Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

If you are outside your country of origin for fear of persecution or other serious harm threatening your life or freedom, you can apply for asylum in Cyprus in accordance with the Refugee Law of Cyprus and applicable EU and international law. For more details on the asylum process, click here.

If you arrive in Cyprus in a regular manner, or if you were already residing in the country on other status or undocumented, you can make your application for asylum upon arrival at any legal entry point to Cyprus – namely Larnaca Airport, Paphos Airport, Larnaca Sea Port and Limassol Sea Port. You can also make your asylum application at the local Immigration Police Office of your district. Asylum applications are submitted to the Immigration Police, and the competent authority that receives the applications is the Asylum Service of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and Internatinal Protection. For more details visit our section on The Asylum Process.

If you arrive in the areas under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus in an irregular manner, you will be referred to the First Reception Centre in Kokkinotrimithia, known as Pournara, for registration. It is possible that persons who are already residing in the country are also referred to Pournara to make and lodge an asylum application, although they will not be obliged to remain there. Once at Pournara, the authorities will help you to make and lodge your asylum application.

If you are in prison or being held by the police in detention, you can apply for asylum at the prison / detention centre / police station where you are being held.

Detention and imprisonment of asylum-seekers is not permitted for the sole reason of being an asylum-seeker.

For more information about the process of applying for asylum while being detained please refer here.

A first instance decision on your asylum application should be made within six months from the date you applied, but sometimes it may take longer. According to the law of the Republic of Cyprus the time limit of six months may be extended for a period of a further nine months under the following circumstances:

• it is a period where there is a large number of applications
• there is a complicated legal and substantial issue in your case
• you don’t go for the interview

The process can be extended for another three months, if required, for a comprehensive evaluation of your case. In any case the procedure should not exceed 21 months.

In practice the procedures may take much longer. According to the Refugee Law, in case of delays, you have the right to be informed of the delay, of the reasons for the delay, and of the timeframe within which you can expect an answer.

If you believe that the delay in examining your asylum application is in violation of the Refugee Law as described above, you may submit an appeal before the International Protection Administrative Court. You are advised to seek advice from a lawyer or a legal advisor in order to proceed with this option.

Under the EURODAC Regulation of the European Union, there is a requirement that the fingerprints are taken of any person who is over 14 years old, and who has entered without a visa or who applies for asylum.

If you have family members in other European countries you can formally apply to the Cypriot authorities to join these family members. There is a European Union law, the Dublin Regulation, which allows asylum-seekers to apply to have their asylum application transferred to another EU country or Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein where they have close family members. However, you must first apply for asylum, and you must satisfy specific criteria in order to make a Dublin transfer request. The Dublin Regulations require that such transfer requests be made within three months of the date of making the asylum application.

Please note that in all cases, you and your family member must specifically express your reunification wishes in writing.

For more information about the Dublin Procedure, see here.

The entire procedure can take up to 11 months to complete. In some instances, it may take longer. Specifically, the Dublin Regulations require transfer requests be made within three months of the date of making the asylum application. The country where you wish to join your family members will examine the transfer request and make a decision within two months of the request being made. If the country accepts responsibility for you, your transfer will take place within six months of the date of the acceptance.

For more information see our section on the Dublin Procedure. 

If you are a minor and would like more information about family reunification, please refer to our section If you are under 18.

This depends on your status:

1. An asylum-seeker is not allowed to bring his/her family members to Cyprus while his/her application is under examination.
2. A person granted refugee status may apply to bring his/her immediate family to Cyprus, such as a wife or husband, or dependent children. Parent/s may also be brought if you are under 18 years old.
3. Under the Refugee Law of Cyprus presently in force, a person with subsidiary protection is not eligible for family reunification in Cyprus. However, the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus may allow on a case-by-case the entry of family members of persons granted subsidiary protection status for humanitarian reasons.

For more information see the relevant section on this website about family reunification.

Travel to another European country would require a valid travel document and an entry visa issued by the country of intended destination under the conditions provided by that country’s law.

There is no obligation to submit any document with your asylum application. However, if you have any official documents at your possession, including passport and identification documents, it is important to submit them to the authorities. Furthermore, you are advised to submit any document that may support your claim for asylum application.

You do not need a lawyer to submit an asylum application. You have the right, however, to have a lawyer during all stages of the asylum procedure. There is no government system in Cyprus for free legal assistance to asylum-seekers during the examination of the application by the Asylum Service. Free legal representation is only granted for cases before the courts, after the approval of a legal aid application. However, you can seek free legal advice from local non-governmental organisations.

You can legally reside and move freely in the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. If you cross to the northern part of Cyprus, which is not controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, even for a short visit, you may not be permitted to cross back to the government controlled areas. You may also risk arrest and imprisonment of up to 12 months, or a fine of up to EUR 1,700.

There is no mechanism to assess asylum applications in the northern part of Cyprus.

If you have left your country owing to fear of persecution or other serious threats to your life or freedom and you are unwilling or unable to return on this basis, you may ask to be registered with UNHCR.

UNHCR can assist in preventing deportation. This assistance can be provided only to individuals who are in need of international protection and at risk of being forcibly returned to countries where their lives or freedoms may be at risk, and they do not have access to protection mechanisms elsewhere.

In order to determine if an individual meets the above criteria, UNHCR will conduct an individual interview. If the criteria are met, a UNHCR certificate is issued.

It is crucial to note however that it is the Turkish Cypriot authorities that will decide whether a UNHCR certificate holder is allowed to remain.

Please be advised that assistance provided by UNHCR is limited to the above and does not include social assistance.

For individualized advice regarding your situation, you may send an email to [email protected] or a message to the Counselling Line reachable also via WhatsApp on +90 548 830 04 64.  

The authorities in Cyprus to which you submit your application are bound by strict rules of confidentiality. They are not permitted to release information to the authorities of your country, or to its embassies or consulates.

It is not safe to attempt to travel to another European country without first obtaining an entry visa; you may endanger your life or the lives of any family members who may be travelling with you. Even if you manage to enter another country, there is a possibility you will be returned to Cyprus, as this was the first country you entered. A return to Cyprus may happen irrespective of whether your fingerprints were taken or not by the Cypriot authorities.

Decisions on asylum applications are made on a case-by-case basis. Some applications are accepted, others are not. If the Asylum Service decides that you fulfill the criteria provided in the law for international protection, you may be granted either refugee status or subsidiary protection. Both provide certain rights, such as access to employment (including the ability to set up your own business), state healthcare, primary and secondary education and state support under the same conditions that apply to Cypriot nationals. For more information, refer to our section on Refugee rights and duties.  

A recognised refugee can obtain a refugee travel document from the Cypriot authorities. Refugees may be allowed to travel to another EU country as visitors without applying for a visa, depending on the EU country they are travelling to. For other purposes, such as study or employment, you will be expected to apply for a specific visa at the relevant embassy.

A person with subsidiary protection and who does not have a valid travel document of his or her own is entitled to a travel document from the Cypriot authorities which permits his/her travel.

It is important to follow the correct procedure in order to be entitled to certain rights. If you do not follow the application procedure for asylum, you will not have access to the rights afforded to asylum-seekers and may be subject to detention and deportation. For more information about your duties as an asylum-seeker click here.

No, the initial process of applying for asylum does not have any cost implications.

Once you are at the Immigration Police Office, ask for an application form in a language you can read and write in. Application forms are available in various languages. If there are no application forms in a language you can read and write in, you are entitled to ask for an interpreter. The services of an interpreter are provided free of charge. If you are applying for asylum at the Pournara First Reception Centre, you will be provided with an interpreter free of charge.

Cyprus Refugee Council (CyRC) is UNHCR’s partner NGO, and provides free legal and social advice to asylum-seekers and refugees in the Republic of Cyprus. CyRC provides advice on the asylum procedure, access to the labour market, social and health services, family reunification, and other issues. Psychological support is offered to victims of violence.

Address: 9 Stasandrou Street, Flat 401, 1060 Nicosia

Tel: 22 205959

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: https://cyrefugeecouncil.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cyrefugeecouncil/

Refugees and asylum-seekers have the right to contact UNHCR. If you wish to see a UNHCR officer for advice, please request an appointment by phone or email:

Telephone:          +357 22 359 043
Email:                      [email protected]

For more details on governmental departments and non-governmental organisations that offer various services and assistance to asylum-seekers and refugees in Cyprus, please refer to our section on where to seek help.

No, UNHCR in Cyprus cannot send asylum-seekers, refugees or subsidiary protection beneficiaries to another country.

In very exceptional circumstances, if you fulfil the immigration criteria of a particular country, you may be entitled to move there. For more information, you must seek advice from the embassy of that country.

If your application is refused, you will receive a letter explaining the reasons of your refusal. You have the right to appeal within the time limit stated in the letter. The appeal incurs a fee. For details about the appeal process, please see the relevant section here.

UNHCR cannot facilitate your entry to the Republic of Cyprus.

If you wish to come to Cyprus, you should approach the Embassy of Cyprus in your country of residence to be informed about the entry requirements according to your nationality; however, please note that there is no asylum-visa and asylum procedures in Cyprus cannot be accessed through its embassies abroad.

The competent authority in Cyprus to receive and examine applications for international protection is the Asylum Service of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection. Applications can be submitted at entry points as well as at the local Immigration Police Offices in each district.

There are no social housing schemes or special government housing programmes or services for refugees by the State that can assist you to find appropriate rental accommodation. You can search for rental properties on websites such as Bazaraki and Facebook Marketplace or through volunteer and community networks. If you are residing in Kofinou or Pournara Reception Centre, please seek assistance and advice from a social worker or staff member. If you are residing in the community, you may seek assistance and advice from the Social Welfare Services in your area.

If you are homeless, please contact the Social Welfare Services in your area during working hours (08:00-15:00) to request assistance. After working hours, you may visit the nearest police station to request urgent assistance from the On-Call Officer of the Social Welfare Services, available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

There are also some organizations offering day support, including hot meals and shower facilities. Please see the section Where can I seek help on this website for more information.

If you are an asylum-seeker without an income or any other means of subsistence, you can apply for social assistance. You can submit an application for Material Reception Conditions (Social Welfare Benefits) at the Social Welfare Services in your area. If you are currently residing at Pournara Reception Centre, the staff can assist you to complete and submit your application there. Upon your release from the Centre, you should visit the Social Welfare Office in your district in order for your file to be opened.

The application forms for material reception conditions are available here in multiple languages.

Please note that if you have submitted your application for asylum more than 9 months ago, you are required to register at the Labour Office in order to be eligible for Social Welfare Benefits.

For more information about Social Welfare Services in Cyprus, click here.

If you are in detention, you have the right to be informed about the reasons of your detention, as well as the ways available to go to court and challenge the decision for your detention. For more information about detention and your rights, please see the relevant section on Detention on this website.