Children's Education
The Republic of Cyprus wishes to ensure that children who come to live in Cyprus from other EU and/or Associated Countries as well as Third Countries are able to continue their education. Hence, family members of Incoming Researchers are entitled to education in the State Educational Institutes, as are Cypriot citizens.
The Cyprus Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport is the competent body to approach for help about finding a school (Tel: +357 22 800 600/+357 22 800 700, Email: registry@moec.gov.cy). You will be able to speak to the competent officials in the directorates for each level of education at the Ministry (e.g. the Directorate for Primary Education, Directorate for Secondary Education, Directorate for Higher Education).
You can also download a guide to education in Cyprus in different languages here.
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A number of public and private options are available for day care and pre-primary education. There are provisions for free access to state-funded kindergartens, but access to these depends on availability of places. Priority is given to pre-school children aged 5, for whom it is mandatory to be in school. There are many privately owned and operated kindergartens all over the island for toddlers and pre-schoolers, which are not free of charge. Further information can be found here.
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The language of instruction is Greek, while English is taught as a second language from first grade. Additional languages are offered in middle and secondary school years.
There is a number of private primary and secondary schools all over the island, most of which use English as the language of instruction. Many follow the British curriculum, while others follow the international baccalaureate. These schools charge tuition fees.
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The Higher Education System in Cyprus is shaped by the European Higher Education Area, as outlined by the Bologna Process. Higher Education Institutions in Cyprus consist of Public Universities, Private Universities, Public Institutions of Tertiary Education and Private Institutions of Tertiary Education. Further information can be found here.
Maternity allowance is paid to insured employees and self-employed, as well as voluntarily insured women working for a Cypriot employer overseas, who are expecting a child or who, with their husband, have adopted a child within the first 12 years after the child's birth, or who have got a child through surrogacy.
The benefit is paid for a period of 18 weeks, starting between the ninth and second weeks preceding the week of the expected birth, or for a period of 16 weeks in the case of adoption.
In the case of mothers getting a child through surrogacy, the benefit is paid for a period of 18 weeks starting 2 weeks before the expected week of confinement or from the week of the real confinement, according to the choice of the claimant. For surrogate mothers, the allowance is provided for a period of 14 weeks, starting 2 weeks before the expected week of confinement.
If the infant is treated in an incubator because of premature birth or receives treatment because of another health problem, the maternity benefit may be extended by an additional week for each 21 days of treatment for a maximum of 6 weeks.
In the case of a multiple birth, the period of 18 weeks is increased by 4 weeks for each child.
Women who have a second child are entitled to 22 weeks of leave while those who have their third child are entitles to 26 weeks.
The application form and the required certificates may be submitted to the Social Insurance Services after the end of the 25th week of pregnancy and within 21 days from the day on which the benefit is required.
Further information is available here.
Paternity allowance is paid to all insured employees and self-employed as well as voluntarily insured men working for a Cypriot employer overseas, whose spouse gave birth or who have adopted a child or who have got a child through surrogacy. The benefit is paid for a period of 2 consecutive weeks between the week of confinement and the following 16 weeks or between the week of confinement and the termination of maternity leave in the case of a multiple birth for natural fathers or between the week of adoption and the following 16 weeks in the case of adoption.
The application form and the required certificates may be submitted to the Social Insurance Services within 21 days from the day on which the benefit is required.
Further information is available here.
The conditions for the payment of maternity/paternity allowance and childbirth grant are:
to have actual insurance equal to at least 0.50 insurance points and for at least 26 weeks to have elapsed since the insurance commenced, and
to have actual or assimilated insurance equal to at least 0.39 insurance points in the relevant contribution year;
in the case of the childbirth grant (see below), the grant is paid if either the mother or her husband meets the above insurance conditions.
A lump sum of €573.96 per child (for the year 2021) is paid to the mother if she or her husband are insured for the birth of a live child or a stillbirth after a pregnancy of at least 28 weeks.
To be awarded the childbirth grant, an application form has to be submitted accompanied by the required certificates within one (1) year of the birth. The application is submitted to the Social Insurance Services.
Further information is available here.
Women who have given birth and have resided in Cyprus for the last 12 consecutive months are entitled to the special childbirth grant (a lump sum of €573.96 which is paid at the time of the birth) if they are not entitled to the childbirth grant from the Social Insurance Services. The application is submitted to the Welfare Benefits Administration Service
More information can be found here.