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The following types of accommodation are available for asylum applicants in Cyprus:
- First Reception Centre, Pournara at Kokkinotrimithia – Located in Kokkinothrimithia, on the outskirts of Nicosia, it was originally established in 2014 as a tented facility, Emergency Centre. In 2019, the Centre was converted into a First Reception Centre and underwent construction to upgrade infrastructure and tents were gradually replaced with prefabricated constructions. Since 2020, asylum applicants who arrive in the country in an irregular manner are referred to the Centre. The services provided in the Centre include identification, registration, and lodging of asylum applications as well as medical screenings and vulnerability assessments. The medical test includes tuberculosis screening (Mantoux test), HIV, and Hepatitis. Duration of stay is approximately 20-40 days with some applicants including vulnerable persons exceeding this
- Kofinou Reception Centre for Applicants of International Protection – The main Reception Centre, located in the village of Kofinou some 40km from Nicosia, was expanded in 2014 to have a 400-bed capacity. The Centre has been operating at its maximum capacity since January 2016. Kofinou Reception Centre is the only Centre that provides accommodation for the entire duration of the asylum procedures and permits freedom of movement. Preparations to increase the capacity of the Centre were initiated in 2022 and a new section was completed in 2023. Works continued and were completed in late 2025. However, the new section will not be used to house Kofinou residents, instead it will be used temporarily to accommodate the Limnes section, due to the problematic conditions of that section. As a result, in early 2026, the capacity in Kofinou remains at 300 beds and will remain as such until the completion of the Reception/Pre-removal Centre at Limnes.
- Community – Private accommodation – The main form of accommodation used by asylum applicants is private accommodation secured independently, in all areas of Cyprus. There are no standards or conditions regulated for rented accommodation in Cyprus. Therefore, asylum applicants living in private accommodation may often be living in appalling conditions.[1] Asylum applicants are expected to find accommodation on their own and there are no services available to refer persons to suitable accommodation or assist persons to identify and secure accommodation, including vulnerable persons and families with children, with the exception of an extremely few cases where the SWS assist. Indicatively, at the end of 2024 there were approximately 20,000 asylum applicants in the country whereas the total capacity of centres during the asylum procedures is approximately 1,400 persons.
In 2024, the UN Economic and Social Council raised concerns about reports of a deficit of affordable homes and that migrants and refugees face a heightened risk of exploitative practices by landlords and homelessness. The Committee recommended that the State party take immediate measures to address the housing situation, including by prioritizing funding for the construction of new and affordable housing units, strengthen oversight and enforcement mechanisms to prevent exploitation by landlords and reduce the risk of homelessness, including for migrants and refugees.[2] No developments in were observed in 2025.
- Accommodation for UASC – There are a number of accommodation arrangements for UASC, operated by a number of stakeholders. From 2020 onwards, unaccompanied children are referred to the PournaraFirst Reception Centre upon arrival for registration. Children under the age of 12 will most probably be immediately placed in the youth homes operated by the SWS for all children under their guardianship (nationals, EU nationals, third country nationals (TCNs)) and some of them are subsequently placed in foster families following relevant procedures. However, such ages of UASC are very rare in Cyprus. UASC between 13 -18 after registration is completed will exit Pournara and are accommodated in reception facilities for UASC, referred to as semi-independent living units with 24 hour care. UASC between the ages of 16-18 can be placed in one of the existing semi-independent living arrangements.The operation of all reception facilities for UASC was monitored by the SWS and, from January 2026, this responsibility has been transferred under the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection and specifically to the Asylum Service.
- Reception/Pre-removal Centre at Limnes – The Centre was built in a remote area, at Limnes, in Larnaca district, with the purpose to host applicants whose applications for asylum are examined under the accelerated process and enter the return procedure, with capacity for 800 persons. Furthermore, a predeparture centre for rejected asylum applicants would be established next to the reception centre to facilitate their returns. The Centre began operating at the end of 2021 with small groups of rejected asylum applicants. In July 2023, the Centre was closed due to the sub-standard conditions and temporarily moved into a section in Kofinou Reception Centre. Limnes Centre will include two Centres; a reception centre for asylum applicants and a pre-removal centre for persons who will be repatriated.[3] The pre-removal centre 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.[4] The construction was expected to be concluded in 2025 and operations to start in early 2026.[5] However, delays have occurred and the reception centre is expected to be completed in 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 will be transferred.
In 2025, the EUAA provided Cyprus national reception authorities with 13 containers, including 10 for accommodation use and 3 to be used for other reception and asylum use.[6]
[1] Based on reports from asylum applicants to Cyprus Refugee Council social advisors and home visits carried out by the advisors.
[2] UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Concluding observations on the seventh periodic report of Cyprus, October 2024, available here.
[3] Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, Announcment: 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.
[4] Economy Today, Δαπάνες πέραν των €100 εκατ. για Πουρνάρα και Λίμνες, 16 June 2022, available in Greek here.
[5] Information provided by Cyprus Refugee Council.
[6] Information provided by the EUAA, 05 March 2026.