Hoping to Nurse in Cyprus? Where the Plan to Hire Non-EU Nurses Stands

Update (31 October 2026): A day after the committee met, the four nursing unions (SEK, PEO, Pasydy and Pasyno) dug in. In a joint statement they called collective agreements covering all nurses, including any hired from abroad, "non-negotiable", argued that Cypriot nurses could fill the gaps, and said Greek-language rules are first and foremost about patient safety. They also accused the health ministry of failing to bring unions and employers together for talks, and urged parliament not to put the bills to a vote in their current form. For now, nothing has changed for nurses hoping to come from outside the EU. (Source: Cyprus Mail)

Cyprus is short of nurses, and the government wants to let hospitals recruit some from outside the EU. For trained nurses from India, and for Indians in Cyprus with nursing qualifications, that sounds like an opening. But the plan is still stuck in parliament, and nothing has changed yet. Here is where things stand.

Why Cyprus needs nurses

Private hospitals paint a worrying picture. According to Pasin, the association that speaks for them, wards across its members have lost over 50 beds to staffing gaps, some of them in intensive care, and big operations have had to wait. By one health ministry estimate, quoted by employers, Cyprus is about 600 nurses short.

Nursing unions see it differently. They argue that low pay and tough conditions, especially in private hospitals, are driving Cypriot nurses out of the profession, and that hundreds of qualified nurses could be won back with better terms. More young Cypriots are choosing nursing (238 new students enrolled this year, up from 98 in 2024), but it will be years before they graduate.

What the bills would do

MPs on the House health committee are weighing a pair of bills. Right now a conflict between two laws means a nurse trained outside the EU cannot even apply to be registered in Cyprus; the first bill would fix that. The second raises the Greek a nurse must speak. The government's plan, as described by the health ministry, includes:

• About 150 nurses from outside the EU, as a "temporary solution" while more young Cypriots train.
• Two-year licences: as a rule, applicants would need two years of work experience behind them.
• A 10% cap: in any one hospital, at most one nurse in ten could come from outside the EU.
• No shift-manager roles for nurses hired under the scheme.
• Greek language: still being argued over. At the latest committee session, the ministry wanted level B1, private hospitals asked for A2, and employers suggested starting at A1 and passing A2 within two years. Unions want a much higher level, and earlier reports have quoted other levels.

Why it is stuck

When the committee met on 29 October, Akel made its support conditional: no collective agreements between private hospitals and their nurses, no votes from its MPs, and the committee's chair, Disy MP Savia Orphanidou, called such agreements her "red line". Not everyone agrees with tying the two together: Diko MP Andreas Apostolou noted that legislation has no power to compel a deal between employers and staff. For its part, the health ministry insists the plan is still alive, and the minister wants it debated before this parliament's term ends.

What this means for you

• Nothing has changed yet: until parliament passes the bills, there is no new route for non-EU nurses to register and work as nurses in Cyprus.
• Be wary of agents: if anyone offers you a nursing job or registration in Cyprus for a fee right now, treat it with great caution. Check every offer against official information before paying anything.
• Start on Greek early: whatever level is finally agreed, Greek will be part of the deal. If you are serious about nursing in Cyprus, beginner classes now will help.
• Keep your papers ready: degree certificates, registration with your Indian nursing council and proof of experience are likely to matter, as the plan normally asks for two years' experience.
• Already in Cyprus in another job? Don't assume you can switch to nursing under your current permit. Wait for the final rules and get advice first.

We'll keep this post updated as the debate moves on.

Read also: Know Your Rights as a Worker in Cyprus: Your Passport, Your Pay and Where to Get Help

Sources: Cyprus Mail (29 Oct), Cyprus Mail (15 Oct), Sigmalive, Politis, Kiprinform