Physiotherapy in Cyprus: How to Get It Through GESY, What It Costs Privately and How to Find a Physio

In Cyprus, GESY covers physiotherapy when your personal doctor or a specialist refers you, and you pay a €10 co-payment per session (2026). If you have no referral or want faster or more flexible appointments, private clinics set their own prices, and some are listed below.

Physiotherapy is one of the services people find hardest to navigate after they arrive, because it sits between the GP system, the public hospitals and a large private market. This guide explains how each route works, how to check that a therapist is properly registered and where to start in each city.

How do I get physiotherapy through GESY?

GESY began covering outpatient physiotherapy in December 2020. Cyprus Mail reported at the time that it was available on referral from specialist doctors, including personal doctors, for covered diagnoses, with a limited number of sessions per diagnosis each year.

Step 1: get a referral

1. Book a visit with your GESY personal doctor. If you do not yet have one, our guide to choosing and changing your GESY personal doctor explains how.
2. Describe the problem and ask for a physiotherapy referral. Specialists, such as an orthopaedic surgeon after an operation, can also refer you.
3. The referral is issued electronically in the GESY system, so ask the doctor to confirm that it has been created before you book.

Step 2: choose a provider and book

You can use a GESY-contracted private physiotherapist or a public hospital department. The GESY website has the provider search for contracted physiotherapists. Contracts change, so check the current list and call the clinic before your first session, as clinics usually ask you to confirm your referral and eligibility.

Step 3: pay the co-payment

The HIO charge for an allied health professional such as a physiotherapist is €10 per session (2026). Our guide to private hospitals and clinics in Cyprus lists all current GESY charges, including the €150 annual cap on co-payments (€75 for children up to 21 and some low-income groups). For the wider picture, see our complete guide to GESY.

How many GESY physiotherapy sessions do I get?

The Health Insurance Organisation sets the number of sessions per diagnosis, and the numbers differ by condition. Ask your doctor or the physiotherapist how many sessions your referral covers. In April 2022 a senior HIO officer told Philenews, as reported by Cyprus Profile, that the numbers "do not constitute a ceiling": if a patient needs more treatment in a year and the need is justified and well documented, more can be approved. The same report said the rules give more sessions to people with brain damage.

In practice, ask your physiotherapist at the first visit how many sessions the referral covers and who requests more. A request for extra sessions normally goes through the treating therapist and your doctor, not through you.

What does private physiotherapy cost in Cyprus?

Private clinics set their own prices and few publish them. The one we found with a clear price list is Elinos Petrou Physiotherapy Center in Strovolos, whose booking page lists the following (checked 8 November 2026):

Few clinics publish prices, so treat these as one example, not an average. Prices at specialist or sports clinics may differ. Always ask for the price and session length before you book, and ask whether a first assessment costs extra.

Where can I find a physiotherapist in each city?

The public hospital departments are the easiest places to verify. All four take GESY referrals and have online appointment forms or phone numbers on the State Health Services Organisation (SHSO) site. Private clinics, where listed, are in the last column.

This list is not exhaustive. Many good private physios exist in all four cities, so use the GESY provider search to find more near you.

Which specialist area do I need?

• Sports injuries and post-surgery rehabilitation: private clinics such as Xenofontos in Limassol and Elinos Petrou in Nicosia list sports injury and post-operative programmes. After surgery, your surgeon's referral is the usual route into GESY.
• Paediatric physiotherapy: Paphos General Hospital has two physiotherapists working in paediatrics, including early intervention for premature infants. Larnaca General offers Bobath treatment for babies and children, and Limassol General has a paediatric section.
• Neurological rehabilitation: the public departments in Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos list Bobath or PNF techniques for stroke, Parkinson's disease and similar conditions.
• Pelvic floor: Nicosia General lists pelvic floor physiotherapy. The Paphos department lists it as coming soon, so ask before you travel.
• Hydrotherapy: Nicosia and Larnaca have heated pools. The Paphos pool was being renovated recently, so do not count on it.

Can a physiotherapist come to my home?

Some private physiotherapists visit patients at home, which helps after surgery or if you have limited mobility. Elinos Petrou lists home physiotherapy at about €40 for 60 minutes (checked 8 November 2026). Do not expect GESY to cover home physiotherapy: assume that you pay privately unless the clinic or your doctor tells you otherwise. Nicosia General Hospital's department mentions some community and home services, so ask them if your situation is complex.

How do I check that a physiotherapist is registered?

Physiotherapy is a regulated profession in Cyprus. According to the government's Business in Cyprus portal, the Cyprus Physiotherapists and Physiotherapy Establishments Registration Council keeps the Register of Physiotherapists through its Registrar. As listed there, registration costs €50 and the annual practice licence €35, and applicants need a recognised degree or diploma. World Physiotherapy adds that practitioners must also belong to the Cyprus Association of Physiotherapists, the professional body.

Before a long course of treatment, ask the therapist for their registration number or ask the Council to confirm it. Ask the Council whether it offers a public online lookup.

What to do next

1. Book a visit with your personal doctor and ask for a physiotherapy referral. If you need a new doctor, start with our guide to changing your GESY personal doctor.
2. Check which clinic near you is GESY-contracted on gesy.org.cy, or send an appointment request to your city's public hospital department using the table above.
3. Ask about the co-payment, the number of sessions on the referral and whether the therapist speaks English before you book.
4. If you plan private care, compare our list of private hospitals and clinics in Cyprus and ask each clinic for its fee in writing.
5. New to GESY? Read our complete guide to Cyprus healthcare first.