Cyprus announces forced returns of Syrian nationals

Cyprus is initiating forced returns of Syrian nationals who no longer possess legal residence status, as announced by Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection, Nikolas Ioannides. During an appearance on Sigma TV’s 'Protoselido' program on October 27, 2026, the official stated that the government is entering a new phase of migration policy, prioritizing the removal of individuals whose asylum applications have been rejected or whose international protection status has been revoked.

Since December 2024, authorities have rejected over 5,000 asylum applications from Syrian nationals. The government is currently reviewing existing cases of protected individuals, citing a shift in conditions within Syria that supposedly negates the need for protection for many applicants. Furthermore, officials highlighted a 92% decline in irregular migration arrivals since 2020 and reported nearly 40,000 total migrant returns over the past three years. Future measures include handing over the security of reception centers to the Police and implementing stricter regulations to combat the misuse of student residence permits.

This policy shift marks a definitive move by the Cypriot administration to manage migration flows more aggressively. While forced returns are set to commence, the government continues its systematic review of previously granted international protection statuses to determine eligibility under the new assessment of safety in Syria.