**NICOSIA** – Cyprus is experiencing a significant and unprecedented reversal in its migration patterns, with a marked increase in the repatriation of irregular migrants coinciding with a substantial decline in new arrivals. Data spanning the past three years, from 2022 to 2025, illustrates a dramatic shift, signalling a potential paradigm change in the island nation’s approach to managing its borders and asylum systems. This trend, bolstered by enhanced European Union cooperation, has seen the number of returns skyrocket while the influx of irregular migrants plummets.
Over the period in question, the Cyprus Police’s Aliens and Immigration Service, in collaboration with Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, has overseen a formidable rise in repatriation operations. In 2022, the island facilitated 7,506 returns, a figure that climbed steadily to 9,699 in 2023, and further to 10,092 in 2024. Projections for 2025 indicate an even more impressive total of 11,500 individuals returned to their countries of origin. This represents a cumulative increase of 53% in returnees over the three-year span, a testament to intensified efforts in managing irregular migration flows.
Concurrently, the number of irregular migrants arriving on Cypriot shores has seen a precipitous fall. From a high of 17,434 arrivals in 2022, the figure decreased to 10,994 in 2023, and then to 6,109 in 2024. The outlook for 2025 is even more stark, with an estimated arrival figure of approximately 2,400. This constitutes an astonishing reduction of 86% in arrivals over the same period, painting a picture of significantly bolstered border security and a less appealing route for irregular transit.
A key factor underpinning this paradigm shift appears to be geopolitical developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. The fall of the Assad regime in Syria in December 2024, coupled with a perceived stabilisation in Lebanon, has demonstrably reduced the impetus for irregular departures from these regions, which have historically been significant departure points for migrants heading towards Cyprus. Indeed, the period between 2023 and 2024 alone saw approximately 3,000 irregular arrivals recorded, a stark contrast to the projected numbers for the current year.
The efficacy of these repatriation efforts has been amplified by the strategic deployment of Frontex operations. This year alone, over 150 foreign nationals have been repatriated through 19 distinct Frontex-supported operations, underscoring the crucial role of EU-level coordination in managing external border security. These operations encompass both voluntary and forced return procedures, meticulously executed by the Cypriot authorities.
Despite these successes in reducing arrivals, Cyprus continues to face challenges. The European Commission’s inaugural annual report on asylum and migration, published in mid-November, highlighted that Cyprus remained ranked third within the EU for irregular arrivals during the 2023-2024 period. Nevertheless, the report also acknowledged Cyprus's ongoing commitment to humanitarian principles, noting that the island nation continues to be among the EU member states that grant the highest number of international protection statuses, placing it in the same category as Austria and Greece.
The evolving migration landscape in Cyprus presents a complex narrative of both achievement and persistent challenges. While the robust increase in repatriations and the dramatic decrease in arrivals signal a successful consolidation of border control measures, the island's position as a key entry point into the EU necessitates continued vigilance and a balanced approach to migration management. The interplay between geopolitical shifts, enhanced EU cooperation, and national policy will undoubtedly continue to shape the future of migration in Cyprus.