|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The registration of job seekers among asylum applicants and the renewal of their unemployment period moved online. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The time limits to lodge an appeal against a final decision of the Asylum Service in front of the Administrative Court for International Protection were amended: 30 days for the regular procedure and 15 days for the accelerated procedure. The time limits to launch an appeal against a decision of the International Protection Administrative Court was reduced to 14 days from 42 days. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The list of safe countries of origin was updated, adding Armenia, Benin, Kenya, Kosovo, Moldova, Mongolia and Togo. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
Courts were added to the Computerized Asylum Service System (CASS) database and case files were incorporated in the system. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The asylum authority may reject an application and issue at the same time a return, removal or expulsion order in a single administrative act. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
Development of a screening system for vulnerable applicants was developed in the First Reception Centre “Pournara”, with the tool waiting to be implemented in practice. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Cyprus |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The rules of procedures of the Administrative Court for International Protection (IPAC) were amended making the applicant's presence before the court mandatory, whether in person or represented by a lawyer, without which the appeal could be rejected, except in situations of force majeure. Applicants or their lawyer now have a maximum of 10 minutes to present their supporting arguments, unless extended by the court when deemed necessary. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
A Ministerial Decision established a list of safe countries of origin. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Institutional |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The reorganisation of the Asylum Service was ongoing, including the asylum administration and the ministry. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
A Quality Control Unit was established within the Asylum Service, with participation of experts from the Asylum Service, EASO and UNHCR. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
Amendments entered into force allowing the Head of the Asylum Office to issue a deportation or removal order jointly with a negative decision when deciding on an application for international protection. Both decisions, which are no longer separate administrative acts, can be challenged before the International Protection Administrative Court and the suspensive effect may be automatic. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The forms of notification for rejected applicants for international protection were amended to include information on their rights for effective remedy, timelines and programmes available for voluntary and assisted return operations. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The composition of the Administrative Court of International Protection was amended, and the number of judges increased first from 3 to 5, then from 5 to 10. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Asylum Service was reinforced with additional staff in order to manage the increasing pressures on the asylum and reception systems. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The Law on the Establishment and Operation of the Administrative Court was amended introducing an automatic suspensive effect for an appeal against a return decision, deportation order and removal order. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Authorities started working on the development of an overall integrated national reception strategy. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The House of Representatives adopted an amendment to the Constitution, allowing for an exception from the general 75-day time limit for an appeal against a negative decision of the Asylum Service before the Administrative Court. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
The AMIF project established the national forced return monitoring system, conducted by the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights Ombudsman. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
The Cypriot Council of Ministers approved the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee mandated to suggest specific responses and management measures to address the emergency resulting from increased migration flows; a management unit with operational facilities; and a contingency plan for the irregular arrival of third-country nationals by sea or through the Green Line. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The National Plan on the Integration of Migrants of the Republic of Cyprus was released for public consultation at the end of 2020. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the police and the Social Welfare Service on the referral, handling, protection and briefing of potential and recognised victims of trafficking. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
An amendment specified that an application could be examined under the accelerated procedure, and its examination is to be prioritised within 30 days from its lodging. This time limit can be extended up to 2 months. The time limit for lodging an appeal against a negative decision is 15 days. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Institutional |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Asylum Service established new sectors which are responsible for the reception of applicants for international protection. The implementation and operationalisation of a reception allocation bureau was planned in the First Reception Centre Pournara to collect statistics, follow in- and outflow, and gather information on residences of applicants who are leaving the centre. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The time limit for the International Protection Administrative Court to issue a decision on an appeal is 7 days from the registration of the appeal with the court. An appeal against such decisions must be lodged within 10 days from the notification. If the challenged decision is a detention order, the IPAC must issue its decision within 2 days. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, the Minister for Justice and the police signed a memorandum in Cyprus to strengthen cooperation for the referral and support to survivors of human trafficking. The national reception strategy also established assessments and referral mechanisms as core objectives. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |