UNHCR Country Office in Cyprus
The UNHCR Country Office in Cyprus works with the Government as well as with NGOs and other partners to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers. For more information about the services offered by UNHCR in Cyprus, see About UNHCR in Cyprus.
You can contact UNHCR for information and advice, or to request an appointment with a UNHCR officer, by phone or e-mail.
Tel: +357 22 359057
Fax: +357 22 359037
Email: cypni@unhcr.org
Office Hours: Monday – Friday | 08:00 – 16:00
Location: 2 Polyviou Demetracopoulou Street (corner Prodromou Street), 1090 Nicosia | Map
Website: www.unhcr.org/cy
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 25577, 1310 Nicosia, Cyprus
Social Media: Follow us on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @UNHCRCyprus | Visit our YouTube page.
Government Services
Asylum
The Asylum Service of the Ministry of Interior is the competent authority to receive and examine asylum applications. Decisions of the Asylum Service not to grant asylum can be subject to appeals.
Address: 70 Arch. Makariou III Avenue, Afemia House, 1077 Nicosia
Telephone: 22 445245
E-mail: info@asylum.moi.gov.cy
Website: http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/asylum/asylumservice.nsf/
District Immigration Police Offices
To make an application for asylum you will need to go to your local District Immigration Police Office.
For more information about procedures for seeking asylum in Cyprus, see our section on The Asylum Process.
District Immigration Police Offices are located as follows:
Nicosia
6 Agamemnonos Street, Engomi 2411
Tel: 22 802353
Larnaca
75 Piale Pasa, 6027 Makenzie Avenue
Tel: 24 804242
Limassol
223 Franklin Roosevelt, Zakaki, 2nd floor
Tel: 25 805200
Pafos
Corner Kaningos and Eleftheriou Venizelou, Nicolaou Court, 2nd floor
Tel: 26 806200
Dherynia
83 Eleftherias Street, Tatolos Building, 1st floor
Tel: 23 803289
Anti-trafficking
Cyprus Police – Office of Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
If you are the victim of human trafficking, or have information to report on a case of human trafficking, you are advised to report to this office of the Cyprus Police.
Telephone: 22 808063, 22 808573, 22 808552
For more information, click here.
Cyprus Stop Trafficking
Cyprus Stop Human Trafficking is an NGO that provides aid and assistance victims of human trafficking.
Information Line: 22 771063 or 22 750108
E-mail: cyprus.stop.trafficking@gmail.com
Website: www.cyprusstoptrafficking.webs.com / www.facebook.com/cyprus.stop.trafficking/
Wellspring Association
Wellspring Association in Limassol offers individual support for survivors of human trafficking, asylum seekers, refugees and women from otherwise vulnerable backgrounds.
For more information, visit their website: www.wellspringcyprus.com
Employment
The Republic of Cyprus Refugee Law provides that you can exercise your right to work after one month from the date you applied for asylum in Cyprus. To do so, you will need to register at your local District Labour Office. Click here for more information about your rights and duties as an asylum-seeker.
District Labour Offices are located as follows:
Nicosia
3 Mousiou Street
Tel: 22 403000
Pafos
Ayiou Spyridonos Street
Tel: 26 821658
Limassol
80 Franklin Roosevelt Avenue
Tel: 25 827350
Larnaca
Philios Tsigarides Street
Tel: 24 805312
Polis Chrysochous
1 Arsinoes and Timohari Street
Tel: 26 322409
Dherynia
49 Acropoleos Street
Tel: 23 812052
Labour offices are also located in the following suburbs and villages:
Aglantzia, Lakatamia, Latsia, Ypsonas, Eastern Limassol, Agros, and Aradippou
HelpRefugeesWork Online Platform
HelpRefugeesWork is an online platform that brings motivated job-seeking refugees into contact with employers and training providers in Cyprus. HelpRefugeesWork is an initiative of the UNHCR Office in Cyprus, in collaboration with the Cyprus Refugee Council.
All services provided by HelpRefugeesWork are free of charge.
Social Assistance
As an asylum-seeker you will be entitled to certain benefits, including material and accommodation assistance. For more information you will need to visit your local District Welfare Office. Click here for more information about your rights and duties as an asylum-seeker.
Main District Welfare Offices are located as follows:
Nicosia – NOTE: For social welfare assistance in the Nicosia area, the department assisting asylum-seekers and refugees has moved from Kaimakli and is now located in Lakatamia at the following address:
Lakatamia (Nicosia Area)
23 Kennedy, 2314 Lakatamia
Tel: 22 608400
Limassol
80 Franklin Roosevelt
Tel: 25 804535
Larnaca
23-25 Piliou
Tel: 24 800101
Pafos
28 Aristoteli Valaoriti & Kinira
Tel: 26 306240
Paralimni
134, 1st April Street
Tel: 23 811720
Evrychou
11 Griva Digeni
Tel: 22 870582
Please see the Social Welfare Services website for additional district Social Welfare Offices in different areas of the island.
Independent Supervisory Bodies
The Ombudsman
Office of the Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights
The Ombudsman is an institution defending human rights, with multiple roles and responsibilities in relation to the preservation, protection and promotion of human rights in the Cypriot state and society.
You may contact the Commissioner if you believe:
- A public agency or a public officer handled a case of yours in an unjust manner or in contrast to the laws or to the principles of administrative law or has unjustifiably delayed to respond to your request.
- A public or private body has mistreated you because of your gender, race, ethnicity, the community you belong to, your language, colour, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, political or other beliefs.
- Any of your rights is violated (e.g. access to employment, education, health) due to disability
Any individual can submit a complaint to the Ombudsman, or complaints may also be submitted by any legal entity or organisation on behalf of the individual.
The Commissioner will decide whether any action or intervention on his/ her behalf is required, depending on the subject and the severity of your report.
Address: Era House, Diagorou 2, 1097 Nicosia
Tel: 22 405500 or 22405501
Fax: 22 672881
E-mail: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.cy
Website: www.ombudsman.gov.cy
The Commissioner for Children’s Rights
The Commissioner for Children’s Rights is an independent institution which deals exclusively with the rights of the child and whose competences and obligations are prescribed by law.
The mission of the Commissioner is to protect and promote the rights of the child; her role is to represent children and their interests at all levels.
The Commissioner studies individual complaints with the aim of evaluating the existing legislation, policies, procedures and practices and deciding whether these violate the rights of the child. In such cases she proceeds with an intervention where she deems appropriate.
Address: Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Vyzantiou 5, Spyrides Tower, 1st Floor, 2064, Nicosia
Tel: 22 873200
Fax: 22 872365
Ε-mail: childcom@ccr.gov.cy
Website: www.childcom.org.cy
Independent Authority for the Investigation of Allegations and Complaints Against the Police
The Independent Authority for the Investigation of Allegations and Complaints Against the Police investigates allegations and signed complaints filed in writing:
(a) by post
(b) personally at the offices of the Authority
(c) by fax to 22872413
(d) via e-mail at iaiacap@iaiacap.gov.cy
(d) through the Authority’s website by completing the Complaint Form.
For more information:
Address: Sahtouri 14-16, Office 302, 1080 Nicosia
Tel: 22 872412
Fax: 22 872413
Website: www.iaiacap.gov.cy
Email: iaiacap@iaiacap.gov.cy
The Cyprus Media Complaints Commission
The Cyprus Media Complaints Commission is an independent press council, responsible for the self-regulation of the news media, both written and electronic.
If you have read an offensive article or heard an offensive reportage in the media, you can submit a complaint either electronically, using e-mail or via the website of the CMMC, or by writing to the CMMC. You do not need a lawyer in order to file a complaint, but if you feel you need the services of a lawyer you can make your complaint through one of your choice.
For more information:
Cyprus Media Complaints Commission, 12 RIK Avenue, 2120 Aglantzia, Nicosia
Tel: 22 427717
Fax: 22 427747
E-mail: deontologia@cytanet.com.cy
Website: www.cmcc.org.cy/home.html