Cyprus Halves Migrant Arrivals, Boosts Returns Significantly

Deputy Minister Cites Tighter Policies and EU Support for Dramatic Shift

Irregular migrant entries into Cyprus have seen a stark 86% decrease over the past three years, with a near threefold increase in returns, according to Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Nikolas Ioannidis. This significant reduction reflects a concerted effort to curb irregular migration and manage the asylum system more effectively.

Drastic Drop in Arrivals and Applications

Data from early 2022 to mid-2025 reveals a dramatic fall in irregular arrivals, dropping from 9,307 to just 1,260. New asylum applications also plummeted by 87%, from 12,048 to 1,520 during the same period. Ioannidis further reported a 26.5% reduction in pending asylum cases, now standing at 17,604.

Repatriations Surge Amidst Policy Reforms

Repatriations have surged, reaching 6,187 in the first half of 2025, a substantial rise from 2,358 in early 2022. Cyprus now leads EU nations in the repatriation of Syrian nationals, with over 2,000 departures recorded since June 2025. This success is attributed to enhanced cooperation with the EU.

Reception Center Numbers Plummet

The Pournara First Reception Center has experienced an 86% decrease in residents, with numbers falling from 2,980 in June 2022 to 251 last month. In response to concerns about contagious diseases, Ioannidis affirmed that robust isolation protocols and medical screenings are active, with further facility upgrades planned.

Abusive Applications Declining

The Deputy Minister highlighted that the majority of asylum applications are now deemed abusive. He pointed to a notable decline in applications originating from key African nations such as Nigeria and Somalia. In June, only 71 applications were filed from Nigeria, a sharp contrast to over 2,000 in the same month of 2022.

Streamlining Legal Migration Pathways

To facilitate legal migration, Cyprus has launched the EU Blue Card and reinstated the Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa. In 2025, 86,128 entry and residence permit applications were processed, with individuals from Russia and the United Kingdom forming the largest group of current legal residents. The nation’s legal migration strategies are evolving, with a new national integration strategy for legal residents nearing completion and expected to be presented to the Council of Ministers this autumn.

Legislative reforms are also underway to align national law with the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, scheduled to be implemented in June 2026. These measures collectively aim to create a more managed and sustainable migration framework for Cyprus.

According to Eurostat data, the overall asylum application rate in the EU has also shown a declining trend, though specific national figures vary. For instance, Germany saw a significant drop in asylum applications from certain regions in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year.