Filenews 18 July 2025 - by Theodora Nikolaou
Irregular arrivals of migrants decreased by 86% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2022. At the same time, new asylum applications decreased by 87%.
According to data on the results of migration policy, presented today by the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection, Dr. Nicolas A. Ioannidis, within a year, the number of pending cases decreased by 26.5%. Specifically, in June 2024 they amounted to 23,934, while in June this year they amounted to 17,604.
It is worth noting that currently the valid residence permits of third-country nationals amount to 169,844, most of whom are Russian citizens.
Detailed data for the first half of 2025
From the first half of 2022 to the first half of 2025, the number of irregular arrivals in the Republic of Cyprus decreased by 86%.
According to the data, in the first half of 2022 arrivals amounted to 9,307, in 2023 to 5,103, in 2024 to 4,478 and this year they were only 1,260.
From the first half of 2022 to the first half of 2025, the number of new applications in the Republic of Cyprus decreased by 87%.
As can be seen in the data of the Deputy Ministry of Migration, in the first half of 2022 12,048 new asylum applications were registered, in 2023 they decreased to 5,563, in 2024 4,899, while this year they amounted to 1,520.
It is noted that the arrivals are fewer than the new asylum applications, as there are applicants who come legally to the Republic of Cyprus and subsequently apply for asylum.
From the establishment of the Deputy Ministry until the end of June 2025, the number of pending cases decreased by 26.5%. Specifically, in June 2024 they amounted to 23,934, while in June this year they amounted to 17,604.
The negative decisions of the Asylum Service this year were far more than the positive ones. The negative decisions (concerning primary rejection, withdrawals, revocations, subsequent inadmissibility) amounted to 5,638, while the positive decisions (concerning supplementary protection and refugee status) were only 336.
As of June 2022, compared to June 2025, the number of residents at the "Pournara" First Reception Center has decreased by 86%. Indicatively, in March 2024 there were 2,980 residents, while in June 2025 251 people lived.
The top three African countries from which asylum seekers come in 2025 were Sudan, Somalia and Nigeria.
Withdrawals of applications and revocations of status by Syrian citizens until 30/06/2025, amounted to 3051, of which 2057 have already been repatriated.
Repatriations continued to record an upward trend in their entirety, as in 2022 they amounted to 2,358, while this year they jumped to 6,187.
The valid residence permits of third-country nationals in the Republic of Cyprus amount to a total of 169,844, of which 40,583 are Russian citizens, 15,395 are British, 14,009 are from Nepal, while Syrians amount to 13,541. This is followed by countries such as India, China, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Ukraine and Egypt, while there are still 36,060 citizens coming from other countries, without specifying in the Deputy Ministry's data from which.
Entry permit applications processed in 2023 were 10,715, in 2024 12,767, and in 2025 19,705. Residence permit applications in 2023 amounted to 57,628, in 2024 59,373 and in 2025 66,423.
