The Deputy Ministry of Migration & International Protection signed an implementation agreement on 4 December with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to create Cyprus’ first dedicated Assisted Voluntary Returns Hub (AVR HUB). Valued at CHF 1.05 million (≈ €1.1 million) and financed through Switzerland’s 2nd Contribution to the EU Migration Fund, the project will rent and refurbish a 40-bed facility that prepares vulnerable asylum-seekers for dignified return to their countries of origin.
Under the scheme, migrants who opt for voluntary repatriation will receive counselling, medical screening, travel logistics and post-arrival reintegration support coordinated by IOM caseworkers. The hub will prioritise families, unaccompanied minors and persons with medical needs – groups currently housed in overstretched reception centres such as Pournara and Kofinou. The facility is expected to be operational by mid-2026, helping Cyprus meet EU targets on humane return while easing pressure on island-wide accommodation capacity.
![Cyprus and IOM launch €1.1 million Assisted Voluntary Returns hub]()
Context: Cyprus recorded the EU’s highest per-capita asylum rate in 2022-24 and has since pivoted to a “returns-first” strategy championed by Migration Deputy Minister Nicholas Ioannides. Authorities report 3,600 voluntary or forced returns in the first three quarters of 2025 – an 89 % jump on 2022 figures – thanks to closer cooperation with Frontex and origin-country embassies. The AVR HUB adds dedicated infrastructure, addressing criticism from NGOs that returnees were previously dispersed across multiple police units without specialised support.
Implications for employers: Companies employing third-country nationals must ensure staff are on valid work permits; overstayers are more likely to be channelled through voluntary-return pathways now that capacity exists. Mobility managers should brief affected employees on legal options and timelines, especially if contracts end unexpectedly. The hub also signals stricter enforcement at the Green Line, meaning cross-border commuter permits will face closer scrutiny.
Next steps: IOM will shortly tender refurbishment works and recruit multilingual counsellors. Swiss funding for migration measures in Cyprus totals €10.7 million for 2025-29, with additional projects planned for digital case-management and reintegration monitoring. Businesses with CSR budgets may partner with IOM on skills-training modules for returnees, demonstrating responsible-business credentials during the EU’s 2026 Cyprus Presidency.
Under the scheme, migrants who opt for voluntary repatriation will receive counselling, medical screening, travel logistics and post-arrival reintegration support coordinated by IOM caseworkers. The hub will prioritise families, unaccompanied minors and persons with medical needs – groups currently housed in overstretched reception centres such as Pournara and Kofinou. The facility is expected to be operational by mid-2026, helping Cyprus meet EU targets on humane return while easing pressure on island-wide accommodation capacity.
Context: Cyprus recorded the EU’s highest per-capita asylum rate in 2022-24 and has since pivoted to a “returns-first” strategy championed by Migration Deputy Minister Nicholas Ioannides. Authorities report 3,600 voluntary or forced returns in the first three quarters of 2025 – an 89 % jump on 2022 figures – thanks to closer cooperation with Frontex and origin-country embassies. The AVR HUB adds dedicated infrastructure, addressing criticism from NGOs that returnees were previously dispersed across multiple police units without specialised support.
Implications for employers: Companies employing third-country nationals must ensure staff are on valid work permits; overstayers are more likely to be channelled through voluntary-return pathways now that capacity exists. Mobility managers should brief affected employees on legal options and timelines, especially if contracts end unexpectedly. The hub also signals stricter enforcement at the Green Line, meaning cross-border commuter permits will face closer scrutiny.
Next steps: IOM will shortly tender refurbishment works and recruit multilingual counsellors. Swiss funding for migration measures in Cyprus totals €10.7 million for 2025-29, with additional projects planned for digital case-management and reintegration monitoring. Businesses with CSR budgets may partner with IOM on skills-training modules for returnees, demonstrating responsible-business credentials during the EU’s 2026 Cyprus Presidency.
