“Since the day we were elected, we have completely changed our procedures regarding immigration,” the country’s President Nikos Christodoulides told POLITICO last week. “Cyprus is no longer considered an attractive destination.”
“We need to address the root causes of migration and work with the countries of origin to create conditions that will encourage people to stay,” Christodoulides said. “Return hubs alone will not work. They must be part of a broader package.”
Last summer, Nicosia implemented a voluntary returns program for Syrian families, offering financial incentives. Eligible families could receive a one-off payment and a special work permit for the main income earner, provided that other family members returned to Syria and withdrew their asylum applications.
In 2024, more than 10,000 returns and 1,000 resettlements took place, according to Ioannides. In 2025, that number is expected to be even higher.
‘Innovative’ but criticized
Cyprus’ policies have made the island state the target of courts and human rights groups in the past. The European Court of Human Rights has condemned Cyprus for pushing Syrian migrants back to Lebanon. Lawyers have reported repeated violations of court decisions by the Cypriot government to force migrant deportations. And human rights organizations have repeatedly accused the Cypriot government of violating international law for forcibly returning asylum seekers arriving by boat.
Domestically, “there appears to be indirect pressure on asylum seekers to leave: most expect rejection, living on state benefits is untenable, and a nine-month work ban pushes many into the informal labor market. This, in turn, fuels workplace raids targeting them, leading to deportations,” said Kyriaki Chatzipanagiotou, policy officer at MedMA, a regional asylum and migration policy organization.