Cyprus Tightens Rules for Tattoo and Piercing Artists

The Ministry of Health has prepared a draft amendment to the Law on the Registration of Tattoo and Piercing Artists (20(I)/2021), introducing stricter sanitary standards and studio requirements in Cyprus.

The draft prohibits the use of residential premises and auxiliary buildings as tattoo or piercing studios. Upon receiving complaints or verified information, the inspector in charge compiles a dossier and forwards it to the police for support in investigating and halting illegal activities.

Studios will be required to have full sterilization equipment. Artists must provide certificates for tests: HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis (VDRL or RPR), and chest X-rays. Age requirements (at least 20 years old), a clean criminal record, and no convictions related to child pornography are mandatory.

Two qualification pathways are provided for tattoo artists: a higher education diploma in a related field plus one year of internship, or a certificate for 90 hours of training at an accredited center and 18 months of practice under a registered master.

The law simplifies license issuance, introduces four registries instead of one, and allows paid and free events as well as mobile studios with permits. EU citizens legally practicing in another member state may work in Cyprus under a special temporary license for up to 30 days per calendar year.

Health inspectors will have the authority to suspend studio operations for up to four days, extendable to correct violations. Fees for licenses and other charges will be set in an appendix to the law.