THE NUMBER OF ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM UNSAFE COUNTRIES GOING TO COURT INCREASED BY 68% IN TWO YEARS - Filenews 31/3
The number of asylum seekers from unsafe countries increased by 68% in two years, but the number of cases registered decreased by 59% compared to 2023. Specifically, in 2025 it was 3,193, in 2024 it was 6,564 and in 2023 it was 8,377.
These are the conclusions of the Legal Service for cases registered in the courts against the Republic by asylum seekers and foreigners. The non-safe countries with the most applicants to Cyprus are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Cameroon, Nigeria and Iran.
The full announcement of the Legal Service:
The Legal Service of the Republic handles, inter alia, all appeals, detention and deportation orders, appeals, mandamus, certiorari and habeas corpus, as well as legal aid registered against the Republic by asylum seekers and aliens in the Administrative Court of International Protection, the Administrative Court, the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and the Supreme Constitutional Court.
The Annual Statistical Analysis for the year 2025 of the cases handled by the Appeals Subsection of the Administrative Court of International Protection (Administrative Law Section) reflects the workload and contribution of the Legal Service in handling this type of cases, and the main conclusions are summarised as follows:
A. Administrative Court for International Protection
- In 2025, 3,193 cases were registered by asylum seekers (appeals, detention and deportation orders).
In 2025, there was a 48% decrease in new registered appeals compared to 2024, and 59% compared to 2023.
- Of the 3,193, 2,880 (90.2%) were registered from unsafe countries, 310 (9.71%) from safe countries and 3 from stateless people (0.09%).
– By 68% compared to 2023
– By 22% compared to 2024
In 2025, applicants from safe countries decreased:
- By 67% compared to 2023
- By 22% compared to 2024
(a) Indicatively, the first numerical appeals from unsafe countries came from:
(b) Indicatively, the first numerical appeals from safe countries came:
- In 2025, 3,130 appeals were completed. Of these, only 68 have succeeded, namely:
- 19 were granted refugee status
- 6 were granted supplementary protection status
- in 33 the contested decision was annulled
- In 8, the annulment of the detention order was ordered
- 2 were subject to alternative detention measures
- In relation to detention and deportation orders, 53 detention and 5 deportation orders were registered in 2025.
As of 1.1.2025, 6,590 cases were pending for trial.
As of 1.1.2024, 4,902 cases were pending for trial.
B. Administrative Court
In 2025, about 1,308 appeals were registered with the Administrative Court, against the Republic, (in 2024, 1,465 appeals were registered and in 2023, 1,879).
*Note: Appeals concerning "(a) appeals by foreigners" are cases, among others, of naturalization, deprivation of Cypriot citizenship, residence and/or work permit, immigration permit, marriage, hierarchical appeals to the Minister of Interior and the Deputy Minister of Immigration, failure by the Administration to respond to applicants' requests.
- "Appeals by foreigners" constitute, for 2025, 55% of all registered appeals to the Administrative Court. Together with appeals against detention and deportation orders, the figure amounts to 68% of the total.
(a) Appeals by foreigners*:
- A 13% decrease in 2025 compared to 2024
- A 42% decrease in 2025 compared to 2023
(b) Appeals against detention and deportation orders:
- A 10% decrease in 2025 compared to 2024
- An increase of 14% in 2025 compared to 2023
- In 2025, 193 (published) decisions were issued in "appeals by foreigners*". Of these, 153 (79%) were judged in favor of Democracy and 40 against Democracy (21%).
C. Court of Appeal
- In 2025, a total of 169 appeals were registered by asylum seekers and foreigners*
In 2025, registered appeals against decisions of the Administrative Court increased by 29% compared to 2024 and decreased by 30% compared to 2023.
- In 2025, 60 decisions (published) concerning asylum seekers and foreigners were issued*. 51 were issued in relation to decisions of the Administrative Court of International Protection and 9 in relation to decisions of the Administrative Court.
– Eight (8) appeals were registered by the Attorney General and 43 by asylum seekers.
– Of the 8 appeals registered by the Attorney General, 7 (88%) were successful.
– Of the appeals of the asylum seekers, 41 (95%) were rejected and 2 (5%) were successful.
(b) From 9:
– 6 were registered by the Attorney General and 3 by applicants*.
– Of the 6 appeals registered by the Attorney General, 5 were successful (83%) and one was rejected (17%).
– Of the applicants' appeals*, two were successful (67%) and one was rejected (33%).
D. Supreme Courti
In 2025, 37 cases of privileged habeas corpus warrants were registered, in 2024, 32 cases were registered, and in 2023, 7 cases.
In 2025, habeas corpus increased by 16% compared to 2024 and by 428% compared to 2023.
E. Supreme Constitutional Court
- Under the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Constitutional Court, six judgments (published) were issued in 2025 in appeals concerning foreigners*. All six were rejected in favour of the Republic.
- A decision was also issued on an applicant's application to activate the jurisdiction of the Supreme Constitutional Court in the third instance, which was rejected.
The analysis was prepared by the Head of the Appeals Subsector of the Administrative Court of International Protection (Administrative Law Sector), Prosecutor of the Republic, Ms. Gianna Hatzihanna.
