Cyprus has a complicated situation with migration. The government says it is doing well, but the European Union (EU) says the country is still under a lot of pressure. At the same time, there is a large community of legal migrant workers with serious problems.
Official numbers show a big decrease in people arriving without permission. In 2022, there were over 17,000 arrivals. This year, there are just over 2,200. The government says this 87% drop is because of stronger rules. These rules include sending more than 10,600 people back and rejecting nearly 70% of first asylum requests. However, the EU still sees Cyprus as a "frontline state" because of its location near Turkey.
Apart from this, many people live and work in Cyprus legally. One of the largest groups is from Nepal, with about 20,000 people, mostly women working in homes. Their lives are difficult. The Nepali Consul in Nicosia says they face problems like poor nutrition, arguments over pay, very long working hours, and harassment. Mental health is a major concern, sometimes leading to suicide. This creates another problem because insurance often does not pay to send the person's body home, which is very expensive for their family.
Soon, Cyprus will get help from a new EU support system starting in mid-2026. This will provide over €600 million and move thousands of migrants to other countries. So, Cyprus has two stories: the government talks about control, while the EU and aid workers see ongoing pressure and the struggles of legal migrants.