Maternity Leave and Child Grant in Cyprus: Know Your Pregnancy Rights

In Cyprus, women who are employed are entitled to maternity leave and a child grant when expecting a child.

• Maternity leave lasts for 18 weeks and is paid at 70% of your salary. You can start your leave from the 7th month of pregnancy and must begin at least 2 weeks before your expected due date. Make sure to apply for maternity leave before your baby is born.
• The child grant is a one-time payment of €1,000 for each child. You can apply for the child grant once your baby is born.

Important: If you quit your job, you are not entitled to maternity leave or the €1,000 child grant.

If you are unable to work before your maternity leave begins, you can ask your doctor for a certificate to apply for sickness benefit instead of leaving your job.

We strongly encourage women not to resign from their job during pregnancy so they do not lose these rights. If you have questions about quitting or maternity benefits, please send us a Whatsapp with your questions.

For more information, you can also read our article: Supporting Families: Key Information on Maternity Leave, Registering Your Child as an Asylum Seeker, and Accessing Benefits.