Author
In Cyprus, asylum applicants are not systematically detained. Asylum applicants, who are detained, are, for the most part, persons who have submitted an asylum application after they were arrested and detained under the presumption that all such applications are submitted in order to frustrate the removal process, even where the persons have recently entered the country (see Grounds for Detention). In other cases, persons have been arrested for an irregular stay in the country and detained or are detained as a consequence of a criminal law sanction and apply for asylum once they are in prison or detention. However, there is always a small number of persons being arrested soon after arriving in the country, even though they presented themselves to the authorities to apply for asylum.[1]
In 2024, there was a rise in the number of asylum applicants identified in detention due to implicit withdrawals. The applicant is considered to have implicitly withdrawn the asylum application after failed attempts by the Cyprus Asylum Service to contact asylum applicants for the interview as part of the examination of the asylum application. In such cases the applicant is often not aware that their asylum application has been rejected due to implicit withdrawal and are arrested when stopped in public or places of work or at home as part of police raids, and detained due to their irregular stay in the country. In 2025, the trend continued and the number of people identified by CyRC in detention due to implicit withdrawals rose in comparison to 2024.
There is no detention centre specifically for the detention of asylum applicants. Asylum applicants may be detained in the Detention Centre of Menogia or in Police Holding Cells (PHC). Furthermore, a limited number of asylum seekers are at times detained at the holding facilities at Larnaca and Paphos International Airports.[2]
The only detention centre currently in the country is the Detention Centre Menogia, which is a pre-removal detention centre. Menogia has a capacity of 128 persons and should only be used to detain persons who are in removal procedures, however asylum applicants are often detained there. Furthermore, persons who have applied for asylum whilst in a holding cell, and while the detention order is issued based on the Refugee Law, should not be transferred to Menogia, however in practice they often are. In 2022 the number of asylum applicants detained in Menogia ranged from 20 to 35 whereas in 2023 the number ranged from 8 to 12 persons at any given point. According to the Cyprus Police, the total amount of asylum applicants detained in Mennogia in 2024 was 20 and in 2025 it was to 56. However, the Police count as asylum applicants only persons for whom a detention order has been issued based on the Refugee Law. Whereas persons who are detained initially under a detention order based on the Alien and Immigration Law and their asylum application is later submitted or reinstated may not be counted as an asylum applicant.
Regarding persons detained in Police Holding Cells there is no official data on the number of asylum applicants detained.[3]
Asylum applicants may also be detained in holding cells in Police stations across the country. In 2022, 20 police stations were used for this purpose, in 2023, 22 police stations were used with a total capacity of 194 persons. In 2024, 24 police holding cells were used, with total capacity of 197 persons and this number remained the same in 2025. Out of those 24 police holding cells, only 10 have outdoor areas, which have a capacity of 174 people.[4] Holding cells should only be used for periods of 48 hours as the conditions do not permit longer stays. However, due to lack of capacity in Menogia, persons are often detained for long periods in holding cells.[5]
Asylum applicants’ freedom of movement is also restricted while staying in Pournara,[6] and the CPT in repeated reports has considered it a situation of de facto detention (for details on the conditions in Pournara see Types of accommodation). [7]
In the first quarter of 2026, part of the new Limnes Centre is expected to start operating. Limnes Centre will include two Centres; a reception centre for asylum applicants and a pre-removal centre for persons who will be repatriated.[8] The pre-removal centre will have capacity of 800 people and will replace Menogia Detention Centre. The cost of building reception facilities and performing subsequent infrastructure works and refurbishments is covered, for the most part or fully, by EU funds.[9] The construction was expected to be concluded in 2025 and operations to start in early 2026.[10] However, delays have occurred and the reception centre is expected to be completed September 2026, whereas a section of the pre-removal centre is expected to start operations in the first quarter of 2026 to which detainees from Menogia and PHC will be transferred. According to the Cyprus Police, the facilities have been constructed as per the CPT’s and the Ombudsman’s recommendations. As for the current facility of Mennogia, it was initially planned to be converted into a juvenile prison, but it has since been reported that it will be used as a temporary prison for criminal offenders, due to overcrowding of the Central Prison, until the construction of the new Central Prison.[11]
[1] Based on observations by the Cyprus Refugee Council.
[2] CPT, Report to the Government of Cyprus on the visit to Cyprus carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 9 to 17 May 2023, available here.
[3] Information provided by the Cyprus Police.
[4] Information provided by Cyprus Police.
[5] See, CPT, Report to the Government of Cyprus on the visit to Cyprus carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 9 to 17 May 2023, p. 46, available here.
[6] See AIDA Country Report: Cyprus, 2020 Update and 2021 Update for information on extended stay in Pournara during these periods, available here.
[7] CPT, Report to the Government of Cyprus on the visit to Cyprus carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 9 to 17 May 2023, available here ; CPT, Report to the Government of Cyprus on the visit to Cyprus carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 1 to 4 April 2025, available here.
[8] Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, Announcement: Tender Announcement for the Construction of a “LIMNES” Hospitality Center for International Protection Applicants and a Pre-Departure Center for persons who will be repatriated to the Menogia area of Larnaca District, 26 January 2023, available in Greek here; Cyprus Mail, EU and Cyprus close to an agreement for support on migration, 16 June 2022, available here.
[9] Economy Today, Δαπάνες πέραν των €100 εκατ. για Πουρνάρα και Λίμνες, 16 June 2022, available in Greek here.
[10] Information provided by Cyprus Refugee Council.
[11] Philenews, 6 February 2026, Αλλαγή σχεδίων για φυλακές ανηλίκων: Εγκαταλείπεται η Μεννόγεια, θα μετατραπεί σε προσωρινή φυλακή, available in Greek here.