Cyprus intensified its zero-tolerance stance on irregular migration on 15 February, with police units executing synchronised raids across all six districts between 06:00 and 12:00. Thirty-one third-country nationals lacking valid residence status were detained; seven were deported the same day using rapid-return procedures introduced in 2024.
The operation was led by the Aliens & Immigration Service and the Green Line Surveillance unit, illustrating how interior-security agencies now coordinate to clamp down on overstays and illegal border crossings. Official figures published alongside the raid show a sharp drop in clandestine arrivals—from 6,109 in 2024 to 2,444 in 2025—while deportations surged to a record 11,742 last year.
Authorities attribute the reversal to a three-pillar strategy: tighter patrols along the UN-buffer zone, fast-track asylum processing and expanded voluntary-return incentives co-funded by the EU. Critics, including migrant-rights NGOs, say rapid removals risk undermining due-process guarantees, especially for applicants from conflict zones.
![Cyprus Police Arrest 31 Irregular Migrants in Nationwide Dawn Sweep]()
Against this backdrop, individuals and companies aiming to secure legitimate visas or residence permits can streamline the application process through VisaHQ’s online platform. The service provides step-by-step guidance, document pre-checks and real-time status updates, reducing the risk of costly errors under Cyprus’s tightened rules. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/
For employers, the enforcement drive heightens the need for rigorous right-to-work checks. Penalties for hiring undocumented workers rose to €8,000 per employee last November. Companies should audit contractor rosters and ensure all third-country staff carry biometric residency cards at work sites.
With Cyprus set to assume the EU Council presidency in July 2026, officials signal that migration management will top the agenda—suggesting continued high-tempo enforcement in the months ahead.
The operation was led by the Aliens & Immigration Service and the Green Line Surveillance unit, illustrating how interior-security agencies now coordinate to clamp down on overstays and illegal border crossings. Official figures published alongside the raid show a sharp drop in clandestine arrivals—from 6,109 in 2024 to 2,444 in 2025—while deportations surged to a record 11,742 last year.
Authorities attribute the reversal to a three-pillar strategy: tighter patrols along the UN-buffer zone, fast-track asylum processing and expanded voluntary-return incentives co-funded by the EU. Critics, including migrant-rights NGOs, say rapid removals risk undermining due-process guarantees, especially for applicants from conflict zones.
Against this backdrop, individuals and companies aiming to secure legitimate visas or residence permits can streamline the application process through VisaHQ’s online platform. The service provides step-by-step guidance, document pre-checks and real-time status updates, reducing the risk of costly errors under Cyprus’s tightened rules. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/
For employers, the enforcement drive heightens the need for rigorous right-to-work checks. Penalties for hiring undocumented workers rose to €8,000 per employee last November. Companies should audit contractor rosters and ensure all third-country staff carry biometric residency cards at work sites.
With Cyprus set to assume the EU Council presidency in July 2026, officials signal that migration management will top the agenda—suggesting continued high-tempo enforcement in the months ahead.
