESY with my permit? And my family?
- Insurer: does the policy explicitly cover repatriation of remains, for the whole permit period? What exclusions does it have?
- Social Insurance Services: what is my record, and is there an agreement with my country?
What you can do from today
- Find the document checklist for your own permit, and read what it says about insurance.
- If you have GESY, check that you also have cover for repatriation of remains, before your renewal appointment.
- Ask your employer for a copy of the employer’s liability policy and the Social Insurance statement.
- Register the family members who qualify with GESY too, each with their own ARC.
- Keep your contribution statements, from Cyprus and from your home country.
What went wrong for others — and how to avoid it
- A travel policy bought for the visa was presented for the residence permit. It is built for short trips. Before you pay, check that it covers what your permit checklist asks for, for the whole permit period.
- At the renewal appointment there was only the GESY card. The checklist asks for GESY together with cover for transport of remains, or “Plan A”. Arrange the repatriation cover before the appointment.
- Working third-country students saw a GESY deduction from their pay without having access (reported in 2022; officials promised a fix, the current position is not confirmed). If you see a GESY deduction, ask the Health Insurance Organisation in writing whether you can register, and keep your payslips.
- At the end of 2025, only about half of registered employers had employer’s liability insurance, according to figures from the member companies of the Insurance Association. The renewal checklist asks for this policy. Ask your employer for the certificate early, not on the last day.
Every policy has its own terms. What we write here is general information, not advice; for your own case, what your policy says applies, and it is worth confirming it in writing with your insurer.
For pensions, pension transfers, savings and investment plans this text is education, not a recommendation of any product, fund or transfer. Past returns do not guarantee future ones and values can fall. What suits you is for a licensed advisor to judge, assessing suitability (Article 30 of the IDD), and for tax, a tax adviser.
Sources
- Civil Registry and Migration Department — checklist for renewing a residence and employment permit, general employment (MGEN2)
- RSM Cyprus — Civil Registry and Migration Department documents for the digital nomad visa (undated)
- University of Cyprus — Health insurance for international students
- Health Insurance Organisation — GHS enrolment information for non-Cypriots (copy hosted by the German Embassy in Nicosia, undated)
- Andreas Demetriades & Co LLC — GHS registration for third-country nationals and S1 holders (updated 20 October 2025)
- WHO European Observatory — Health Systems and Policy Monitor: Cyprus (statutory financing, 2025)
- European Commission — Your social security rights in Cyprus (compiled July 2026, in Greek)
- ISSA — Country profile: Cyprus (social security programmes, as of 1 July 2023)
- Vestnik Kipra, 15 February 2019 — Pension payments: answers to readers’ questions (in Russian)
- Ukrainian National Bar Association, 11 November 2024 — Pensions for Ukrainians working in Cyprus (in Ukrainian)
- a-kasser.dk — Unemployment insurance in Europe: Cyprus (updated 2024)
- INDEX.cy, 19 August 2026 — Social insurance in Cyprus: a guide (secondary source)
- Politis (English edition), 11 June 2026 — Healthcare in Cyprus: what expats need to know
- Cyprus Mail, 23 December 2024 — Waiting times for specialist doctors grow
- Politis (English edition), 27 February 2026 — Employer liability under scrutiny as insurance coverage lags registrations
- CyLaw — Law 38(I)/2016, Article 227 (information before a life contract; language)
Read also: Studying or working abroad: what about my insurance? · Expat or moving abroad: what about my policy? · Guide for expats in Cyprus · GESY or private health insurance? · Can I be insured, with my age and health? · Who gets the money? · British residents and retirees in Cyprus · Domestic and migrant workers: rights and cover · All the questions you are afraid to ask
If you would like a second look, book an appointment with an advisor and bring your policy and your questions. You will go through them together, with no obligation.
