Energy certificate for the 2026 home grant: the 15 May rule
Covers property in the Republic of Cyprus (Department of Lands and Surveys records). Not the north of the island. Updated .
Short answer
For Save and Upgrade Homes 2026 you need an energy certificate issued on or after 15 May 2026 by a registered qualified expert, before you apply. One issued earlier counts only if the expert visits again and confirms nothing has changed. A final certificate after the works shows the saving (call text; Cyprus Mail, 30 Sep 2026).
What the certificate does in the grant
The grant uses two energy certificates for the same home.
- The first certificate, before you apply, records the home as it is.
- The final certificate, after the works, records the home as upgraded.
The two are compared. Types A and B need at least 60% less primary energy. The payment request goes in with the final certificate.
The 15 May 2026 rule
The first certificate must be issued on or after 15 May 2026: the call text includes 15 May itself. A certificate issued before that date, for example for a sale, does not count on its own.
The funding portal’s call page says “after 15/05/2026”. The call text, which governs, says on or after.
Money spent on the works counts only if it is dated after the first certificate. So the certificate comes before any spending.
If your certificate is older
A certificate issued before 15 May 2026 can still be used if a qualified expert visits the home again and confirms that nothing has changed. If something has changed, a new certificate is needed.
Who can issue it
- A qualified expert listed in the ministry’s register.
- The expert may not be related to the applicant up to the 4th degree.
The register of qualified experts is published by the Energy Service at epc.meci.gov.cy, as the scheme guide says.
What it costs
The fee is a private agreement between you and the expert. We found no published price, so this guide gives none. The expert’s fee is one of the items the scheme lists as eligible.
Etimo and energy certificates
Etimo does not issue energy certificates and does not apply for you. Our free grant check helps you see what to prepare; the certificate comes from a qualified expert you choose.
Property Brief
The 7 documents for a home in Cyprus, what each shows, and the questions for your lawyer.
Sources
- Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry: call text, Save and Upgrade Homes 2026 (PDF, Greek), checked 9 Oct 2026
- Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry: scheme guide, Save and Upgrade Homes 2026 (PDF, Greek), checked 9 Oct 2026
- Cyprus Mail, "€20 million home energy upgrade scheme opens on October 20", 30 Sep 2026
- Funding Programmes Portal: Save and Upgrade Homes 2026, call page (Greek, last changed 23 Jun 2026), checked 9 Oct 2026
- Energy Service: register of qualified experts for energy certificates (as linked in the scheme guide, §13(B)), checked 9 Oct 2026
General information, not legal advice. Your lawyer interprets legal title; Etimo does not.
General information from the published scheme documents, not legal advice. The ministry decides every application.
More on energy and grants and related guides
- Save and Upgrade Homes 2026: who qualifies, how much and how to apply
- Home grants in Cyprus, October 2026: what is open and what is closed
- Buying a home in Cyprus: 7 documents to ask for before you sign
- Separate title deed in Cyprus: what it is and what to ask
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