The number of new asylum appeals filed in Cyprus decreased by 22% in 2024 compared to 2023, according to the Law Office’s Annual Statistical Analysis.
However, applications from citizens of non-safe countries showed an upward trend, with cases from Liberian nationals recording the largest percentage increase at 2,381%.
During the same year, only 1.38% of appeals were successful, while there was a significant 357% rise in habeas corpus cases. The Law Office handled hundreds of cases involving foreign nationals.
In 2024, 6,564 cases were registered by asylum seekers with the Administrative Court of International Protection, a decrease of approximately 22% from the 8,377 cases registered in 2023. Of these 2024 cases, 68% were filed by foreign nationals from non-safe countries. Notably, cases from Cameroon nationals increased by 222% to 1,598, Democratic Republic of Congo nationals by 63% to 1,210, Sierra Leone nationals by 100% to 274, Liberian nationals by 2,381% to 273, and Somali nationals by 63% to 218.
Conversely, 32% of the 2024 cases were registered by applicants from safe countries. There were significant decreases in applications from Bangladesh (down 86% to 143), Vietnam (down 84% to 8), Pakistan (down 82% to 144), Nepal (down 82% to 126), Georgia (down 81% to 23), India (down 76% to 160), Nigeria (down 52% to 1,153), and Egypt (down 27% to 122). Overall, applicants from non-safe countries increased by 45% in 2024 compared to 2023, while applicants from safe countries decreased by 44%.
In 2024, 4,534 appeals were concluded, with 63 being successful (1.38%). Specifically, refugee status was granted in 25 cases, subsidiary protection in four, the contested decision was annulled in 26, and a retrial was ordered in eight. Regarding detention and deportation orders, 35 detention orders and 11 deportation orders were registered in 2024, compared to 31 detention orders in 2023. As of January 1, 2025, 6,590 cases were pending adjudication, up from 4,902 on January 1, 2024.
In the Administrative Court, 1,465 appeals were filed against the Republic in 2024. Of these, 819 (56%) concerned appeals by foreign nationals on issues such as naturalisation, granting or deprivation of Cypriot citizenship, residence and/or work permits, sham marriages, detention and deportation orders, hierarchical appeals to the Minister of Interior and the Deputy Minister of Migration, and administrative silence on applicant requests.
In 2024, 81% of the Administrative Court decisions concerning appeals by foreign nationals against the Republic were decided in favour of the Republic, and 19% against. A total of 192 detention and deportation orders concerning foreign nationals were registered in 2024, compared to 153 in 2023.
In the Court of Appeal, 138 appeals were filed against decisions of the Administrative Court of International Protection and 15 appeals against decisions of the Administrative Court concerning foreign nationals in 2024.
Regarding the prerogative writ of habeas corpus filed by asylum seekers and foreign nationals, there was a 357% increase in 2024 compared to 2023, with 32 cases registered in 2024 compared to seven in 2023.
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