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The number of asylum seekers in Cyprus receiving rent and food allowances has fallen to around 2,000, according to figures from the Deputy Ministry of Migration.
The group includes nationals from countries such as Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Iraq.
Government sources told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that around 400 of those currently receiving support are Syrians.
They also said instructions have been given by the deputy minister to speed up the examination of Syrian asylum applications, pointing to recent changes in Syria’s political situation following the change of government in December 2024.
According to the same sources, authorities now consider that conditions in Syria show signs of stabilization, meaning that the grounds that previously supported international protection status may no longer apply in the same way today.
In total, around 13,600 asylum applications remain pending in Cyprus, with the vast majority, about 9,600, submitted by Syrian nationals.
Officials also noted that over the past three years, the level of financial support provided to asylum seekers has been reduced by 50%.
The deputy ministry described the government’s migration policy under President Nikos Christodoulides as “strict,” saying it has led to a sharp decrease in irregular arrivals while also significantly reducing the overall cost of managing migration.
The figures come amid continued debate in Cyprus and across the EU over migration management, asylum processing times, and the balance between humanitarian protection and national capacity.
