Cyprus reports significant decline in irregular migration and migration spending

During a session of the House Audit Committee on September 24, 2026, Deputy Minister of Migration Nicholas Ioannides reported a substantial decline in migration metrics for Cyprus. Irregular arrivals dropped to 968 during the first eight months of 2026, a sharp decrease from the 11,920 recorded in the same period in 2022. Consequently, benefit spending related to migration has fallen from 49 million euros to approximately 12 million euros. Pending asylum applications have also been halved since the establishment of the Deputy Ministry in June 2024, decreasing from roughly 24,000 to 13,000.

Despite these domestic improvements, an EUAA report noted that in the first half of 2026, Cyprus recorded the second-highest ratio of asylum applications in the EU+ area, with 1,732 applications per million inhabitants. Meanwhile, the government is moving to tighten the 'golden visa' program ahead of Cyprus's expected accession to the Schengen Area. Authorities are currently auditing approximately 12,000 passports issued since 2013 to ensure holders still meet eligibility criteria and are considering redirecting associated investments into defense, education, and innovation. About 197,000 third-country nationals currently reside in Cyprus, with citizens from Russia, Nepal, Britain, India, and Syria forming the largest groups.