Cyprus Residence Permit Medical Examination 2026: HIV, Hep B/C, Syphilis, TB Tests Explained

Moving to the Republic of Cyprus on a Pink Slip means clearing a short list of paperwork before the card actually lands in your hand. One of those items is a medical certificate. The rule was added on 1 January 2023, and it catches a lot of first-time applicants off guard. At DigiCare Insurance, our Cyprus-licensed brokers help non-EU clients line up the medical exam and the matching Plan A immigration insurance every week, so this guide walks through every test in the panel, who has to take them, who is exempt, what you should expect to pay, and how long the certificate stays valid.

What is the Cyprus residence permit medical examination?

The same five-condition panel applies to non-EU students at Cypriot universities and to non-EU researchers under the MEDU2 / Form M58 framework published by EURAXESS Cyprus.

The exam is one of four parallel CRMD documents you need before your Pink Slip biometrics appointment. The other three are a criminal-record certificate, Plan A immigration medical insurance, and a bank guarantee. These are covered at the end of this guide.

Who needs to do the medical exam, and who's exempt?

1. First-time non-EU Pink Slip applicants and their dependants aged 6 or older
2. Non-EU students at Cypriot universities (foreign results are not accepted)
3. Non-EU researchers under the MEDU2 / Form M58 framework

Exempt: Pink Slip renewal applicants, and EU citizens on the Yellow Slip (MEU1).

The dependant rule was tightened in 2023. Children aged 6 and older now sit the same panel as the primary applicant, per the Fragomen Cyprus amendments summary. Children under 6 are exempt.

The biggest surprise for most readers is the renewal rule. George K. Konstantinou Law Firm (GK Law) states it plainly: only the first Pink Slip application needs the medical certificate. Diogenous Law similarly confirms the first-time-only scope for the test panel.

EU citizens are out of scope entirely. They register on the Yellow Slip route, which has no medical-screening step. If you're an EU national reading this, have a look at our guide to the Yellow Slip (MEU1).

Non-EU students at the University of Cyprus and other Cypriot universities run the same panel, sometimes routed through university health services.

The 4 blood tests and chest X-ray required for Cyprus immigration

The panel is closed. CRMD asks for five results, no more and no less. There is no general fitness check, no blood pressure reading, no body mass index, and no vaccination certificate. Match each test name below with what your lab will actually run:

This panel matches the EURAXESS Cyprus four-test list and the Aretaeio Hospital "IMMIGRATION TEST" package (HBsAg, AIDS HIV I+II, HCV, VDRL, chest X-ray), which Aretaeio sells for around EUR 270 at its Nicosia/Strovolos site.

Where to get tested in Cyprus (and why it must be in Cyprus)

Three provider tiers exist, and they're all certified to issue the certificate. Pick whichever fits your budget and location:

The certifying authority must be a "public or private hospital of Cyprus", per the gov.cy MEDU2 supporting-documents list updated in December 2025. That softens older guidance that pointed only to a "public/governmental authority".

Results from your home country are not accepted. UCLan Cyprus tells incoming students plainly that the four blood tests and X-ray must be redone after arrival, even if you bring fresh results from home. The radiologist's chest-X-ray report must be signed and stamped by a specialist doctor based in Cyprus.

Once your certificate is in hand, you submit it with the rest of your Pink Slip pack at one of Cyprus's five District Immigration Units in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, or Famagusta.

How much does the Cyprus medical exam cost?

In practice, the medical exam is the smallest line item on the total bill. Plan A health insurance (EUR 120 to EUR 200 per adult per year), the bank guarantee (EUR 350 to EUR 850 depending on your nationality), and government fees push the per-person total up to EUR 1,500-2,000 according to DPCA's Pink Slip service breakdown.

How long is the medical certificate valid?

Two figures circulate because there are two parallel frameworks. The Pink Slip practice norm of 3 months is stated by GK Law and corroborated by DPCA. The 4-month figure appears in EURAXESS Cyprus guidance and on the gov.cy MEDU2 supporting-documents list, both of which cover the researcher framework. Always check with your specific District Immigration Unit, because case officers apply the rule they're trained on.

Practical tip from working with clients: book your blood tests and chest X-ray so the certificate is dated within 60 days of your CRMD biometrics appointment. That buffer covers slipped appointments. If the certificate expires before submission, you have to redo the whole panel.

Pink Slip renewals: do you need a new medical?

Renewals run on the MVIS8 application form (per DPCA) with a slimmer supporting pack. GK Law spells out the exemption explicitly, and DPCA confirms the same scope. What you still need at renewal: a valid passport, an updated rental agreement, recent bank statements showing a EUR 6,000+ balance and 12 months of foreign remittances of at least EUR 24,000, and current health insurance. Confirm current income thresholds with CRMD before submitting, since these requirements are reviewed periodically.

Apply 2 to 3 months before your card expires. That window keeps you continuously regularised. Skipping the medical re-test saves you EUR 100 to EUR 270 and a clinic visit each year.

What happens if a test comes back positive? Republic vs Northern Cyprus

The Republic of Cyprus issues permits under the Aliens and Immigration Law (Cap. 105), as amended by the Aliens and Immigration (Amending) Law N.7(I)/2019. The CRMD treats positive HIV, hepatitis, or syphilis results as a case-by-case review, not an automatic refusal. Active, infectious tuberculosis may delay approval until treatment begins.

Northern Cyprus is a different jurisdiction with different rules. The HIV Justice Network has documented TRNC's historical use of immigration law to deny entry to HIV-positive foreign nationals. Those rules apply to the TRNC, not to the Republic of Cyprus.

If a test comes back positive, talk to a Cyprus immigration lawyer about your specific case before submitting. Plan A insurance is still mandatory regardless of test outcomes.

What else does CRMD need from you? The full Pink Slip pack

The medical exam is one of four parallel CRMD documents. Worth knowing: most clients I work with knock all four out in the same week.

DigiCare's Plan A insurance is built specifically for CRMD compliance: a same-business-day PDF Cover Note, from EUR 120 per year for an adult. If you want the full breakdown of policy limits and provider comparison, see our Plan A immigration medical insurance guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bottom Line

The Cyprus residence permit medical exam is a fixed panel of five tests: HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, and a chest X-ray for Tuberculosis. It is a one-time requirement for first-time non-EU Pink Slip applicants and eligible dependants. The cheapest route is a public-hospital government physician at around EUR 15; the fastest is a private-hospital package at around EUR 270.

The exam is only one part of the CRMD submission. In parallel, you need Plan A health insurance, a criminal-record certificate, and a bank guarantee. DigiCare issues Plan A cover notes same business day from EUR 120/year. If you're ready to get that sorted, get a Plan A quote here and we'll have your cover note ready before your clinic appointment.