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phildraper

I will start to recv my UK state pension in July this year whoo hoo! Pls do not send begging emails! Does this mean I could apply for GESY while I only have a temp residency visa? Could I get a free bus pass as well lol

See also

The healthcare system in CyprusPreventive care in CyprusIquiry regarding health issuemedical insurance queryGESY HEALTH COVER
Toon

Yes you can apply even with temp visa as far as I am aware .... Once you ve got your S1 documents you need to phone the CSC in paphos to get an appointment to get your white medical card which may take a few weeks to arrive.. Once youve got that you can go to a your medical centre of choice to register or register online they will need to see your white medical card and copy of S1

fhaggerty

@phildraper Hi you will find it difficult to get a free bus pass. Seriously, the best place to start with is to find a local doctor that will take you onto their books. Ask them about GESY registration. You first have to have to be registered with a GESY Doctor before GESY will accept you. In my case, registered with doctor, doctor told GESY, GESY sent an email.

Toon

I got my pension in January 2023 and my S1 in my own right as previously was covered by my wifes and had to get my white medical card first ....then register with gesy... But as I was already GESY registered under my wifes white card the CSC were able to simply amend the Gesy records accordingly ... ALL SORTED

MacGeorge8035

@phildraper I started getting my state pension in Feb 2023, my wife already has hers. My wife had her S1 before we arrived and I was added to hers as a dependent. We are also temporary residents, make sure to apply for your Medical card with the Ministry of health first. You can do this by going to the Citizen Service Centre and applying there.


Ring them for an appointment, it was very quick and efficient. You will need a copy of the application form, copies of your Registration documents your S1 and your passport. Once you have your Medical card you can join Gesy. Once your application has been approved you need to select a GP (or Personal Doctor, PD as they are known here) they will then complete the process for you.



it took around 8 or 9 weeks including the application for a Medical Card.

phildraper

Thanks for the details. I have tried to apply for my UK pension as apparently they do not pay it unless you ask for it lol. That is a whole bunch of extra work given they know I am in Cyprus. I have had to speak with the International Pension department in the UK and now need to get an invitation letter with code. To get this I need to supply a bunch of personal data all of which I am sure they already have :-/

Process will take 6-8 weeks apparently and then 6-8 weeks before the funds arrive.

The good news is you have all confirmed once this is in place I can apply for GESY. As it has been mentioned about dependents does this mean my younger partner can apply as well? She is 54.

Toon

You do indeed have to apply for it .. but as you have since found out many think it comes automatically and it doesn't ..... Don't fel bad I thought the same ..  Yes your married partner can be covered by your S1 .. .if not married I don't think so .. Just be sure to ask for that and a GHIC for u both too as that is part of the entitlement

Toon

But to be honest I simply downloaded the application form 20 + pages filled in the forms and sent it with birth certificate and marriage certificate.. job done ... And the notice came about 4- 6 weeks later.. although I couldve done it all by phone.....

phildraper

Miracle of miracles I have recvd an email from the UK NHS saying they have issued my S1 and I can download it :-) I could be on my way to GESY. I have also been told that If I marry my partner who is not of official retirement age she will also get GESY. Is that True?

Toon

@phildraper yes 100% correct

Toon

As and when you get married then you apply for your wife on the back of your form S1....

phildraper

Thanks Toon. Looks like I might be getting married then lol

The S1 docs I have recvd also say that now I live outside of the UK I am no longer entitled to free UK health care, free prescriptions and I should de-register with my doctor :-/ If I visit the UK I should have health insurance to cover any costs of health care.

Would I get free prescriptions in Cyprus under Gesy?

Toon

The issue of a uk issued ehic ghic is or maybe it was now part of the S1 entitlement to use in UK when on holiday but only for emergency treatment whilst there... As far as I know that is still the case unless it has changed since Brexit... but yes you shouldn't be using the usual NHS services of your GP as you are no longer resident

Toon

Prescriptions under GESY are free BUT the meds aren't free but are low cost  for those meds covered in GESY ( on average €1-€2 per item ).. there are a number of meds that are not included in GESY best to check to see what needs are available here ...

Referrals to specialists like eye specialists endocrinology etc are at low rates €6-10 is normal Prescriptions outside of GESY are usually €10.and meds are whatever the pharmacy charges no subsidies from Gesy.  Sometimes it's best to ask the pharmacy for a local equivalent which tend to be cheaper

Be aware depending on age the number of free visits to gesy docs are limited per year. Also there is a cap per year on the gesy treatment payments etc of €150.per yr once you have used that the charges are free till the start of the next year

Toon

You can get an EHIC here in Cyprus ..... Found this for further information..


https://www.william-russell.com/blog/th … nd-brexit/

MacGeorge8035

@phildraper Just a quick point, once you your S1 arrives applying for GESY is a three step process. In the first instance you need to get Cyprus Medical card, you can do this at the Citizens Service Centre in Paphos. The Service centre were very good, you need the Application form for the medical card filled out, the S1 form, photo copies of your passport and photocopies of your Alien registration documents, including the receipts. The cards arrived after around 3 weeks.  You can then register for GESY, you can do this online.


Once GESY has approved your application you then need to complete the process with your Personal Doctor (the same as a GP in the UK) that can be done at the doctors surgery and takes a few minutes. 


Finally it is a good idea to get access to the online GESY portal where you can see all your prescriptions, test results and how much you have paid.

Toon

@MacGeorge8035 spot on

phildraper

Is the card application a E104 form from here

https://www.moh.gov.cy/moh/moh.nsf/9708 … 20CARD.pdf

Toon

@phildraper yes it looks familiar

Toon

On the subject of GESY applications ...they cancelled my wife's registration for not having received an email. And not having used the service so now we must apply again and me too....... Why that should be I don't know... Spent two weeks so far trying re register


Wanted

New 3-pages reg forms each

6 elec bills in my name

4 water bills in wife's name but as all bills are in my name we have to show both our deeds

Old white medical card front and back

MEU3 each

MacGeorge8035

@phildraper that looks right

Toon

You can apply for a Cyprus European Health Insurance Card here


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou … wONTSPdDK_

phildraper

@Toon thanks

Toon

@phildraper should we all be looking to buy hats ....

phildraper

Why?

Toon

Weddings ...it's what happens innit

L and M

On the subject of GESY , we have been told repeatedly by our immigration agent Gwennys that we have to wait for our pink slip through the post before we can apply for the white medical card . We have both had the S1 forms since January and we obtained our yellow immigration papers in December 2022 - we are still waiting for our pink slip so we cannot obtain our white medical cards. We are extremely concerned about this as we still cannot register with GESY . We feel that we are going around in circles and not making any progress.

Toon

So why have you applied for the pink slip

If you have the yellow slip .. I am puzzled .. the MEU!1 is the yellow slip and is the legalised document and entitles you to apply for gesy with your S1 form.... Take it,  the S1 and your passport to the nearest Citizen Service Centre and make the application for the white medical card.... You do not need gwennys to do that...once you have your white medical card go to you doctors of choice to revister.or gesy they will help you

L and M

We are temporary residents ,the form we have is a MRC1 - Aliens Registration Certificate ,the bureaucratic procedure here is totally confusing - we are guided by Gwennys as we have never had to undergo anything like this . It is 6 months since we received the MRC1 and we are no further forward .

Toon

Never heard of an MRC1 maybe it's a receipt for the application to prove you have applied until such time as you get the formal pink slip ......temp Res certificate...maybe try going to the Citizens Service Centre with your yellow slip your S1s and this MRC1 FORM and telll them you want to apply for the white medical card AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY. If they say you can't, ask why ..and if it's reliant on some other document ask them to check on the status of your application


There was a 4 digit phone number you could ring to check on application status.. I will see if I have it.. try this



Cyprus Police | Immigration Office

Instructions Send an SMS to 1199 (charges of 3,4 cent per SMS apply), with the text: STATUS(space)ApplicationNumber. For example: STATUS 1234/2016 ...


Just a thought is this for Cyprus or TRNC am assuming Cyprus....

L and M

We live in Coral Bay , we will try going to see Gwennys but each time we visit we are given the same response - "you are pending" . We have used the MRC1 to buy and insure a new car , we have used it to travel abroad , this paperwork has our ARC number , this number will never be changed and is our identity while living in Cyprus. We probably need to get our S1 s back from Gwennys and try the Citizens Service Centre , we will keep you informed of our progress .

Toon

Did you try the application status text message number

L and M

We tried it but I think the number was incorrect , I tried google for another contact number without success.

charles533

@Toon Toon,

there seems to be a lot of changes since I arrived on this island. Though my local Mayor is a very close friend he is at a wits end with the changes.

We including you to a large extent are trying to help it is I feel going beyond us.

In old days (haha) it was simple. NOW I dont know anymore.

Over to you guys. I am still working and need to be offshore to start the pipeline for the Gas and sorry but will be incommunicado for lengthy periods.

wish you guys luck.

kind regards

Capt. Charles

Toon

@charles533 indeed many changes and probably more to come as Cyprus seek to secure specific types of tourists and residents

phildraper

The MRC 1 is yellow and this is exactly what I recvd when my temp application went thru. There was also a recpt for the eur140.00 paid but this does not have any number for the form. I am waiting for the ID card to arrive at Paphos immigration. As I have the S1 and will make an application for the white medical card in the next few months so will post any updates I have based on my experience.

Toon

I would suggest chasing your new biometric cards as they are not very good at letting people know that they are ready for collection ..

L and M

We have been to Gwennys this morning and have been told that the paperwork we have is an application to receive the immigration card as it is now . Until we receive the card from Nicosia by post we cannot do anything - we are simply classed as visitors to the island and have no right to enrol with GESY .

Toon

So 6 months plus to get your residency document ...wow. that's ridiculous... And add to that your ehic/ ghic  only covers basic emergency treatment for 90 days as a visitor ... let's hope your residency medical insurance cover has decent coverage should anything happen .. heaven forbid. ..

phildraper

@toon apparently the immigration person I used visits the office every day and they are checking to see if the cards are there. Does the number you sent above provide a status update for the card? If so where is the application number as I don't see one on the Alien's registration certificate.

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