About this Summary
This summary was created with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) to help readers quickly understand the key points of the article.
It has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication. For complete information and full details, please read the full article.
- The first scheme covers children over four, with subsidies of up to €130 monthly for community kindergartens and €200 for private kindergartens.
- Online applications for the over-four scheme open at 10 am on September 7, 2026, after parents enrol their child in a participating kindergarten.
- A separate subsidy scheme for children under four opened on September 1, 2026, providing up to 80% of monthly attendance costs.
- Applications submitted by September 30, 2026, can receive subsidies from September 1, 2026, with payments made directly to providers.
The Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare has announced the opening of applications for parents seeking childcare subsidies for the 2026-2027 school year.
The first scheme concerns children aged over four and up to the age limit for free compulsory pre-primary education.
The scheme, approved by the Council of Ministers on May 19, 2026, forms part of a reform under Cyprus’ Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Families are eligible if they have at least one child who is at least four years old by August 31 of the year defined for the school year and legally reside in areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus.
Up to €200 per month
Under the scheme, the childcare subsidies cover 100% of tuition fees, up to a maximum of €130 per month for each child attending a community kindergarten or €200 per month for a child attending a private kindergarten.
To qualify, the child must either already attend, or have secured a place at, a participating kindergarten. The child must also not have been accepted into compulsory public pre-primary education because they do not fall within the applicable age limit.
For the 2026-2027 school year, the scheme applies to children born between May 1 and August 31, 2022.
Parents must complete a Registration Certificate containing the required information about their child’s attendance. The certificate is provided by the participating kindergarten included in the scheme’s guide.
Only one parent may submit an application. In cases involving separated or divorced parents, the application may only be submitted by the parent who has custody of the child and lives with them.
Applications open on September 7
The scheme begins in September 2026, with online applications for parents opening at 10 am on September 7.
Parents must first enrol their child at a participating kindergarten and then successfully submit the online application through the Government Portal or the Welfare Benefits Administration Service website.
Parents who submit their application by September 30, 2026, can receive the subsidy from September 1, 2026, or from the date the child’s attendance begins if this is later.
For applications submitted after September 30, the subsidy will begin from the month in which the application is submitted.
Once an application is submitted and the eligibility criteria are met, parents will be informed immediately of its approval. The subsidy will then be paid directly to the provider each month.
The subsidy is valid for the 2026-2027 school year, from September 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
Separate scheme for children under four
The Deputy Ministry has also announced applications for the Childcare and Feeding Subsidy Scheme for children up to four years old for the 2026-2027 school year.
The scheme, approved by the Council of Ministers on May 19, continues the existing programme co-funded by the European Union under the Cohesion Policy Programme “THALIA 2021-2027”.
Eligible applicants are all recipients of Child Benefit for 2026 who have a dependent child under four years old as of August 31, 2026, and have enrolled the child at a participating nursery or kindergarten.
Under this scheme, up to 80% of the monthly cost of attendance is subsidised.
Parents must reapply
Applications for the under-four scheme opened on September 1, 2026, at 10 am.
Parents must submit a new application even if they benefited from the scheme during the 2025-2026 school year.
Applications submitted by September 30, 2026, will allow eligible families to receive the subsidy from September 1, 2026, or from the start of the child’s attendance if this is later.
For applications submitted after that date, the subsidy begins from the month in which the application is submitted.
Once approved, the subsidy is paid directly to the participating provider on a monthly basis.
The Deputy Ministry is urging parents to make full use of the schemes, with the aim of supporting children’s development, improving their skills and enabling their participation in educational and childcare programmes.
Also read: Cypriot honoured for child abuse prevention work
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
