Overview of the main changes since the previous report update

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The report was previously updated in May 2024.

International protection

• Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection: Until 2024, all issues related to migration and international protection where the responsibility of departments and services that fell under the mandate of the Ministry of Interior. In June 2024, a new deputy ministry was established, the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, which is responsible for the overall management of migration and asylum issues including a comprehensive strategy for migration and asylum; reception and hospitality issues; asylum procedures; integration of persons residing legally in the Republic; return of persons illegally residing in the Republic to their countries of origin. Coordinating and monitoring the application of EU law in matters falling within its competences.
• Key international protection statistics: The backlog of pending asylum applications remains high, with long processing periods, with the exception of applicants examined under accelerated procedures. In 2024, the number of asylum applications submitted concerned 8,664 persons and the total number of decisions issued concerned 16,103 persons (1,316 refugee status, 2,466 subsidiary protection and 11,974 rejections); 20,576 asylum applicants were pending examination at year end at first instance before the Asylum Service and 6,986 at 2nd instance, before the IPAC. In 2023, the number of asylum applications submitted concerned 11,617 persons and the total number of decisions issued concerned 20,159 persons (472 refugee status, 1,859 subsidiary protection and 7,104 rejections); 26,599 asylum seekers were pending examination at year end at first instance before the Asylum Service and 5,073 at 2nd instance, before the IPAC (see Statistics).

Asylum procedure

• Access to the territory: In 2024, there were multiple reports of pushbacks at sea and land. Specifically, the interception and subsequent pushback of boats carrying asylum-seekers attempting to reach Cypriot shores with the risk of returnees being forcibly returned to Syria from Lebanon. Furthermore, two port police boats were sent from Cyprus to patrol off the coast of Lebanon for migrant boats. From May to November 2024, in an attempt to stem arrivals coming from the areas in the north, a certain number of persons crossing the green line were not permitted to enter the areas under the effective control of the RoC and were forced to remain in the buffer zone in extremely harsh conditions. In October 2024, the European Court of Human Right, in the case of A. and Z.R. v. Cyprus, found that Cyprus violated the European Convention on Human Rights when it returned to Lebanon two Syrian citizens who wanted to apply for asylum (see Access to the territory and push backs).
• Arrivals and asylum applications: The number of submitted asylum applications in 2024 declined once again in comparison to the applications submitted in 2023, which were close to half in comparison to 2022. The majority still arrived by irregularly crossing the ‘green line’, however in early 2024, for the first-time arrivals by boat were significantly higher than arrivals by crossing the ‘green line’ and were predominately Syrian nationals. In April 2024, due to the increase in arrivals of Syrian nationals, the government announced that the examination of asylum applications of Syrian nationals is suspended, which continues till present (see Differential treatment of specific nationalities in the procedure).

• Returns: In 2024, Cyprus has recorded the highest ratio of departures to arrivals among EU member states, with a rate of 179%. A total of 10,941 people left the country in 2024, according to figures released by the Ministry of Interior and the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection. A voluntary return programme offering incentives between 1,000 and 1,500 euros contributed to 8,213 voluntary returns in 2024, compared to 4,636 in 2022. Additionally, 2,517 individuals were relocated to other EU member states (see Return procedure).

Reception conditions

• Reception standards: Reception standards remain below adequate levels, exposing asylum applicants to risks of homelessness and destitution. Conditions in the reception centres improved in 2023 and 2024, however the majority of asylum applicants are hosted in the community rather than in reception centres, and often live in extremely poor conditions. The timely identification, and especially the response to the needs of vulnerable individuals, including children, both within reception facilities and in the community, is below standards (see Reception Conditions).
• Racist attacks: In 2024, violence against migrants continued, including frequent racist attacks especially against non-EU delivery-persons, hate speech, police profiling, incidents of police entering private accommodation to identify undocumented persons (see Reception Conditions).
• Access to the labour market: Following a period of 5 years (2018-2023) during which access to the labour market was permitted one month after lodging an asylum application, since October 2023 asylum applicants are permitted to access the labour market nine months after submitting their asylum application. This effort of further disengaging asylum applicants’ workforce from labour market needs has led to Employers’ associations expressing their concern over the possible effects of the 9-month ban on capacity of businesses to cover their staff needs and has also increased businesses’ reluctance to hire asylum applicants (see Access to the labour market).
• Children: The number of refugee children in Cyprus, either accompanied by family members or unaccompanied/separated, is high. Gaps remain in the protection of minors, particularly in the First Reception Centre of Pournara and some of the shelters for UASC. Children remain without adequate guardianship, and are as such exposed to various risks, such as trafficking, sexual or labour exploitation. Procedures regulating the assessment of the child’s best interest are also lacking (see Special reception needs of vulnerable groups).

Detention of asylum applicants

• Statistics on detention: The number of detained asylum applicants remains low, however alternatives to detention are still not systematically applied even in cases of vulnerable persons (see Alternatives to detention).
• Detention conditions: Asylum applicants continue to be detained in holding cells in police stations and in airports across the country in sub-standard conditions. Furthermore, they face obstacles in accessing asylum procedures and legal remedies to challenge detention and/or rejected asylum applications (see Detention of Asylum Applicants).

Content of international protection

• Integration opportunities: The lack of integration opportunities remains one of the weakest elements of the national asylum system. A new integration plan, which was developed under EU funding with the aim of adopting a multi-year integration strategy, was finalised but eventually abandoned. In 2024 there were reports of the integration plan being revised but it has yet to be published (see Content of International Protection).
• Naturalisation: The 2023 amendments to the Law, which increased the requirements for applying for naturalisation, have made it extremely difficult if not impossible for BIPs to satisfy. This includes BIPs that came to Cyprus at a young age and grew up in Cyprus or were born in Cyprus. Specifically, the required years of residence have been increased from 5 years to 8 years and the years as an applicant for international protection, holder of subsidiary protection, or temporary protection are not counted. This will be an obstacle for the majority of BIPs as they are subsidiary protection holders, including Syrian nationals. Furthermore, the majority of BIPs enter in an irregular manner, which is considered under the amended Law as an indication of not ‘good character’. Finally, the majority of BIPs will have received at some point financial assistance either as an applicant of international protection or later as a BIP which is considered as an indication that the applicant does not have sufficient financial resources (see Naturalisation).
• Family reunification: Access to family reunification remains a lengthy procedure for refugees. Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection (98% of Syrians present in the country) are not eligible for family reunification and often resort to irregular means to obtain reunification with family members (see Family reunification).

Temporary protection

The information given hereafter constitute a short summary of the main changes to the annex on Temporary Protection in Cyprus. For further information, see Annex on Temporary Protection. 

Temporary protection procedure

• Legal framework: The TPD was transposed into the Refugee Law in 2004 and activated in March 2022. It is available for Ukrainian nationals who were residing in Ukraine before 01 February 2022 and third-country nationals who benefited from international protection or equivalent national protection in Ukraine, including stateless persons. Applications for TP can be made online and a residence permit will be issued soon after. Temporary Protection has been extended automatically until March 2026.
• Registrations for temporary protection: As of 31 December 2022, 13,893 individuals were registered for temporary protection and as of 28 February 2023, 15,338 were registered for temporary protection. From the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive until 31 December 2023, 20,923 individuals have been registered in Cyprus making it one of the highest per capita recipients of Ukrainian refugees.

As of 31 December 2024, 24,823 persons individuals have been registered for temporary protection.

Content of temporary protection

• Access to rights: TP holders have access to all rights included in the Directive, upon registration and in most cases without obstacles. Regarding financial support, a small one-off amount is provided and accommodation options are limited. However, access to the labour market is immediate which has facilitated a significant number of TP holders to secure employment. Access to education is immediate but with limited support measures.