Cyprus Nursing and Midwifery Council: Registration and Exams

• Register of nurses: general nursing (Article 4(1)(a)(i)), with a licence to practise general nursing
• Register of nurses: psychiatric (mental health) nursing, with its own application form
• Register of midwives
• Certificates of current professional practice for registered nurses and midwives

• A certificate, diploma or degree in general nursing, as a certified copy.
• Valid registration in your country of origin, and a certificate of registration and clinical experience gained after registering there.
• A Certificate of Current Professional Practice from your country's competent authority that complies with the 2005 Edinburgh Agreement.
• Certification of your nursing practice since graduation, with a reference letter from your last employer (the checklist also mentions payslips).
• A clear criminal record certificate from the police of the country where you lived for the last six months, dated within three months of your application.
• A copy of your passport or identity card, and two identical recent passport photographs.
• For non-EU citizens: a work permit from the Department of Labour, a Cyprus residence permit, a school leaving certificate from ten years of general education, and the programme of your nursing course showing hours or credits of theory and practice by module.
• Elementary knowledge of Greek, assessed at a personal interview with Council members.

Check your route with the route finder

1. 1

   1. Check that you apply for the right register

   General nursing, psychiatric nursing and midwifery have separate application forms. Use the general nursing form if your basic qualification is in general nursing, and tick both registration in the register and issuance of a licence to practise.
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   2. Certify every document correctly

   Do not send originals. Copies must be certified by the issuing authority, by an apostille from your country, or with a diplomatic stamp from your foreign ministry. Documents in other languages must be translated into Greek or English by your country's competent authority or an approved official translator.
3. 3

   3. Get your Certificate of Current Professional Practice

   Ask your nursing council or board for a certificate that follows the 2005 Edinburgh Agreement. If you are working in the Gulf, you may need one from the authority there as well as from your country of training, since the Council asks about clinical experience after registration.
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   4. Prepare the non-EU documents with your employer

   The Council's checklist asks non-EU citizens for a work permit and a residence permit for Cyprus. Your employer applies to the Department of Labour and the Migration Department, so agree the order of steps with them before you file.
5. 5

   5. Pay and submit

   Pay €35 to the Council's Bank of Cyprus account for the application and enclose the receipt, stating your name and passport or identity number. Send the application by post, courier or by hand to the Registrar, Ministry of Health, Prodromou 1 and Chilonos 17, 1448 Nicosia.
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   6. Attend the Greek interview

   Council members conduct a personal interview to establish your level of Greek. A licence to practise cannot be issued until you succeed, and the Council notes the requirement may change for patient safety.
7. 7

   7. Receive the decision and pay the second fee

   The Council posts its decision within three months of a complete application. If you are approved, you deposit a further €35 for the issue of the certificate of registration and licence to practise.
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   8. Keep your licence valid

   Licences are renewed for a fee, and you must tell the registrar about any change in your personal details, such as your address or surname. Certificates of current professional practice for use abroad are also issued for a fee.

• Greek language interview

  A personal interview with Council members to assess elementary knowledge of Greek, as Article 10 of the Nursing and Midwifery Law requires. It is the only assessment in the Council's instructions.

• No written nursing exam in the instructions

  The Council's general nursing instructions do not list a written or clinical licensing exam. It assesses your training programme, registration and experience from your documents.

• The Council does not ask for an English test.
• Translations into Greek or English are accepted, made by the competent authority of your country or an approved official translator; in Cyprus, use the Press and Information Office's register of sworn translators.
• Article 10 of the Nursing and Midwifery Law requires elementary knowledge of Greek, assessed at interview, and the Council warns the level may be raised.
• EU citizens are also interviewed on Greek, and must register with the Migration Department (form MEU1) within four months of arrival.

Estimate your total cost

• Decision: within three months of a complete application, the Council states.
• Incomplete files: pending until documents arrive; cancelled after six months, with a new application and fee required.
• Criminal record certificate: must be dated within three months of your application.
• Greek interview: a licence is only issued after you pass, so the time to learn basic Greek sits inside your plan.
• Permits: the Migration Department examines residence and work permit applications within four months, which may run alongside or before your Council file.

1. 1Cyprus Nursing and Midwifery Council: application for registration, general nursing, with instructions and checklist (archived PDF)
2. 2Cyprus Nursing and Midwifery Council: application for registration, psychiatric nursing (archived PDF)
3. 3Cyprus Nursing and Midwifery Council: fees (archived PDF, December 2012)
4. 4Migration Department: remunerated employment (single permit, GEN)
5. 5Gov.cy: application for employment of third country nationals
6. 6Press and Information Office: register of sworn translators
7. 7Ministry of Health, Cyprus