Newsroom / CNA
In 2023, the European Union issued a record 3.7 million first residence permits to non-EU citizens, with Cyprus issuing around 34,000 of these permits, according to Eurostat data.
The majority of permits issued across the EU and in Cyprus were for educational purposes. In Cyprus, there was a notable rise in permits granted for education, while permits for other reasons, including international protection, saw a significant drop. This trend marks a shift in the types of residence permits being issued.
In Cyprus, the total number of new residence permits decreased by 10.9% from 38,917 in 2022 to 34,694 in 2023. This reduction is the first recorded decrease since 2013, excluding a brief dip in 2020. Meanwhile, the EU as a whole saw a 4.7% increase in residence permits, reaching the highest number ever recorded.
Employment remained the leading reason for issuing residence permits in the EU, accounting for 33.8% of all new permits, despite a slight decrease from the previous year. Family reasons followed, making up 26.4% of permits, with a 6.4% increase. Other reasons, including international protection, accounted for 25.6% of permits, reflecting a 5.3% rise. Education reasons represented 14.3% of all new permits, showing the largest increase of 13.5%.
In Cyprus, employment was the primary reason for permits, constituting 48.6% of the total, though this was a 12.2% decrease from 2022. Family reasons made up 24.7% of permits, showing a 2.3% increase. Permits for other reasons fell by 31.2%, while education-related permits rose by 43.7%.
The top nationalities receiving first residence permits in 2023 were citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, India, Morocco, Syria, Turkey, and Russia. In Cyprus, most permits went to citizens of Russia, India, and Nepal, with significant numbers also issued to Sri Lanka, Syria, the Philippines, and Egypt.
For EU countries, employment was the most common reason for permits issued to nationals from Ukraine, Belarus, India, and Turkey. Citizens from Syria and Afghanistan received most of their permits for reasons other than employment, such as international protection. Family reasons were most common for nationals from Morocco, Russia, and Brazil, while education was the primary reason for permits for nationals of China.
In Cyprus, family reasons were predominant for most nationalities, including Russia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. Educational reasons were most common for Indian and Nepali citizens, while Syrians received permits mainly for other reasons.
