Cyprus reports significant drop in migration numbers and benefit costs

Deputy Minister of Migration Nicholas Ioannides informed the House Audit Committee on September 24, 2026, that expenditures for migrant benefits have dropped from €49 million to approximately €12 million. During the session, the Ministry and police reported a substantial improvement in the migration landscape compared to the data previously reviewed by the Audit Office.

Key statistics show that irregular arrivals for the first eight months of 2026 totaled 968, a stark decline from 11,920 during the same period in 2022. By late September 2026, total arrivals reached approximately 1,110. Additionally, new asylum applications fell from 15,154 in early 2022 to 1,135 in 2026. Pending applications, which stood at nearly 24,000 upon the Ministry's establishment in June 2024, have been reduced to approximately 13,000.

Regarding Syrian nationals, who remain the largest group of applicants, new requests fell from 6,177 in 2023 to 169 through August 2026. Ioannides noted that processing speeds have increased since 2025, with over 2,500 rejections and several hundred revocations of protection status. Moving forward, the government is focusing on the integration of information systems to further enhance administrative efficiency.