Fresh migration statistics released in Nicosia show Cyprus hosting 169,844 non-EU residents at the end of 2025, with Russians (40,583 permits) and Britons (15,395) forming the two largest cohorts. Deputy Migration Minister Nicholas Ioannides highlighted the data while noting an 86 % drop in irregular entries compared with the first half of 2022.
New asylum applications have fallen even faster—down 87 %—thanks to faster processing and a programme that incentivises voluntary departures. Pending asylum cases have shrunk by a quarter in the past year. The Pournara first-reception centre now houses just 251 people, an 86 % reduction since March 2024.
Businesses and individuals navigating Cyprus’s evolving immigration landscape can streamline their paperwork by tapping the expertise of VisaHQ. The firm’s dedicated Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) offers real-time guidance on work permits, entry visas and document legalisation, helping applicants avoid costly errors as processing times accelerate.
![Cyprus Now Counts 169,844 Valid Residence Permits; Irregular Arrivals Down 86 %]()
The numbers matter for employers. Work-permit holders make up the bulk of legal residents and are increasingly channelled into domestic and general-labour sectors. Faster decisions free skilled applicants for tech and professional-service roles, while reduced camp populations ease pressure on public finances.
Ioannides framed the trends as proof Cyprus is on track for Schengen accession in 2026. Critics caution that 16,000 asylum cases remain pending and border-management reforms still face EU scrutiny, but the overall trajectory supports a more predictable talent landscape for multinationals.
Mobility tip: companies hiring third-country nationals should see shorter processing times in 2026 but must stay alert to sectoral quotas and evolving integration policies.
New asylum applications have fallen even faster—down 87 %—thanks to faster processing and a programme that incentivises voluntary departures. Pending asylum cases have shrunk by a quarter in the past year. The Pournara first-reception centre now houses just 251 people, an 86 % reduction since March 2024.
Businesses and individuals navigating Cyprus’s evolving immigration landscape can streamline their paperwork by tapping the expertise of VisaHQ. The firm’s dedicated Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) offers real-time guidance on work permits, entry visas and document legalisation, helping applicants avoid costly errors as processing times accelerate.
The numbers matter for employers. Work-permit holders make up the bulk of legal residents and are increasingly channelled into domestic and general-labour sectors. Faster decisions free skilled applicants for tech and professional-service roles, while reduced camp populations ease pressure on public finances.
Ioannides framed the trends as proof Cyprus is on track for Schengen accession in 2026. Critics caution that 16,000 asylum cases remain pending and border-management reforms still face EU scrutiny, but the overall trajectory supports a more predictable talent landscape for multinationals.
Mobility tip: companies hiring third-country nationals should see shorter processing times in 2026 but must stay alert to sectoral quotas and evolving integration policies.
