The Asylum Information Database (AIDA) released - on 9 May 2024 - the 2023 update to its Cyprus country report, illustrating key developments in the Republic of Cyprus’ asylum procedures. With the overarching aim of contributing to the improvement of asylum policies and practices in Europe, the database regularly presents appropriate tools and information to support advocacy and litigation efforts, both at the national and European level. 

The updated Cyprus report, compiled by Corina Drousiotou and Manos Mathioudakis of the Cyprus Refugee Council, provides a detailed overview of legislative and practice-related developments in asylum procedures, reception conditions, asylum seeker detention, and content of international protection. It also includes an annex providing an overview of temporary protection.

Key findings include:

• In 2023, 10 662 new asylum applications were submitted and 18 321 decisions were issued in Cyprus. The backlog of pending asylum applications remains extremely high, however, with long processing periods. Syria was the most represented country of origin, with 6 199 applications.
• In 2023 Cyprus ranked first among EU states for the highest percentage of returns of new asylum applicants and ranked fourth among the 27 EU Member States in terms of absolute numbers of returns and deportations of irregular migrants. 
• Since October 2023 asylum seekers in Cyprus are not permitted to access the labour market 9 until months after submitting their asylum application: the longest period of prohibiting access to asylum seekers since 2006.
• From the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive on 4 March 2022, until 31 December 2023, 20 923 individuals displaced from Ukraine were registered in Cyprus. This number makes it one of the highest per capita country recipients of people fleeing Ukraine.