Cyprus
LGBT+ residents in Cyprus face legal obstacles that non-LGBT+ residents often don’t. Nonetheless, with the country’s inclusion into the EU and other development processes, people’s opinions toward LGBT+ individuals are evolving and becoming more accepting and tolerant. If you intend to relocate to Cyprus, you will be able to rely on state help. The temporary protection plan for Ukrainians provides Ukrainian refugees with a basic set of rights and services, which includes the right to employment, education, housing, and social assistance.
Description
According to the EU Temporary Protection Directive, Cyprus has granted temporary protection to those displaced from Ukraine due to the country's crisis.
Temporary protection lasts for at least one year and it may be extended depending on the situation in Ukraine. Rights under the Temporary Protection Directive include a residence permit, access to the labour market and housing, medical assistance, and access to education for children.
You can apply for temporary protection at the Immigration Department of your District. If you live in Nicosia you can apply for temporary protection at the Asylum Service premises. You will receive the decision regarding your application for temporary protection on the same day you apply.
Nicosia: Asylum Service, 79 Arch. Makarios III Avenue, Afemia House 1077 Nicosia
Larnaka: 34 Tasou Mitsopoulou, Larnaka 6027 Limassol: 223 Fragklinou Rousvelt, Building "D. Nikolaou", 2nd floor, Limassol 3046 Paphos: Corner of Eleftheriou Venizelou & Kanigkos 22, 2nd floor, Paphos, 8021 Famagusta: 83 Eleftherias Street, TAPOLOS Bld, Deryneia Plaza, 1st floor, Deryneia 5380
Applications for temporary protection can also be submitted online through the website of the Asylum Service.
Within 48 hours of your arrival, you should go to the Immigration Department of your District and request the issuance of a biometric residence permit by the Civil Registry and Migration Department.
Ukrainian citizens who belong to one of the following two categories can receive one-time financial assistance (340 EUR):
Category 1. Ukrainian citizens who arrived in Cyprus for tourism during the three months before the start of the war in Ukraine (February 24, 2022). They must provide proof of their time of arrival in the Republic of Cyprus, in particular a copy of the passport marked on arrival at the airport or port, or a copy of the temporary residence permit in Cyprus, if they received one.
Category 2. Ukrainian citizens who arrived in Cyprus after the start of the war in Ukraine (February 24, 2022). People in this category must provide the same documents requested from people in the first category.
It should be emphasised that Ukrainian citizens living in Cyprus who do not fall into the two categories mentioned above can receive financial assistance, provided they apply to the Department of Population and Immigration and obtain a relevant residence permit.
To receive one-time financial assistance, you have to submit the application to the SWS (Social Protection Service) office, after which you can receive the first part of the assistance in cash on the same day. To receive the second part of the assistance, you should apply to the same office 15 days after the first instalment and provide a document confirming receipt of the first payment.
Nicosia SWS Lakatamia
Address: 23, kenmedy Street, 2314, Lakatamia
Tel: +357 22608400
Limassol SWS Polemidia
Address: 3, 82nd Street, 4153, Polemidia
Tel: +357 25821895
Larnaca SWS Agion Anargiron
Address: 54, Agion Anargiron Avenue, 6301
Tel: +357 24821080
Pregnant Ukrainian women can also receive assistance in the form of a package containing basic necessary items for after childbirth - a stroller, clothes, diapers, etc. for a total amount of €1,800.
Once your temporary protection application is approved you will have access to public hospitals for free. You can book an appointment with a doctor at the state hospitals, and they can also advise you on access to medication.
Healthcare services are provided at public medical centres (https://shso.org.cy). The cost of medication for Ukrainian refugees is covered by the pharmacies of the Public Hospitals.
Ukrainian refugees with temporary protection status are accepted at the public medical centres upon presentation of either the confirmation of the Temporary Protection Decision issued by the Asylum Service or the Residence Permit issued by the Civil Registry and Migration Department. You can find more detailed information about the application procedure for obtaining the above-mentioned documents here.
The Ministry of Tourism has set aside approximately 3000 tourist lodgings for Ukrainians. Furthermore, the Ministry of Social Welfare will be in charge of allocating refugees to their particular accommodations as well as providing them with benefits.
Nevertheless, the Cyprus government also encourages Ukrainian refugees to stay with family or friends, or to rent independently.
Main resources for searching housing for Ukrainians in Cyprus (NOT VERIFIED):
EL*C has created a lesbian hosting network of individuals who made their flats and spare rooms available to Ukrainian refugees. Please notice that EL*C can provide you with a temporary solution (up to a few months). Contact the relocation team at: +48 571 944 400 and info@lesbiangenius.org.
Greek public schools and state kindergartens accept Ukrainian children. To place a child in a state kindergarten or in school you should submit certain documents through the education department of the region in which you live (Υπουργείο παιδείας). Your child will be placed in a school or kindergarten based on your place of residence.
List of the necessary documents:
- a copy of the child's foreign passport
- a copy of the child's parent's foreign passport
- a copy of the lease agreement (even if it is not in your name, it will be accepted)
- a form to fill in, which is given on the spot, according to the age of the child
Links to the addresses of education departments in the cities of Cyprus:
http://www.moec.gov.cy/dde/en/contact.html
The "Ukrainian school" option is currently under consideration by the Ministry of Education.
Furthermore, various universities in Cyprus offer study programmes and scholarships to Ukrainian students.
There is no information on any transportation waivers for Ukrainians.
The Beneficiary of Temporary Protection letter and the Alien Registration Certificate (ARC), which are issued after applying for Temporary Protection, allow Ukrainians to officially get a job.
It is important to consider that the labour market of Cyprus is small, while it is relatively easy to find seasonal work in the tourism sector (hotels, restaurants) and in IT.
Here you can find some vacancies (NOT VERIFIED).
Cyprus's existing legal framework exclusively recognises marriage as a partnership between man and woman. Same-sex marriages are not officially recognised. Same-sex couples have been able to have their relationships recognised through civil unions since 2015.
Same-sex adoption (joint and stepchild) in Cyprus is illegal. Furthermore, there is no access to any reproductive technologies for same-sex couples in the country.
The status of legal gender recognition in Cyprus is undefined, although there is a draft law (dated 2017) that, if adopted, would allow transgender people over 18 the right to change their legal gender on the basis of self-determination, without a diagnosis, hormonal treatment or sex reassignment surgery.
LGBT+ organisations
Accept Cyprus
+357 22 253273
+357 99 812343
info@acceptcy.org
Nicodemou Milona 14,
1070, Nicosia Cyprus
Queer Cyprus
Nicosia
Human Rights House:
Şht. Ferruh Cambaz Sokak No:4 – Köşklüçiftlik / Nicosia
Famagusta
Queer Cyprus Association & Famagusta Youth Centre (MAGEM) Office:
Mehmet Ali Görmüş Sokak/ Mağusa Kale Pasajı / Famagusta
Telephone: +90 542 8585847
Email: queercyprus@gmail.com
Other organisations helping Ukrainians
Cyprus Refugee Council
Stasandrou Street 9, Flat 401 – 4th Floor, 1060 Nicosia, Cyprus
info@cyrefugeecouncil.org
Phone: +357 22205959
Mobile: +357 99668709/ +357 97767329
Fax: +357 22205960
List of required documents:
- international veterinary certificate
- microchip
- rabies vaccination
- antibody titers not older than 3 months
- export international certificate
