Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus’ deputy migration ministry on Tuesday presented a new plan to support the voluntary return of Syrian families to Syria, offering financial incentives of up to €2,000 per person. The scheme also allows one adult family member to remain in Cyprus for work under a special residence permit.
Eligibility and conditions
The plan applies to families of Syrian nationals and to couples without children, provided that at least one spouse submitted an application for international protection or received relevant status before December 31, 2024.
Under the scheme, one adult family member may remain in Cyprus for employment purposes with a special two-year residence permit and free access to the labour market until August 31, 2028.
Financial support
The rest of the family will return to Syria and receive financial support of €2,000 per returning partner, €1,500 per returning child, and an additional €1,000 per family for those who have already been granted international protection status.
Deputy Migration Minister Nicholas Ioannides said the financial incentives would be largely funded through European programmes.
Government position
“Those who are not entitled to asylum should immediately depart the Republic of Cyprus. Those who choose to join this plan can do so with support, with clear procedures and with dignity,” Ioannides said.
He said the plan combines migration management, returns, legal employment and labour market needs, while aiming to ensure the safe and dignified return of Syrian families and to maintain that asylum is granted only to those entitled to it.
“Those whose asylum applications have been rejected or whose asylum status has been revoked will have to leave Cyprus,” he said.
Asylum revocations and previous programme
Ioannides said the process to revoke the asylum status of Syrian nationals had already begun, and that more than 1,500 asylum applications had been rejected to date.
The new scheme follows the introduction of a pilot project in 2025 that involved around 900 people, none of whom has since returned to the island, according to the deputy ministry.
