Cyprus’ Aliens and Immigration Service (YAM) mounted its largest coordinated enforcement action of the year at first light on Sunday, 25 January 2026. More than 120 officers fanned out simultaneously across all six districts, targeting addresses flagged by intelligence as hosting third-country nationals without lawful residence status. By noon, 31 people of nine different nationalities had been detained.
Seven detainees who already had final deportation orders were placed on afternoon charter flights to their countries of origin. The remainder are being fast-tracked through the “accelerated return” procedure introduced in mid-2025, which allows removal within 72 hours once identity is verified and no asylum claim is filed.
Officials said the sweep is part of a wider strategy to maintain the island’s recent shift from net migrant inflows to net outflows. Cyprus repatriated 11 000 people in 2024 and a further 6 800 in 2025, outpacing new arrivals for the first time. Interior ministry sources confirmed that field operations will now occur “at least monthly” as the government moves to cut the backlog of roughly 5 500 over-stay cases still pending.
![Cyprus police round up 31 irregular migrants in nationwide dawn sweep]()
For employers, the message is stark: inspections of worksites will intensify and fines of up to €3 000 per undeclared worker are already being issued. Companies with foreign staff are urged to review record-keeping and ensure early renewal of temporary work permits to avoid disruptions.
For companies and individuals seeking clarity on lawful stay options, online platforms such as VisaHQ can streamline the process of securing or extending the correct entry permit. Through its dedicated Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/), the service breaks down current visa categories, document requirements and processing times, allowing HR departments and travellers alike to pre-empt compliance gaps before they become costly violations.
From a mobility-management perspective, the clamp-down signals shorter lead-times for removals and less tolerance for status lapses, making proactive compliance and regular internal audits essential for HR teams overseeing expatriate assignments in Cyprus.
Seven detainees who already had final deportation orders were placed on afternoon charter flights to their countries of origin. The remainder are being fast-tracked through the “accelerated return” procedure introduced in mid-2025, which allows removal within 72 hours once identity is verified and no asylum claim is filed.
Officials said the sweep is part of a wider strategy to maintain the island’s recent shift from net migrant inflows to net outflows. Cyprus repatriated 11 000 people in 2024 and a further 6 800 in 2025, outpacing new arrivals for the first time. Interior ministry sources confirmed that field operations will now occur “at least monthly” as the government moves to cut the backlog of roughly 5 500 over-stay cases still pending.
For employers, the message is stark: inspections of worksites will intensify and fines of up to €3 000 per undeclared worker are already being issued. Companies with foreign staff are urged to review record-keeping and ensure early renewal of temporary work permits to avoid disruptions.
For companies and individuals seeking clarity on lawful stay options, online platforms such as VisaHQ can streamline the process of securing or extending the correct entry permit. Through its dedicated Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/), the service breaks down current visa categories, document requirements and processing times, allowing HR departments and travellers alike to pre-empt compliance gaps before they become costly violations.
From a mobility-management perspective, the clamp-down signals shorter lead-times for removals and less tolerance for status lapses, making proactive compliance and regular internal audits essential for HR teams overseeing expatriate assignments in Cyprus.
