3. Are MAP procedures covered by the social security system?

The government has a subsidy scheme for medically assisted reproduction. The subsidies apply for treatments carried out in Cyprus under qualifying criteria. The subsidies are not the same as full public insurance coverage, beneficiaries still incur some costs, must meet eligibility criteria, and the scheme is more of a government grant/subsidy than full social security coverage. Age limits, infertility diagnosis requirement, and other legal/medical conditions apply.

Please explain why (e.g. infertility considered as a disease)

Infertility is not considered a disease, however, sometimes it’s a sign or result of an existing medical condition.

4. Are there specific criteria for such coverage? Yes. The criteria for subsidizing MAP in Cyprus are in place to ensure that public funds and medical resources are used responsibly and ethically. These criteria help confirm that IVF subsidies are granted only to individuals or couples facing genuine infertility or medical conditions that prevent natural conception. By setting clear eligibility requirements, the government aims to prevent the misuse of assisted reproductive technologies for non-medical or purely elective reasons, such as convenience or social preference.

5. Is the financial coverage limited to a number of MAP procedures? Yes. 

6. Is donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos permitted in your country? Yes. 

7. Are there specific compensation arrangements for donations of sperm/oocytes/embryos? Yes. In accordance to Article 32(9) of the relevant law, the Council of Medically Assisted Reproduction is responsible for determining and adjusting the maximum compensation limit per donor, considering the standard of living and the cost of living in the Republic of Cyprus, as well as the level of proportionally paid compensation in the member states of the European Union.

8. Are there specific criteria for donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos? Yes. The donor must be an adult with full legal capacity. In the case of sperm donation, the donor must not have reached the forty-fifth (45th) year of age, and in the case of egg donation, the donor must not have reached the thirty-fifth (35th) year of age. The use of a donor older than the prescribed age is permitted only in exceptional cases, with the approval of the Council of Medically Assisted Reproduction. A person may be accepted as a donor only after undergoing the clinical and psychological evaluation specified in the Council’s Protocol, and it has been established that he/she does not suffer from any hereditary, genetic, or transmissible disease. A gamete donor may donate gametes only once, for use by a single family or an individual. Under certain circumstances and with the approval of the Council, a gamete donor may be permitted to donate gametes more than once.  

9. Are there specific non-medical criteria for selection of gametes/embryos to be used for MAP? No

10. Are there special measures for the prevention of consanguinity? Yes. To prevent consanguinity-related issues, donors may provide gametes only once, and these may be used for a single individual or family. Furthermore, in accordance with applicable law, the Council of Medically Assisted Reproduction must maintain a database containing information on all gamete donors.

11. In a homosexual couple, is a legal relationship possible between a child and the partner of the legal parent? YES in a female-female couple/NO in male-male couple

2. Are there specific criteria for access to MAP? 

a. Infertility

                i. for a heterosexual couple? Yes. 

                ii. for women not living in a heterosexual couple? Yes

b. Risk of transmission of a disease (please specify the risk and/or disease)

                i. for a heterosexual couple? Yes

               ii. for women not living in a heterosexual couple? Yes

For single-gene disorders (e.g. Thalassaemia), Chromosomal abnormalities (e.g. Down Syndrome), Sex-linked genetic diseases (e.g. Duchenne muscular dystrophy).

1. Is access to medically assisted procreation (MAP)

a. restricted to heterosexual couples? No

b. possible for women not living in a heterosexual couple? Yes

• Title of the law: Law No. 69(I)/2015, titled: “The Law on the Application of Medically Assisted Reproduction”.
• Date of adoption and entry into force: In 2015.
• Published in the formal newspaper of the Republic of Cyprus.

19. Is there an important current debate in your country on these or related issues? No

20. Delegations are invited to provide information, in this section, on particular cases encountered in their country, and especially their case-law. 

16. Is donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos anonymous? Yes

17. Is it possible to obtain information about the biological origin of a child born after gametes of embryo donation? 

i. For the child him or herself                                                YES

ii. For the parents                                                                    NO

iii. For a court                                                                          YES

In particular:

a. Identity of the donor(s)

i. For the child him or herself                                                YES

ii. For the parents                                                                    NO

iii. For a court                                                                          YES

b. Certain health information concerning the donor(s)

i. For the child him or herself                                                YES

ii. For the parents                                                                    NO

iii. For a court                                                                          YES

c. Other information

i. For the child him or herself                                                YES

ii. For the parents                                                                    NO

iii. For a court                                                                          YES

Medical information concerning the donor is confidential and is kept in strict confidentiality at the MAP clinics and in coded form at the Council of Medically Assisted Reproduction in the donor records. Access to these records is permitted to a child, before the age of 18, only for reasons related to their health and only after approval by the Council of Medically Assisted Reproduction. An MAP clinic may disclose to a child who has reached the age of 18 the identity of the donor or the couple who provided the gametes or embryos, following a request submitted to the MAP clinic by the child. This request, should be put forward using a specific document designated by the Council, provided that the said donor or couple have given their consent for their names to be released.

18. Is it possible to contest maternity and paternity of children born utilising MAP and under which conditions? The present law is silent on this issue