The doctor returned to Cyprus. Post-Brexit regulations sent her back to the UK.

A qualified GP returned to Cyprus from the UK, found a job, and wanted to start seeing patients. However, it turned out that her UK specialist training did not meet Cypriot post-Brexit requirements. She eventually left again and now works as a GP in the UK.

The problem may also affect other doctors who began specializing in the UK after its withdrawal from the European Union. Their qualifications are not automatically recognized in Cyprus. In the case of family medicine, the main obstacle is the difference in the required length of training.

She returned to Cyprus with a car and a cat.

The 34-year-old doctor, whose name has been changed, studied medicine at the University of Nicosia, then moved to the UK, where she trained and qualified as a general practitioner.

After completing her internship, she decided to return to the island. In August 2024, she brought her belongings, car, and cat to Cyprus. She also found a job and began completing the necessary paperwork to practice her profession.

She then learned that her training would not be fully recognized. She began it in August 2021, after the Brexit transition period ended.

The start date of the specialization turned out to be crucial.

Doctors' qualifications after Brexit – where did the problem arise?

Before Brexit, medical qualifications obtained in the UK were subject to EU rules on the recognition of regulated professions. Doctors who began their studies or specialist training before the UK left the EU can still benefit from transitional arrangements.

The situation is different for those who began their training later. The Cyprus Medical Council considers their documents in accordance with the procedures for qualifications obtained outside the European Union.

The biggest problem in this case turned out to be the length of the GP specialization. In the UK, it lasts three years. In Cyprus, it previously required four years, but from November 2025, a minimum of five years is required.

The doctor was informed that she would have to take entrance exams and complete training in the specialisation system in force in Cyprus.

The exams are held in Greek

Cyprus provides specialist training for physicians under an agreement with Greece. Candidates may complete all or part of their specialization training in Cypriot hospitals approved by the Greek Ministry of Health.

Recruitment for available positions takes place once a year. Applicants take a written exam, and those who pass it also take an oral exam. Both stages are conducted in Greek.

In the case of the doctor described, this meant having to re-enter the training system, even though she was already fully qualified in the UK and could work independently as a family doctor.

The missing years can be filled with experience

The Cyprus Medical Council has introduced a solution that may help those in a similar situation. Paid work experience gained in the UK after specialization can be credited towards missing training periods.

If a doctor is one year short of the Cypriot minimum, they can present documentation confirming at least one year of experience as a qualified general practitioner. If the difference is two years, a correspondingly longer professional experience will be required.

Once the documents are accepted, the specialization can be recognized without having to complete the entire program again.

If a candidate lacks sufficient experience, they can complete their training in Cyprus. Currently, this can mean two additional years, provided they pass the entrance exams.

Not every doctor can use this solution

This new opportunity does not automatically grant recognition to all UK qualifications. Each application is considered individually, and professional experience must be appropriately documented and acquired after the specialization was formally awarded in the UK.

The exact start date of training is also important. Individuals covered by the transitional arrangements may be in a different situation than doctors who began their specialization after Brexit.

The Cyprus Medical Council admits it is aware of the problem and is in discussions with interested institutions. However, it has not indicated when a more comprehensive solution might be developed or what its final form will be.

The doctor chose to return to Great Britain

The 34-year-old decided against taking the exams and continuing her training. She packed up her car and cat and moved back to the UK, where she now works as a GP.

Her story demonstrates that the consequences of Brexit extend beyond the rights of residence, work, and trade. They may also impact the recognition of professional qualifications for individuals who have spent years preparing for their profession.

For Cypriot students and doctors planning to train in the UK, this means checking the rules before choosing a specialization. British authorizations to practice independently may not automatically grant the same rights upon returning to Cyprus.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, Cyprus Medical Council, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus