Cyprus accepts two different Greek language exams, and either one will do: the Certificate of Attainment in Greek (Ελληνομάθεια) from the Centre for the Greek Language in Greece, held in Cyprus once a year, in May; and the exam run by the School of Modern Greek at the University of Cyprus in Nicosia, which has several sittings a year. Both run from A1 to C2, both certificates are for life. Standard naturalisation asks for B1.
Verified 11 August 2026 against the primary sources: the Centre for the Greek Language, the Examination Service of the Cyprus Ministry of Education and the School of Modern Greek. Dates and fees are set by the awarding bodies and republished each year — check the official page before you register.
What level you need
| Route | Level |
|---|---|
| Naturalisation, standard route | B1 |
| Fast-track naturalisation, 4 years’ residence (highly skilled) | B1 |
| Fast-track naturalisation, 5 years’ residence | A2 |
| Permanent residence / long-term resident status | depends on your category |
The language requirement for citizenship comes from the Civil Registry Law of 2002 as amended in 2023 and 2024. For permanent residence there is no single rule: what applies depends on the category you are applying under, and it needs checking against your own case. This is worked through properly in which level you need, including the two different A2 exams and which one your requirement means.
Language is not the only test. Citizenship also requires a separate exam on the political and social realities of Cyprus — a different paper, a different calendar, a different fee. That one is covered in depth on Hallouminati.
The two exams side by side
| Ελληνομάθεια (Centre for the Greek Language) | University of Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | Centre for the Greek Language, Greece; registrations in Cyprus handled by the Ministry’s Examination Service | School of Modern Greek, University of Cyprus |
| How often | once a year, in May | several sittings a year |
| Where in Cyprus | Nicosia — the Examination Service, the country’s only centre | University of Cyprus, Nicosia |
| Levels | A1–C2, plus A2 for professional purposes | A1–C2 |
| Registration | 1 February – 20 March for the May sitting | roughly two months ahead, until places fill |
| Fee | €90 (A1–B1), €100 (B2–C2) | €90 or €100 |
| Validity | for life | for life |
For a citizenship file at A2 or B1 the two certificates are equivalent. The difference is practical, and it is about the calendar: miss the May Ελληνομάθεια sitting and you lose a year, whereas the University of Cyprus usually has another date a few months out — if you get a place. See the University of Cyprus exam.
The next dates
| Sitting | When | Levels | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Cyprus, September 2026 | 1–18 September 2026 | A1–C2 | Nicosia (registration closed 31 July 2026) |
| Ελληνομάθεια, October 2026 | 23 October 2026 | A2 for professional purposes, B1 | Greece only |
| Ελληνομάθεια, May 2027 | 11 May (A1, A2), 12 May (B2, C1), 13 May (B1) | A1–C2 | including Nicosia |
Registration for the May 2027 sitting opens on 1 February 2027 and closes on 14 March 2027. The October Ελληνομάθεια session is not held in Cyprus at all — it runs only at examination centres inside Greece. Both windows, and what closes them early, are in how to register.
For the University of Cyprus September sitting, each candidate is emailed their exact date, time and venue individually within the announced window.
What it costs
The Ελληνομάθεια fee is €90 for A1, A2 and B1 and €100 for B2, C1 and C2. It is paid when you apply and is not refunded. The University of Cyprus charges the same amounts, €90 or €100 depending on level, paid by card through JCC; an application only counts as valid once the payment has gone through.
Neither exam requires you to take a course first. You can register straight for the exam.
What the exam consists of
Every level tests four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. The oral comes immediately after the written papers, on the same day, and at A2 you sit it paired with another candidate.
Each skill is marked separately, and one weak skill is not offset by three strong ones. That is what separates preparing for the exam from simply learning Greek: the work belongs where you are weakest, not where your average is. What the exam day actually looks like is covered in How the exam works.
What to do next
- Confirm your level — B1 for the standard citizenship route, A2 in specific cases. See which level you need.
- Pick the exam by calendar: if May is too soon, look at the University of Cyprus sittings.
- Diarise the registration window. It is short, and at the University of Cyprus places run out before it closes. See how to register.
- Start with your weakest skill. For speaking and writing that means practice that gets marked, not another textbook.
FAQ
Which Greek exam do I need for Cyprus citizenship?
Either is accepted: the Certificate of Attainment in Greek (Ελληνομάθεια) from the Centre for the Greek Language, or the certificate from the School of Modern Greek at the University of Cyprus. Standard naturalisation asks for B1; under the fast track for highly skilled applicants it is B1 at four years of residence and A2 at five.
When is the next Greek exam in Cyprus?
The University of Cyprus sitting runs 1–18 September 2026 in Nicosia, but registration for it closed on 31 July 2026. The next Ελληνομάθεια sitting in Cyprus is May 2027 — 11 May for A1 and A2, 13 May for B1 — with registration opening on 1 February 2027.
How much does the Greek language exam cost?
€90 for A1, A2 and B1 and €100 for B2, C1 and C2, at both awarding bodies. The fee is paid on application and is not refunded.
Does the certificate expire?
No. Both certificates are valid for life; there is nothing to re-sit later.
Can I sit the exam in Cyprus in October?
No. The October Ελληνομάθεια session runs only at examination centres in Greece and covers just A2 for professional purposes and B1. In Cyprus, Ελληνομάθεια is held once a year, in May.
Do I have to take a course before the exam?
No. Neither exam requires prior coursework. You can register directly for any level, however you prepared.
Is this the same as the Cyprus culture exam?
No. The exam on the political and social realities of Cyprus is a separate paper with its own calendar, format and fee. A citizenship file usually needs both. The culture exam is covered on Hallouminati.