What is GESY?
GESY (Γενικό Σύστημα Υγείας, General Healthcare System) is the national healthcare system of the Republic of Cyprus. It launched in two phases in 2019–2020 and now covers virtually every legal resident — Cypriot, EU, or non-EU — with primary care, specialist visits, hospital treatment and prescription medication.
If you work in Cyprus on a payroll contract, you are almost certainly already paying into GESY through payroll deductions. This guide explains what those deductions buy you, how to register, what is and is not covered, and what foreign hospitality workers in particular should know.
Last reviewed: May 2026. Contribution rates and coverage rules are set annually by the Ministry of Finance — confirm the current rate on the GESY official site before relying on the figures below.
Contribution rates (2026)
GESY is funded by mandatory contributions from employees, employers, the self-employed, pensioners and the state. The rates are calculated on gross income and split as follows:
| Contributor | Rate (% of gross income) |
|---|---|
| Employee | 2.65% |
| Employer | 2.90% |
| Self-employed | 4.00% |
| Pensioners | 2.65% |
| Income from rents, interest, dividends | 2.65% |
| State | 4.70% |
For a hospitality worker earning €1,200/month gross, the GESY deduction is €31.80/month — the employer contributes another €34.80, and the state tops the pool up further.
There is an annual cap of €180,000 of income on which GESY contributions are calculated. Earnings above that are exempt.
Who is covered?
GESY beneficiaries are:
- All Cypriot citizens and EU/EEA/Swiss residents.
- Non-EU workers holding a valid temporary or long-term residence permit (a pink slip).
- Refugees, asylum seekers granted international protection.
- Dependants (spouse and children under 18, or 23 if in full-time education) of beneficiaries.
You are not covered by GESY if:
- You are a tourist or short-term visitor (under 90 days).
- You are in Cyprus without legal status.
- You are an EU citizen registered as a worker in another EU country (you should use an EHIC/GHIC for emergencies and check whether you should switch registration).
How to register
If you arrived recently and your employer has put you on payroll, GESY contributions are already being deducted. To actually use the service, you need to:
- Create an account on the GESY beneficiary portal.
- Choose a Personal Doctor (GP) from the list of registered GPs. You can switch GPs once every 6 months without justification.
- (Optional) Choose a Personal Doctor for your children if you have dependants.
The portal supports English. You will need your tax identification number (TIN, the same one you registered when you got your social insurance number) and your residence permit number.
What is covered?
Under GESY, you can access:
- Visits to your registered GP — unlimited, free at the point of use.
- Specialist visits — by GP referral; small co-payment (€6 first visit, €1 subsequent).
- Laboratory tests and imaging — by referral; co-payment up to €10 per test, capped per visit.
- Prescription medication — €1 per item, capped at €150/year for working-age adults and €75/year for vulnerable groups.
- Inpatient hospital treatment — free at GESY-contracted hospitals.
- Allied health services — physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy.
- Dental — basic dental care for children under 18 only.
- Mental health services — covered via referral.
What is NOT covered?
- Aesthetic / cosmetic procedures.
- Adult dental work (cleanings, fillings, crowns) — pay privately.
- Optician services and glasses — pay privately.
- Most fertility treatments.
- Treatment received outside Cyprus (some exceptions for planned cross-border care via S2 forms).
- Private hospital rooms (only ward beds covered).
Many hospitality workers also take out a small private top-up policy (typically €15–€40/month) to cover dental, optical and faster access to specialists. Some hotel groups include private cover in the employment package — worth checking before you sign.
What about foreign hospitality workers?
If you are a non-EU hotel or hospitality worker, your GESY entitlement starts the moment you:
- Have a valid residence permit (pink slip).
- Are registered with the Cyprus Tax Department (your employer does this when you start payroll).
- Have a Cyprus social insurance number.
In practice this means GESY coverage usually begins on day one of your contract, even before the residence permit is physically issued, because payroll contributions start from the first payday. You may see GESY deductions on your payslip before your permit card arrives — this is normal, and your coverage is valid retroactively.
If you arrived in Cyprus from outside the EU and need urgent medical care before registering for GESY, hotel staff clinics or private GPs accept cash (typical visit: €40–€70) — keep the receipts.
Self-employed hospitality contractors
If you work in Cyprus as a self-employed freelancer (e.g. a private chef, an independent F&B consultant), you pay GESY at the 4.00% rate on your declared self-employment income, in addition to social insurance contributions. The Tax Department calculates this automatically on your annual return.
Common questions
Do I need GESY if I already have private insurance? Yes — contributions are mandatory for all employed and self-employed residents. Private insurance is an optional top-up, not a replacement.
Can I see a doctor in English? Yes. The GESY portal lets you filter GPs by languages spoken. Most younger doctors and specialists in tourist areas speak English; older GPs in inland villages may only speak Greek.
What happens when I leave Cyprus? Your GESY beneficiary status ends when you cease to be a legal resident. Contributions stop with your last payslip. If you return later, you re-register and resume.
Is GESY better than buying private insurance? For day-to-day primary care, GESY is good. For elective care, faster specialist access, or single private rooms during a hospital stay, supplementary private cover helps. The combined cost — payroll GESY + €20–€40/month private top-up — is still lower than UK or US health insurance.
What to do next
- Confirm with your employer that you are on payroll and GESY is being deducted (check your first payslip).
- Register on the GESY beneficiary portal and pick a GP.
- Save your GESY beneficiary card to your phone wallet — most pharmacies and clinics accept the digital version.
- Optional: get a quote for a private top-up plan covering dental + optical.