The Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection opened the new year with a statistical bulletin showing that 169,844 third-country nationals held valid Cypriot residence permits on 31 December 2025—equivalent to roughly 18 % of the island’s population. Russians (40,583) and Britons (15,395) remain the largest expatriate communities, followed by Ukrainians and Filipinos.
Deputy Minister Nikolas Ioannides attributed the numbers to a two-pronged strategy: tighter border policing, particularly along the Green Line where most irregular crossings occur, and faster asylum processing combined with voluntary-return schemes subsidised by the EU. New asylum claims fell 87 % compared with 2022, while the once-overcrowded Pournara reception centre now houses just 251 people versus more than 1,800 two years ago.
For employers the data suggests a more stable immigration environment: processing times for work and digital-nomad permits shortened to an average of six weeks, according to ministry figures. However, the government signalled that labour-market testing for low-skilled roles will tighten in 2026, pushing companies toward intra-EU hiring or automation.
![Cyprus Closes 2025 With 170k Valid Residence Permits as Irregular Arrivals Fall 86 Percent]()
For individuals and firms trying to keep pace with these shifting rules, VisaHQ offers an efficient bridge between applicants and Cypriot authorities. Its Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) provides step-by-step guidance, document checks and real-time tracking for work, residence and family-reunification visas, streamlining compliance while reducing the risk of costly delays.
Multinationals should also note the ministry’s plan to digitise all permit renewals through the CY-Login platform by mid-2026. HR teams are advised to audit the expiry dates of current permits and gather biometric data early to avoid bottlenecks as the system scales.
Analysts caution that the sharp drop in irregular arrivals may partly reflect displacement rather than resolution; increased surveillance along the buffer zone could redirect flows to maritime routes, requiring continued vigilance from coast-guard authorities.
Deputy Minister Nikolas Ioannides attributed the numbers to a two-pronged strategy: tighter border policing, particularly along the Green Line where most irregular crossings occur, and faster asylum processing combined with voluntary-return schemes subsidised by the EU. New asylum claims fell 87 % compared with 2022, while the once-overcrowded Pournara reception centre now houses just 251 people versus more than 1,800 two years ago.
For employers the data suggests a more stable immigration environment: processing times for work and digital-nomad permits shortened to an average of six weeks, according to ministry figures. However, the government signalled that labour-market testing for low-skilled roles will tighten in 2026, pushing companies toward intra-EU hiring or automation.
For individuals and firms trying to keep pace with these shifting rules, VisaHQ offers an efficient bridge between applicants and Cypriot authorities. Its Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) provides step-by-step guidance, document checks and real-time tracking for work, residence and family-reunification visas, streamlining compliance while reducing the risk of costly delays.
Multinationals should also note the ministry’s plan to digitise all permit renewals through the CY-Login platform by mid-2026. HR teams are advised to audit the expiry dates of current permits and gather biometric data early to avoid bottlenecks as the system scales.
Analysts caution that the sharp drop in irregular arrivals may partly reflect displacement rather than resolution; increased surveillance along the buffer zone could redirect flows to maritime routes, requiring continued vigilance from coast-guard authorities.
