Newsroom
The Republic of Cyprus now hosts more than 175,000 legally residing nationals from non-EU countries, according to figures presented this week to Parliament by the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection. The government highlighted a sharp 89 percent decline in irregular arrivals and asylum applications since 2022, calling it evidence of tightening border control and policy reforms.
Deputy Minister Nikolas Ioannides said the majority of legal residents hold work permits in domestic and general labor sectors, while others are students, members of international companies, or family members of Cypriots and EU citizens. The largest groups come from Russia (40,735), followed by the U.K. (16,279), Nepal (15,607), India (14,237), and Syria (12,868).
Beyond these, about 22,000 people are in Cyprus legally while awaiting asylum decisions or appeals. Ioannides acknowledged that estimating the number of undocumented residents remains difficult but said it has “significantly decreased,” citing record departures, with over 10,600 by October 2025, mostly voluntary returns.
The Deputy Minister outlined a push toward digitization and real-time migrant tracking systems, as well as expanded use of drones and coastal patrols to deter irregular arrivals. He also pointed to EU co-funding, which covers about 60 percent of Cyprus’s migration management costs, and fully finances key infrastructure projects such as the Pournara and Limnes reception centers.
Cyprus’s 2026 migration budget, set at €75.3 million, marks a €20 million increase over last year, reflecting investments in infrastructure, digital systems, and care for unaccompanied minors. The upgrades are timed with Cyprus’s upcoming EU Council presidency in 2026, during which it will help implement the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum.
Lawmakers from across the political spectrum voiced support for stricter enforcement and faster asylum processing but diverged on tone. Centrists and conservatives praised progress in border control and repatriations, while left-wing MPs urged a rights-based approach and transparency in the use of EU funds. The far-right ELAM party renewed calls for mass deportations, warning of demographic “risks.”
