How do I get my foreign diploma recognised?

Direct answer

Two different things: academic recognition (for further study or a general statement of comparability) and professional recognition (to practise a regulated profession: nurse, teacher, engineer, electrician). ΚΥΣΑΤΣ (22 806417) — the ENIC-NARIC centre for Cyprus — issues the comparability statement and tells you whether your profession is regulated and which authority recognises it. Regulated professions go to the competent authority per profession; EU qualifications benefit from the automatic or general system. Υπουργείο Δικαιοσύνης — Apostille (22 805950) handles school and higher-education recognition. Your diploma may first need an apostille and a sworn translation — Τμήμα Αρχείου Πληθυσμού και Μετανάστευσης (22 308100).

Call firstΚΥΣΑΤΣ

Report toΥπουργείο Δικαιοσύνης — Apostille

If that failsΤμήμα Αρχείου Πληθυσμού και Μετανάστευσης

🗣️ What to say

"I hold [diploma], awarded by [institution, country] in [year], and want to [work as … / continue studying in …] in Cyprus. Is the profession regulated, which authority recognises the qualification, and what documents and translations do you need?"

🪜 Step by step

Regulated or not?Check the EU regulated-professions database or ask ΚΥΣΑΤΣ. Unregulated: employers decide, a comparability statement helps.
Comparability statement: ΚΥΣΑΤΣOnline application, copies of diploma and transcript, translation. Weeks to a few months.
Regulated: the competent authorityΚΥΣΑΤΣ names it. EU diplomas: recognition within months, possibly with an adaptation period or test.
Apostille and translationOften required for non-EU documents; the apostille comes from the issuing country. See the apostille page.
Refugees and missing documentsThe European Qualifications Passport for Refugees and interview-based assessments exist; ask ΚΥΣΑΤΣ.

📇 All contacts

ΚΥΣΑΤΣRecognition of qualificationsRecognition of foreign qualifications📞 22 806417 🔗 www.kysats.ac.cy

Υπουργείο Δικαιοσύνης — ApostilleApostilleFor documents to be used abroad📞 22 805950 🔗 www.mjpo.gov.cy

Τμήμα Αρχείου Πληθυσμού και ΜετανάστευσηςResidence permits, naturalisationFor residence and citizenship📞 22 308100 🔗 www.moi.gov.cy/crmd

Δημόσια Υπηρεσία Απασχόλησης / Κοινωνικές Ασφαλίσεις — ανεργιακόRegistration, unemployment benefitImmediately after dismissal📞 22 400811 🔗 www.pescps.dl.mlsi.gov.cy

❓ Frequently asked

Does an EU diploma need recognition?

For a regulated profession yes — but the procedure is faster and often automatic (doctors, nurses, architects…). For an ordinary job, no.

What does it cost?

Comparability statements are cheap or free; professional recognition has fees per authority. Ask before you apply.

My profession is regulated and I am from outside the EU

Recognition is case by case, sometimes with an aptitude test. Start early; it can take a year.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

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“diploma recognition Cyprus”
“enic naric Cyprus”
“foreign qualification recognised work”
“regulated profession recognition Cyprus”
“comparability statement diploma”

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🎓 How do I get my foreign diploma recognised?