Members of the Cypriot House of Representatives began deliberating on a controversial bill on February 9 that would give the government sweeping authority to strip international-protection status from recognised refugees and to reject asylum claims on grounds of national security, public order or serious criminality. The draft law would shift key decision-making powers from the Interior Minister to the newly created Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection, reflecting President Nikos Christodoulides’ pledge to centralise migration management ahead of the island’s 2026 EU Council Presidency.
Under the proposal, authorities could deport protection holders even if they have pending court appeals, unless a judge expressly orders a stay. The Council of Ministers would also gain the right to restrict an asylum seeker’s freedom of movement within government-controlled areas or to assign a fixed place of residence. Critics say the measures risk breaching EU directives and the Geneva Convention, while the government argues they are necessary to curb abuse of the asylum system and to maintain public order in a country that, per capita, still receives the EU’s highest number of first-time asylum applications.
Human-rights groups, including the UNHCR and local NGOs, warned that the law could legitimise past practices of ‘pushbacks’ and collective expulsions that are already under investigation by the Council of Europe. They also object to the government’s decision to bypass public consultation by invoking a Finance Ministry exemption for matters deemed essential to national security.
![Cyprus Parliament Weighs New Powers to Revoke Refugee Status and Fast-Track Deportations]()
Amid this uncertainty, VisaHQ’s dedicated Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) offers employers, travellers and protection holders up-to-date guidance on visa categories, document checklists and processing times, helping them navigate rapidly changing migration rules and stay compliant as new measures come into force.
Businesses, especially in hospitality and agriculture, are watching closely. Both sectors rely on recognised refugees for seasonal labour and worry that sudden status revocations could exacerbate labour shortages during the 2026 tourist season. Legal advisers to multinational employers are advising clients to audit staff documentation and to prepare contingency plans for potential deportations or work-permit refusals.
The Interior Affairs Committee is expected to hold accelerated hearings over the coming weeks. If the bill passes unchanged, Cyprus would join a growing list of EU states that have tightened asylum rules since 2024, signalling a tougher stance on irregular migration but raising fresh compliance challenges for globally mobile talent and their employers.
Under the proposal, authorities could deport protection holders even if they have pending court appeals, unless a judge expressly orders a stay. The Council of Ministers would also gain the right to restrict an asylum seeker’s freedom of movement within government-controlled areas or to assign a fixed place of residence. Critics say the measures risk breaching EU directives and the Geneva Convention, while the government argues they are necessary to curb abuse of the asylum system and to maintain public order in a country that, per capita, still receives the EU’s highest number of first-time asylum applications.
Human-rights groups, including the UNHCR and local NGOs, warned that the law could legitimise past practices of ‘pushbacks’ and collective expulsions that are already under investigation by the Council of Europe. They also object to the government’s decision to bypass public consultation by invoking a Finance Ministry exemption for matters deemed essential to national security.
Amid this uncertainty, VisaHQ’s dedicated Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) offers employers, travellers and protection holders up-to-date guidance on visa categories, document checklists and processing times, helping them navigate rapidly changing migration rules and stay compliant as new measures come into force.
Businesses, especially in hospitality and agriculture, are watching closely. Both sectors rely on recognised refugees for seasonal labour and worry that sudden status revocations could exacerbate labour shortages during the 2026 tourist season. Legal advisers to multinational employers are advising clients to audit staff documentation and to prepare contingency plans for potential deportations or work-permit refusals.
The Interior Affairs Committee is expected to hold accelerated hearings over the coming weeks. If the bill passes unchanged, Cyprus would join a growing list of EU states that have tightened asylum rules since 2024, signalling a tougher stance on irregular migration but raising fresh compliance challenges for globally mobile talent and their employers.
