Overview of the main changes since the previous report update

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Cyprus Refugee Council Visit Website

The report was previously updated in April 2023.

International protection

Asylum procedure

• Access to the territory: In 2023, there were two incidents of push backs, involving three boats and 109 nationals of Syria. Furthermore, pushbacks at land and specifically at the Green Line continued throughout 2023, as third country nationals are denied access to territories under the effective control of the Republic and to the asylum procedure when they try to cross from the official checkpoints.
• Arrivals and asylum applications: The number of submitted asylum applications declined significantly in 2023 to close to half in comparison to 2022. The majority still arrived by irregularly crossing the ‘green line’, however measures taken in 2022 to prevent migrants crossing were considered ineffective and were abandoned, including the use of wire fence and 300 border guards. 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.
• Key asylum statistics: The backlog of pending asylum applications remains extremely high, with long processing periods, with the exception of applicants examined under accelerated procedures. In 2023, 10,662 new asylum applications were submitted and 18,321 decisions were issued (472 decisions/749 persons refugee status, 1,859 decisions/2,314 persons subsidiary protection and 7,104 in-merit rejections); 26,599 asylum seekers were pending examination at year end at first instance before the Asylum Service and 5,073 at 2^nd instance, before the IPAC. In 2022, 20,593 new asylum applications were submitted and 15,193 decisions were issued (202 refugee status, 177 subsidiary protection and 8,178 rejections); 29,715 asylum seekers were pending examination at year end at first instance before the Asylum Service and 6,609 at 2^nd instance, before the IPAC. Whereas in 2021, 12,544 new asylum applications were submitted and 14,868 decisions were issued (189 refugee status, 1,472 subsidiary protection and 9,555 rejections); 16,994 cases were pending end of year.
• Returns: In 2023, Cyprus ranked first among EU states for the highest percentage of returns of new asylum seeker applications and ranked 4th among the 27-member bloc in absolute numbers of returns and deportations of irregular migrants. By the end of 2023, 9,193 people left Cyprus, compared to approximately 5,800 who had left in 2022.

Reception conditions

• Reception standards: Reception standards remain below adequate levels, exposing asylum seekers to risks of homelessness and destitution. Conditions in the reception centres improved in 2023, however the majority of asylum seekers 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.
• Racist attacks: In 2023, there was a significant surge in violence against migrants in Cyprus, with incidents includingpogrom-like demonstrations and violent attacks against racialized people, including migrants and refugees. The main incidents took place in Chloraka and then Limassol where migrant-owned shops were destroyed and several people were attacked by mobs. There has also been a rise in attacks and reports of police profiling.
• 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 seekers are permitted to access the labour market nine months after submitting their asylum application. This is the longest period of prohibiting access to asylum seekers since 2006.
• Children: The number of refugee children arriving 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 therefore exposed to various risks, such as trafficking, sexual or labour exploitation. Procedures regulating the assessment of the child’s best interest are also lacking.

Detention of asylum seekers

• Statistics on detention: The number of detained asylum seekers remains low, however alternatives to detention are still not systematically applied even in cases of vulnerable persons.
• Detention conditions: Asylum seekers continue to be detained in holding cells in police stations 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.

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 2023 there were reports of the integration plan being revised but it has yet to be published.
• Naturalisation: In 2023, the Law was amended and the requirements for applying for naturalisation have increased significantly and are expected to make 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.
• 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. 

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 the March 2025.
• 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.

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.