I’m from Ukraine, under temporary protection: where do I see a doctor, what help is there, and what happens to my pension?
Public hospitals, not GESY; free access and medicines from hospital pharmacies; protection extended to 4 March 2027; the one-off support and help with childcare; Social Insurance when you work; and why Cypriot years do not count towards a Ukrainian pension.
In short
Under temporary protection you use the public system, the state hospitals, with free access and medicines from hospital pharmacies, not GESY doctors. Years of work in Cyprus do not count towards a Ukrainian pension, but they are not lost: they stay on your Cyprus record.
- Keep the protection Notification and IDs for the whole family, on paper and on your phone.
- Note the date the protection ends and follow the UNHCR page.
- If you work, keep your payslips and ask the Social Insurance Services for your contribution record.
- Do not sign or pay for anything you have not understood, however much you are pressed.
From the series “The questions you are afraid to ask”, part “The Cyprus system”: questions real people ask, with honest answers.
At a glance
- Under temporary protection you use the public system: state hospitals and state medical services, with free access and medicines from hospital pharmacies. Not GESY doctors or private providers. You show your protection Notification.
- Protection has been extended automatically until 4 March 2027, with no new application.
- One-off support: €340 for the main applicant, €170 for each dependant over 14, €100 under 14. And €102 a month for childcare if the parent works.
- There is no Cyprus–Ukraine social security agreement: work in Cyprus counts only towards a Cypriot pension, under Cypriot rules.
You came because of the war, and every form adds to the weight
Many families from Ukraine tell us they do not know where to go when a child falls ill, why a GESY doctor will not see them, or whether their years of work here will be lost. These questions deserve clear answers. We have gathered what the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the European asylum database (AIDA) confirm, and we say clearly what is still open.
Health: the public system, not GESY
According to AIDA (2025 update, published March 2026), temporary protection holders do not use GESY. They use the public system, that is, state hospitals and state medical services, as asylum seekers do. Private doctors and private GESY providers are not included. You show your protection Notification. UNHCR writes that access to public hospitals is free, and that medicines are given from hospital pharmacies.
An open question: whether a temporary protection holder who works and pays contributions can register with GESY. AIDA says no, and we found no confirmation from the Health Insurance Organisation. Ask it in writing. If you ever move to another permit, for example a work permit, ask again: working third-country nationals who are ordinarily resident here are a GESY category.
Work and financial support
- Work: equal access to the labour market (UNHCR).
- One-off support: €340 for a single person or the main applicant, €170 for each dependant over 14, €100 for each dependant under 14 (UNHCR).
- Childcare: €102 a month for children up to 4 years and 8 months, if the parent works (UNHCR).
- Rent: there is a rent subsidy for people moving out of hotel accommodation (UNHCR).
From February 2022 to the end of 2025, 28,550 people registered and 25,467 temporary protection permits were issued (AIDA). You are not alone in this.
When you work: Social Insurance
The contributions you pay while working build your own Social Insurance record. Benefits such as sickness benefit depend on that record: for sickness benefit, for example, you need at least 26 weeks of insurance and certain contributions (ISSA). For child benefit, the rule is 5 years of legal and continuous residence before applying (European Commission, 2026), so most temporary protection holders do not meet it yet. For your own case, ask the Social Insurance Services.
Your pension: what counts, and where
There is no social security agreement between Cyprus and Ukraine (Ukrainian National Bar Association, 2024). This means your years of work in Cyprus do not count towards a Ukrainian pension. They are not lost, though: they stay on your Cypriot record. A Cypriot pension is also paid abroad if you meet the conditions (ISSA). And someone who does not reach a pension but has at least 6 years of contributions can receive at 68 a lump sum equal to 15% of their contributions, unless they are entitled to a social pension (ISSA).
Private insurance: no pressure
For care in the public system you do not need private insurance. If you consider health or life insurance, each insurer decides whether it accepts temporary protection holders; ask, compare, and do not sign anything you have not understood. For life insurance you can ask for the documents in another language; the insurer may agree, it is not obliged to (Article 227 of Law 38(I)/2016). Never pay money upfront to someone you do not know.
Your questions, one by one
I’m under temporary protection. Can I register with GESY or only use state hospitals?
According to AIDA, temporary protection holders use the public system: state hospitals and state medical services, not GESY. UNHCR writes that access to public hospitals is free.
I work and pay social insurance under temporary protection. Why can’t I see a GESY doctor?
We understand it feels unfair. AIDA writes that temporary protection holders stay in the public system, but we found no confirmation from the Health Insurance Organisation for those who work. Ask it in writing. Your Social Insurance contributions still count for your own benefits and pension.
Until when is temporary protection valid in Cyprus?
It has been extended automatically for one year, until 4 March 2027 (UNHCR, AIDA). Follow the UNHCR page for any news.
Will my years of work in Cyprus count towards my Ukrainian pension?
No, because there is no Cyprus–Ukraine social security agreement. The years stay on your Cypriot record and count only towards a Cypriot pension, under Cypriot rules.
If I stay and work in Cyprus long enough, can I get a Cypriot pension?
Yes, if you meet the conditions, which are the same for every nationality. Sources disagree on the minimum years, so we do not quote a number. Ask the Social Insurance Services for your insurance record every year.
What financial help can a Ukrainian family get on arrival?
According to UNHCR: a one-off €340 for the main applicant, €170 for each dependant over 14 and €100 under 14. There is also a rent subsidy when you move out of hotel accommodation, and €102 a month for childcare if you work.
Should I buy private health insurance while under temporary protection?
You do not need it to get care in the public system. Some people consider it for speed or choice of doctor. If you do, ask whether the insurer accepts your permit, what it excludes, and whether it gives you this in writing in a language you understand.
Are medicines free for temporary protection holders?
UNHCR writes that access to public hospitals is free and that medicines are given from hospital pharmacies. For a specific medicine, ask at the hospital pharmacy.
Can I get childcare support as a working Ukrainian parent?
Yes, according to UNHCR: €102 a month for children up to 4 years and 8 months, if the parent works. UNHCR’s help page for Cyprus lists this support; ask there how to apply.
Can I buy life insurance in Cyprus on a temporary protection permit?
Each insurer decides for itself whether it accepts temporary protection holders, and it may ask about the length of your stay. Ask in writing before you give details or money. You can ask for the documents in another language; the insurer is not obliged to agree.
Do I need to reapply to extend my temporary protection?
No. According to UNHCR and AIDA, protection has been extended automatically until 4 March 2027, with no new application.
If I switch from temporary protection to a work permit, does my GESY access change?
Working third-country nationals ordinarily resident here are a GESY category. Before you switch, ask the Health Insurance Organisation when cover starts, and the Migration Department what insurance the new permit asks for. For renewing a general employment permit, the checklist asks for “Plan A”, or GESY together with cover for repatriation of remains.
Can Ukrainians under temporary protection get child benefit?
The rule for child benefit is 5 years of legal and continuous residence before applying, along with income and asset limits. Most people do not meet it yet. Ask the competent services about your own family.
Which documents do I show at a state hospital as a temporary protection holder?
Your protection Notification (AIDA) and an identity document. Keep a photo of them on your phone and a copy for each family member.
If I go back to Ukraine, what happens to the contributions I paid in Cyprus?
They are not transferred, because there is no agreement, but they stay on your Cypriot record. At pension age you may be entitled to a Cypriot pension, which is also paid abroad, or, with at least 6 years of contributions, a lump sum at 68. Before you leave, ask for and keep your contribution statement.
Am I entitled to sickness benefit if I work under temporary protection?
Sickness benefit depends on your insurance record: you need at least 26 weeks of insurance and certain contributions, and it is paid from the 4th day for employees (ISSA). Ask the Social Insurance Services whether you meet the conditions, and keep the medical certificate.
What you can do from today
- Keep the protection Notification and identity documents for the whole family, on paper and on your phone.
- Note the date 4 March 2027 and follow the UNHCR page.
- If you work, keep your payslips and ask the Social Insurance Services for your contribution statement.
- Ask the Health Insurance Organisation in writing about GESY, and keep the answer.
- Do not sign or pay for anything you have not understood, however much you are pressed.
General information, not advice (legal, medical or insurance). For your own case, the law, the terms of your permit and of your policy, and what the competent services confirm to you in writing apply: the Health Insurance Organisation, the Social Insurance Services, the Civil Registry and Migration Department. AVRASTRO is not an insurer and not a government service.
Sources
- AIDA (ECRE) — Temporary protection: Cyprus, 2025 update (published March 2026)
- UNHCR Help Cyprus — Temporary protection for people fleeing Ukraine (updated about 1 April 2026)
- Ukrainian National Bar Association, 11 November 2024 — Pensions for Ukrainians working in Cyprus (in Ukrainian)
- ISSA — Country profile: Cyprus (social security programmes, as of 1 July 2023)
- European Commission — Your social security rights in Cyprus (compiled July 2026, in Greek)
- Health Insurance Organisation — GHS enrolment information for non-Cypriots (copy hosted by the German Embassy in Nicosia, undated)
- Civil Registry and Migration Department — checklist for renewing a residence and employment permit, general employment (MGEN2)
- CyLaw — Law 38(I)/2016, Article 227 (information before a life contract; language)
Read also: Expat or moving abroad: what about my policy? · Studying or working abroad: what about my insurance? · GESY or private health insurance? · Residence-permit insurance: is GESY enough? · Domestic and migrant workers: rights and cover · Is it a scam? How do I check who I’m dealing with? · Guide for expats in Cyprus · All the questions you are afraid to ask
