The number of legal residence permits in Cyprus has reached 200,000, and 30,000 people have asylum status. These figures were presented by Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Nicholas Ioannidis at a meeting with the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs, presenting the results of his department’s work.

According to him, illegal arrivals in the republic have decreased by 86% over the past three years, and by 92% in the first half of 2026 compared to 2022. The ratio of arrivals to departures, as noted by Ioannidis, is 1 to 5.

When the sub—ministry was established two years ago, there were 24,000 asylum applications on the waiting list – now there are fewer than 13,500. In 2025, the agency recorded 12,029 departures, and about 35,000 third-country nationals have left Cyprus since the beginning of the current government. The reception center in Limnes, according to the Deputy minister, will be operational in November.

How does repatriation to Syria work?

Ioannidis separately presented an updated program for the voluntary repatriation of families to Syria. It will be valid until October 30, 2026. According to it, one adult family member gets the right to stay in Cyprus and work with a special two—year permit, provided that the rest withdraw their asylum applications, renounce their status and return to their homeland.

The returnees are entitled to EU-funded cash payments.

According to the ministry, after the change of power in Syria in December 2024, about 5,000 Syrians have already voluntarily returned to their homeland, withdrawing their asylum applications or refusing additional protection. More than 1,500 more asylum applications were rejected. According to Ioannidis, it is no longer necessary to discuss which areas of Syria are considered safe — people have begun to return on their own.

What do the deputies say?

The committee’s estimates differed. MP from DIKO Andreas Apostolou called Ioannidis one of the most effective ministers of the government. MP from AKEL Efrem Hristu pointed out that legal migrants should be informed in detail about their rights in order to avoid exploitation.

ELAM representatives were more critical — MP Andreas Papacharalambous called migration “the biggest existential issue.” In his opinion, although the statistics look encouraging, the situation in some quarters remains tense.

https://lenta.cy/na-kipre-200-000-legalnyh-migrantov-i-30-000-so-statusom-ubezhishha/