Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus has introduced a revised voluntary return programme for around 20,000 Syrians holding asylum or subsidiary protection status, offering financial incentives and allowing one family member to remain on the island for work. Authorities said the scheme is intended to speed up returns following political changes in Syria.
Programme details
Speaking to Alpha TV on Wednesday, Deputy Migration Minister Nicholas Ioannides said the programme will run throughout the year and is largely funded through EU programmes.
He said around 5,000 Syrians have already either left Cyprus voluntarily or withdrawn asylum applications since December 2024.
Financial support and work provision
Ioannides said the authorities aimed to give Syrians the opportunity to return to Syria and restart their lives there with financial support, while allowing one spouse to remain employed in Cyprus and support family members returning to Syria.
Under the programme, returning spouses will receive €2,000 each, children €1,500 each, and families already granted international protection status will receive an additional €1,000 payment.
One adult family member will be allowed to remain legally employed in Cyprus until August 2028 under a special residence permit with unrestricted access to the labour market.
Government rationale
Officials said the measure was designed to support families rebuilding their lives in Syria and to help address labour shortages in sectors facing recruitment difficulties.
Ioannides said conditions in Syria had changed significantly since the political transition in December 2024, affecting the basis on which many protection claims had originally been granted.
He said many Syrians no longer meet the criteria for international protection.
Application decisions
More than 1,500 applications have also been rejected, triggering departure procedures for individuals who no longer have a legal right to remain.
