Appearing before the House Finance Committee, Deputy Migration Minister Nikolas Ioannides unveiled a €75.3 million budget for 2026—up €20 million on the current year—designed to balance continued returns of irregular migrants with measures that help lawful residents settle permanently.
Roughly €17 million is earmarked to expand and modernise reception centres at Pournara, Kofinou and the new Limnes complex, while €7.1 million will fund services for unaccompanied minors. Another €8 million is set aside for return operations, augmented by €20 million from the EU’s AMIF and BMVI funds.
![Government outlines €75 million 2026 migration budget focused on integration]()
Since January, Cyprus has already returned 10,628 people—on pace to surpass last year’s record 10,944—thanks in part to the “Syrians Return Programme”, which offers cash grants to families willing to go back and special work permits for the main breadwinner who stays behind. Some 4,007 Syrians have used the scheme.
Ioannides told MPs that 169,844 non-EU nationals now hold valid residence permits, and that the EU Blue Card scheme—launched in July—will be expanded next year to attract highly skilled staff, especially in ICT and pharmaceuticals. Greek-language lessons and labour-market access programmes will support long-term integration.
For multinationals, the budget signals faster processing times and improved living conditions for foreign staff, but also continued enforcement against overstays. Companies should watch for new fee structures and digital application portals due to go live in mid-2026.
Roughly €17 million is earmarked to expand and modernise reception centres at Pournara, Kofinou and the new Limnes complex, while €7.1 million will fund services for unaccompanied minors. Another €8 million is set aside for return operations, augmented by €20 million from the EU’s AMIF and BMVI funds.
Since January, Cyprus has already returned 10,628 people—on pace to surpass last year’s record 10,944—thanks in part to the “Syrians Return Programme”, which offers cash grants to families willing to go back and special work permits for the main breadwinner who stays behind. Some 4,007 Syrians have used the scheme.
Ioannides told MPs that 169,844 non-EU nationals now hold valid residence permits, and that the EU Blue Card scheme—launched in July—will be expanded next year to attract highly skilled staff, especially in ICT and pharmaceuticals. Greek-language lessons and labour-market access programmes will support long-term integration.
For multinationals, the budget signals faster processing times and improved living conditions for foreign staff, but also continued enforcement against overstays. Companies should watch for new fee structures and digital application portals due to go live in mid-2026.
