In a late-night session confirmed publicly on 9 December, Cyprus’ House of Representatives amended the Refugee Act to allow the Deputy Minister of Migration and the Asylum Service to withdraw refugee or subsidiary-protection status from individuals charged with terrorism, murder, rape and other ‘serious crimes’. Beneficiaries will have ten days to contest before deportation can proceed once appeals are exhausted.
Supporters say the change brings domestic law in line with EU Directive 2011/95/EU and answers Brussels’ criticism that Cyprus lacked tools to tackle beneficiaries who re-offend—an irritant in Schengen negotiations. Human-rights NGOs warn that moving revocation power from courts to the executive risks politicisation and due-process violations.
![Cyprus Tightens Asylum Law: Refugee Status Can Be Revoked for Serious Crimes]()
For practical help navigating the new landscape, employers and status holders can consult VisaHQ’s Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/), which consolidates guidance on alternative visa categories, single-permit applications, and document legalisation. VisaHQ’s specialists can expedite filings and advise on compliance steps, offering a safety net should protection status be lost unexpectedly.
For employers the stakes are high. Refugee employees facing criminal charges could lose work authorisation overnight, exposing companies to illegal-employment fines. Mobility teams should review contracts for immediate-suspension clauses and verify that background-screening vendors flag open investigations. HR should also map alternative permit options—such as the single-permit route—should employees lose protection status but remain eligible under labour-market needs.
The amendment dovetails with Cyprus’ strategy to cut asylum backlogs through assisted voluntary-return programmes and tighter Green-Line surveillance—a package designed to satisfy EU partners ahead of Schengen accession talks in 2026.
Supporters say the change brings domestic law in line with EU Directive 2011/95/EU and answers Brussels’ criticism that Cyprus lacked tools to tackle beneficiaries who re-offend—an irritant in Schengen negotiations. Human-rights NGOs warn that moving revocation power from courts to the executive risks politicisation and due-process violations.
For practical help navigating the new landscape, employers and status holders can consult VisaHQ’s Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/), which consolidates guidance on alternative visa categories, single-permit applications, and document legalisation. VisaHQ’s specialists can expedite filings and advise on compliance steps, offering a safety net should protection status be lost unexpectedly.
For employers the stakes are high. Refugee employees facing criminal charges could lose work authorisation overnight, exposing companies to illegal-employment fines. Mobility teams should review contracts for immediate-suspension clauses and verify that background-screening vendors flag open investigations. HR should also map alternative permit options—such as the single-permit route—should employees lose protection status but remain eligible under labour-market needs.
The amendment dovetails with Cyprus’ strategy to cut asylum backlogs through assisted voluntary-return programmes and tighter Green-Line surveillance—a package designed to satisfy EU partners ahead of Schengen accession talks in 2026.
