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Cyprus has recorded about 1,500 irregular arrivals so far this year, down from about 14,000 over the same period in 2022, Deputy Migration Minister Nicholas Ioannides told lawmakers Monday as he presented a smaller budget for 2027.
Ioannides told the House Finance Committee that arrivals by sea had stopped and crossings through the buffer zone had fallen sharply. He also reported fewer new asylum applications and a smaller backlog. More than 8,600 people from outside the EU have left Cyprus this year, he said, bringing departures under the current administration to about 40,000. He said about three-quarters of repatriations were voluntary.
Why the budget is shrinking
The deputy ministry is asking for €60.2 million in 2027, down €14.5 million from this year. Ioannides attributed most of the reduction to major construction projects wrapping up. Upgrades at Pournara and the expansion of the Kofinou reception center are complete, and the Limnes center is expected to be handed over this month. The EU is expected to cover about 90% of next year’s budget once payroll is excluded, he said.
Spending on asylum seeker allowances has also fallen. Cyprus spent €33 million in 2022, and Ioannides said he expects the bill for 2026 to come in at €13 million or less. He told MPs that 364 people were staying at Pournara and 396 at Kofinou.
What could change for people applying for permits
Cyprus has about 200,000 valid residence permits, Ioannides told MPs. For someone waiting on a permit decision, one of the most practical changes planned for 2027 is the ability to check their own application online. The deputy ministry also plans to put more permit categories online and fill 46 permanent posts by 2027 to address staffing shortages.
The government’s other priorities include putting the EU’s migration and asylum pact into practice, working more closely with countries of origin and transit on returns, and helping people integrate through Greek-language learning, skills training and access to legal employment.
