Cyprus reports significant drop in migration flows and reviews golden visa program

Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum Nicholas Ioannides announced a substantial decline in irregular migration to Cyprus during a House Audit Committee meeting on September 24, 2026. Official figures show that irregular arrivals dropped to 1,126 in the first nine months of 2026, compared to 11,920 during the same period in 2022. Pending asylum applications have also halved since the Deputy Ministry’s establishment in June 2024, falling from approximately 24,000 to 13,000. Additionally, authorities have stepped up return operations, with over 7,000 individuals departing the country since the beginning of the year, including 208 in the final week of September.

In parallel, the government is moving to tighten the 'golden visa' investment program ahead of Cyprus's expected entry into the Schengen Area. Authorities are currently auditing approximately 12,000 residency permits issued since 2013 to ensure holders still meet the required criteria. Deputy Minister Ioannides indicated that future investment guidelines may be redirected toward sectors like education, defense, and innovation. Meanwhile, a European Union Agency for Asylum report noted that despite the local decline, Cyprus maintains one of the highest ratios of asylum applications relative to its population within the EU+, highlighting the ongoing pressures on the national reception system. A new entry-exit tracking system is slated for implementation by March 2027.