Newsroom
For the first time, Cyprus has managed to repatriate more migrants than those who entered the country, marking a significant shift in its migration policy. Since the start of President Nikos Christodoulides’ administration, approximately 18,000 people without legal residency status have been sent back to their home countries.
According to Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection, Filippos Ioannidis, 6,100 irregular migrants entered Cyprus in 2024, but nearly 11,000 have been repatriated—a milestone in the government's intensified efforts to manage migration. The trend continued into the first two months of 2025, with only 368 arrivals compared to 2,610 voluntary returns and deportations.
A Tough Balancing Act
Cyprus, being on the frontlines of migration routes from the Middle East, has long struggled with an influx of asylum seekers and irregular migrants due to regional conflicts. The government maintains that while it upholds its international obligations to those in genuine need of protection, the small island nation cannot accommodate an unlimited number of migrants, especially given its own history of displacement following the Turkish invasion of 1974.
The establishment of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection was a response to the growing need for a coordinated strategy on asylum and migration, balancing humanitarian responsibility with national security, economic sustainability, and social cohesion.
Stricter Policies & Faster Processing
The government’s approach is based on five key pillars:
1. Reducing irregular arrivals through stricter border controls.
2. Speeding up asylum application processing to prevent system abuse.
3. Cracking down on illegal work and human smuggling networks.
4. Improving reception facilities while addressing local community concerns.
5. Enhancing legal migration to support sectors in need, such as agriculture, hospitality, and tourism.
Deputy Minister Ioannidis highlighted that Cyprus is modernizing its legal migration system, aiming to fill labor shortages in areas like Kokkinochoria, which relies on foreign workers for agriculture and tourism.
Looking Ahead
With repatriations outpacing arrivals, Cyprus has gained breathing room to process asylum applications more efficiently. However, the government emphasizes that its migration policy will remain firm, focusing on deterrence, faster deportations, and a sustainable approach to legal migration.
As Cyprus continues to navigate these challenges, the coming months will show whether these policies can maintain the current trend—or if migration pressures will once again test the system.
