Did you know?

Cyprus is an island in Southeast Europe.

It is an isolated island with a proximity to the region of the Middle East.

Cyprus is a member state of the European Union but it does not belong to the Schengen area. As an island, it does not share any borders with other European countries or the Schengen area.

Currently, Cyprus remains divided as a result of the events that occurred in 1974 when Turkey militarily invaded and occupied approximately one-third of the country’s territory. As a consequence, the government of Cyprus is unable to exercise effective control over the area that has been occupied by Turkey. This situation persists until today, and the division and occupation of Cyprus is considered to be illegal under international law.

Are you considering migrating to or applying for asylum in Cyprus? Here are some facts to be aware of.

Did you know?

... Cyprus is an island. Cyprus has no land borders with any other country. Mainland Europe can only be reached via air and it is thousands of kilometres away.

…Cyprus is not a Schengen country. Travelling by air or by sea from Cyprus to any other European country requires first obtaining a visa. Each European country has its own rules in relation to visa procedures for persons who wish to visit or work or study there. In addition, European countries have a very strict policy regarding the issuance of visas to third country nationals who are asylum seekers in another European country.

…it is illegal to cross from the occupied area of Cyprus (‘TRNC’) to the areas effectively controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. By doing so you are breaking the law and it can lead to an arrest and criminal charges being brought against you.

…leaving your country for a better future is not a reason to be granted asylum in Cyprus. While the situation in your country might not be optimal, applying for asylum is not always the right and appropriate path in ensuring a legal status in Cyprus.

…an asylum application is examined approximately in three months and if rejected, applicants have no right to work. Applicants whose application is rejected have no right to remain in Cyprus. In case they are arrested, a detention and deportation order is issued and a five-year ban from entering Cyprus may be enforced.

…96% of asylum applications made in Cyprus are rejected. So, for every 100 applications, statistically, only 4 applications will have a positive outcome. Rejection rates for some countries, like for example Nigeria or Cameroon, is even higher, reaching 99%.

…giving birth to a child in Cyprus does not automatically give the child a right to Cypriot nationality, neither does it give any other right to stay to the child or the foreign parents. Children who are born in Cyprus to foreign parents, go through the same migration process as the parents.

…from October 2023, asylum seekers will only be allowed to work after 9 months have passed from the time they submit their asylum application, and only in very specific professions. Until then, they will have no access to the labour market.

...smugglers are lying and do not care about you or your safety. They only care about your money and they will not hesitate to put your life in danger.