Cyprus’ Immigration and Aliens Service arrested four individuals on 3 May for allegedly forging entry permits and facilitating the unlawful arrival of non-EU nationals at Larnaca International Airport. The suspects—aged 35 to 51—face charges of conspiracy, document fraud and aiding illegal entry, according to an official police communiqué. Investigators say the group had been active since September 2025, charging up to €6,000 for counterfeit authorisations that were designed to look like the Republic’s single-entry visas.
![Cyprus Police Break Up Forgery Ring Selling Fake Entry Permits to Third-Country Nationals]()
For those seeking legitimate travel documentation, VisaHQ offers a secure, end-to-end visa application service that interfaces directly with Cyprus’s consulates and VFS centres, allowing applicants to verify requirements, upload documents and track their submissions online; more information can be found at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/
The probe began when a 35-year-old passenger presented a fake permit flagged by Interpol’s databases. Follow-up surveillance led officers to a Larnaca-based middle-woman who allegedly recruited clients and two accomplices who produced the forgeries. The case is the latest in a series of enforcement actions reflecting Nicosia’s tougher line on irregular migration. In April, the Interior Ministry disclosed that deportations in the first quarter of 2026 were running 30 % higher than the same period last year. For global mobility managers, the bust reinforces the importance of instructing relocating staff and contractors to use only official visa channels—particularly now that Cyprus outsources most short-stay visa applications to VFS Global in several countries. Law firms specialising in corporate immigration note that employers who knowingly submit fraudulent documents can be barred from future sponsorship and face fines of up to €20,000 per violation under the 2023 Foreigners and Immigration Law amendments. Companies should therefore audit their vendor networks and mandate due-diligence checks on any third-party visa service providers.
For those seeking legitimate travel documentation, VisaHQ offers a secure, end-to-end visa application service that interfaces directly with Cyprus’s consulates and VFS centres, allowing applicants to verify requirements, upload documents and track their submissions online; more information can be found at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/
The probe began when a 35-year-old passenger presented a fake permit flagged by Interpol’s databases. Follow-up surveillance led officers to a Larnaca-based middle-woman who allegedly recruited clients and two accomplices who produced the forgeries. The case is the latest in a series of enforcement actions reflecting Nicosia’s tougher line on irregular migration. In April, the Interior Ministry disclosed that deportations in the first quarter of 2026 were running 30 % higher than the same period last year. For global mobility managers, the bust reinforces the importance of instructing relocating staff and contractors to use only official visa channels—particularly now that Cyprus outsources most short-stay visa applications to VFS Global in several countries. Law firms specialising in corporate immigration note that employers who knowingly submit fraudulent documents can be barred from future sponsorship and face fines of up to €20,000 per violation under the 2023 Foreigners and Immigration Law amendments. Companies should therefore audit their vendor networks and mandate due-diligence checks on any third-party visa service providers.
